Football is the most popular sport globally in terms of value, popularity, and fan base. It is played in practically every country in the world. In fact, according to a FIFA report, there are around 4000 professional football clubs in over 200 countries. While there are several clubs in major leagues across the football universe, some stand out as the best in history in terms of achievements, outstanding records, popularity, and fan base. These teams have followers that closely watch them play football live and support them in nearly every country worldwide. Aside from the thousands that buy tickets to witness their football live matches on match days, millions more throughout the world ensure they connect to these football live events via the internet, cable network, or whatever other means they have to gain access.
In fact, the football broadcasting business is worth billions of dollars, and many sports broadcasting companies worldwide pay hundreds of millions to gain Television rights to broadcast football live events to millions of fans. The internet also provides football clubs an online presence through social media, allowing fans worldwide to connect with club football live activities without feeling left out regardless of distance. The amount of social media engagement generated by these football clubs is mind-boggling. These social media channels allow supporters to follow the club’s football live activities, learn more about football live updates, and shop for football gear, such as club jerseys, boots, etc.
While social media relevance is vital to determine the popularity of a club, several other factors such as the club’s sponsorship deals, television football live viewership, trophies, and individual awards won are also considered in determining the most popular teams in the world. Nevertheless, the topic of the best football club in terms of achievement, fan base, or popularity is a contentious one that always sparks debate among fans.
With the rapid growth of technology, football clubs have been more popular on social media in recent years, where they share various football live experiences such as live interviews and press conferences, football live training, etc. Via social media, football lovers worldwide can also passionately support and follow the clubs of their choice. This is in addition to the on-ground presence that football live fans provide for their favorite clubs during match days. Here is a list of the most popular football clubs in the world:
Manchester City
Popularly known as “the Cityzens,” Manchester City has recently established itself as one of England’s largest and most competitive football clubs. They are said to have over 15 million admirers in the United Kingdom and over 50 million fans worldwide. With over 90 million social media followers and subscribers across various platforms, fans always keep up with the club’s football live action and updates. The club also has an official club app that allows supporters to stay updated with the club’s football live activities.
Having won eight league titles, six FA Cups, eight League Cups, and six FA Community Shields, Manchester City is the fifth most successful club in English football. However, they have not recorded much success on the European scene, with the UEFA Champions League 2020-21 being their first final in European competitions. The 2020-2021 UEFA Champions League runners-up are based in Bradford, Manchester, and the club’s home ground, Etihad, can accommodate a total of 55000 fans on a football live match day.
Manchester City is one of the world’s wealthiest and most valuable clubs, with an approximate value of about 4 billion dollars. They recorded the second highest revenue ever made by a football club in the 2020-21 season at €644.9 million. The club also has a £65 million Yearly sponsorship deal with Puma.
Liverpool
Liverpool is one of the world’s most valuable and widely supported clubs. The club’s anthem, “You Will Never Walk Alone,” is recognized all over the football community. Domestically, the club has been very successful in terms of trophies won, with nineteen League titles, eight FA Cups, fifteen FA Community Shields, and a record nine League Cups. They have also had a fair share of achievements in European football. Liverpool has won six European Cups, three UEFA Cups, four UEFA Super Cups, and one FIFA Club World Cup. Their nineteenth League title and sixth European cup were won recently in 2020 and 2019, respectively, after a long wait of 30 years without success in these competitions.
Anfield, the club’s home venue where they showcase their famous red home shirts, can hold over 53000 supporters for a football live match. Traditionally, Liverpool has always had a regional rivalry with Everton, popularly known as “the Merseyside Derby.” The club also has a strong rivalry with Manchester United and, lately, Manchester City regarding who is to be the most successful club in England. Today, Liverpool boasts over 100 million social media followers and subscribers across all of its social media platforms. Liverpool recorded an annual income of £487 million in 2021 and is valued at $4.45 billion, making it the fourth-most valuable club in the world, according to Forbes. They also have a £30 million annual sponsorship agreement with Nike.
Before the start of every season, the club has its worldwide summer tours to bring the club football live to their fans in other countries besides England. The official club app also allows fans to stream their favorite club’s football live matches without restrictions.
Arsenal
Popularly known as the “Gunners,” Arsenal Football Club is one of the clubs that have never been relegated from the top flight since the beginning of the premier league era. The club has recorded quite a fair share of success in trophies won. Arsenal Football Club ranks third most successful in English football, boasting 13 league titles, a record 14 FA Cups, two League Cups, 16 FA Community Shields, one European Cup Winners’ Cup, and one Inter-Cities Fairs Cup.
The golden Premier League trophy is one of the club’s most illustrious achievements and will be remembered forever. The trophy was awarded during the 2003/2004 season when the club went a whole season without losing a single Premier League match. They went on an unbeaten streak of 49 games, earning them the nickname “The Invincibles.” That season, they won the league with 90 points, 11 more than second-place Chelsea. Fans at the then-38000-capacity Highbury stadium were always present on football live match days to show their energetic support for their club, which was critical to the team’s success that season.
After 93 years at Highbury, the club relocated to its new home ground, the Emirate stadium, which can seat over 60000 fans on a football live match day. Over 80 million followers and subscribers actively follow the club’s football live updates throughout its many social media platforms. They also have an official club app where millions of supporters worldwide may access information on the team’s football live updates and stream football live matches.
According to Forbes, Arsenal Football Club is the eighth most valuable club in the world, with an income of £366 million in the 2020-21 season and an estimated valuation of $2.8 billion. Aside from Emirates, the club’s official jersey sponsor, the team has a £60 million yearly sponsorship arrangement with Adidas.
Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich is the most successful club in German football history, having won 32 league titles, 10 of which were consecutive wins. The football club is not only successful on the domestic front but also in Europe, with significant European honors. Bayern Munich has won six UEFA Champions League titles, the highest record held by any German team. Their sixth trophy came in 2020 as part of a seasonal treble, making them the second European club to do it twice. The club has also won one the UEFA Cup, one European Cup Winners’ Cup, two UEFA Super Cups, two FIFA Club World Cups, and two Intercontinental Cups, making it the only German club to have won both international titles.
At a hundred percent capacity, the club’s home ground, Allianz arena, can accommodate an average of 75000 fans on a football live match day. The club also boasts about 100 million followers and subscribers who actively follow its football live updates across its social media platforms. Aside from football live actions, fans can also experience behind-the-scenes updates and the club’s football live training through their social media handles and mobile app.
Bayern Munich is the third highest-earning football club in the world, behind FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, with several sponsorship deals, including the Adidas £43 million yearly deal, all culminating in annual revenue of €634.1 million recorded in 2021. Presently, the football club is valued at around $4.19 billion.
Paris-Saint-Germain
Paris-Saint-Germain, popularly known as PSG, is a French professional football club based in Paris. The club competes in the French Ligue 1, the top division of French football, and is the biggest and most successful club in France. PSG dominates the domestic league, having won ten Ligue 1 titles, fourteen French cups, nine French league cups, and ten French super cups. The club has not been very successful on the European scene, with only one UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup in its history.
PSG is undoubtedly the most popular football club in France and one of the most widely supported teams in the world. Aside from the club’s 47000 fans who are always present at the club’s home ground, Parc des Prince on a football live match day, millions of fans also follow the club’s football live updates from different parts of the world. Thus, there is a large social media audience of about 130 million across the club’s social media platforms. The club’s official mobile app is also an opportunity for fans to follow the club’s football live actions.
PSG currently has the sixth-highest revenue in the football universe with an annual turnover of €556m and is the world’s seventh-most valuable football club, worth $3.2bn according to Forbes magazine. The club has a yearly £80 million sponsorship deal with Nike along with the club’s shirt sponsor, Qatar Airways.
Chelsea
Chelsea Football Club, popularly known as the Pride of London by fans of the club, was founded in 1907 and has competed in the Premier League for several years. Their home ground, Stamford Bridge, has the capacity of accommodating over 40000 fans on a football live match day.
Domestically, the club has won six league titles, eight FA Cups, five League Cups, and four FA Community Shields making them the fourth most successful club in English football. The club has also had a fair share of success in Europe, winning the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Europa League, the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cups, and the UEFA Super Cup twice each. These achievements make them one of five clubs to have won all three of UEFA’s main club competitions and the only London club to have won the Champions League and the Club World Cup. The club has also won one FIFA Club World Cup since its inception.
Chelsea Football Club is among the world’s most widely supported football clubs. They have the sixth highest average attendance for a football live match in the history of English football. The official club app, “The 5th Stand,” also provides an avenue for Chelsea fans worldwide to watch their club’s football live action aside from the 100 million followers and subscribers who also follow the club’s football live updates across its social media platforms.
The club is valued at $3 billion making it the eighth-most valuable football club in the world. It is also the world’s seventh highest-earning football club, with over €493.1 million in earnings.
Juventus
The Italian Football Giants is one of Italy’s biggest and most successful clubs. Since it was founded in 1897, Juventus Football Club has cemented its spot as the biggest club in Serie A. Based in Turin, Italy, the club, nicknamed “the Old Lady,” has won thirty-six official league titles, fourteen Coppa Italia titles, and nine Supercoppa Italiana titles, being the record holder for all these competitions. The club has also won two Intercontinental Cups, two UEFA Champions Leagues, one European Cup Winners’ Cup, a joint national record of three UEFA Cups, and two UEFA Super Cups, and a joint national record of one UEFA Intertoto Cup.
The club is known for the black and white striped home kit, which they have rocked since 1903. And with its 41000-capacity stadium, home football live matches are always a delight for fans in Turin and fans from all over the world to watch them play football live in Italy.
Juventus is one of the highest-earning football clubs in the world, with revenue of over €400 million yearly. It is also the ninth most valuable football club in the world, worth $2.45 billion according to Forbes. The football club is the most supported in Italy, with over 100 million supporters following the club’s football live actions across all its social media pages. Fans can also stream football live actions on the club’s mobile app. Aside from the club’s shirt sponsor, Jeep, the club also has a £46 million yearly sponsorship deal with Adidas.
Manchester United
Manchester United is another English football top-flight team. Also known as the “Red Devils,” Man U is unarguably one of the most successful clubs in English and European football, with several trophies to its name. The club has won the English Premier League a record twenty times as well as twelve FA Cups, five League Cups, and twenty-one FA Community Shields. They have also won the UEFA Champions League three times, the UEFA Europa League, the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup, the UEFA Super Cup, the Intercontinental Cup, and the FIFA Club World Cup once each.
Manchester United is one of the world’s most widely supported football clubs and is famous for their customary red shirt, and white short home kit, which is always on display during the club’s football live home games in their Old Trafford Stadium. Old Trafford can accommodate over 74000 fans on a football live match day. The club has one of the highest social media presences in the world, with over 160 million followers and subscribers tailing the club’s football live updates across its social media pages. Fans can also stream football live actions on the club’s official app.
Manchester United is one of the highest-earning football clubs in the world with annual revenue of €643 million and the world’s third most valuable football club in 2022, valued at $4.6 billion. The club has recently secured a shirt sponsorship deal with Team Viewer, and they also have a £75 million yearly sponsorship deal with Adidas.
Barcelona
With over ninety trophies won in the local and international scenes, Football Club Barcelona is one of the most successful football clubs in terms of achievement. The club was founded in 1899 in Spain, where it competes in the Spanish La Liga. With twenty-six La Liga titles, thirty-one Copa del Rey, thirteen Supercopa de España, three Copa Eva Duarte, and two Copa de la Liga titles, the club’s trophy cabinet is one to be envied.
Apart from the loads of achievements the club has had on domestic fronts, FC Barcelona has also been a major force on the international scene. The club has won over twenty European titles, including five UEFA Champions League titles, a record four UEFA Cup Winners’ Cups, five UEFA Super Cups, and three FIFA Club World Cups.
Barcelona is one of the most widely supported teams in Spain and the world, with about 25% of the population of Spain said to be Barça supporters. The club has one of the largest social media presences in the world, with a combined 270 million followers and subscribers tailing the club on and off-pitch football live updates across its entire social media page. On football live match days, the Club stadium Camp Nou, the largest stadium in Europe, can accommodate about 99000 fans.
FC Barcelona is popularly known as the Blaugranas due to their popular blue and garnet color home kit, which is always on display at football live games when Barcelona takes on opponents at their home ground. The club is the fourth-most valuable sports team and the world’s second most valuable football club, with a total worth of $4.76 billion. In terms of revenue, the club generates an annual turnover of €582.1 million. The club has recently secured a sponsorship deal with Spotify as their shirt sponsor. They also have a £120 million yearly sponsorship deal with Nike.
Real Madrid
For over 120 years of Real Madrid’s existence, the club has dominated the football world with over 90 trophies won since its inception in 1902. The club also competes in the Spanish La Liga, where it has won a record thirty-five La Liga titles, nineteen Copa del Rey, and twelve Supercopa de España. The club has also been the most successful on the European scene with a record fourteen UEFA Champions League titles, two UEFA Cups, and four UEFA Super Cups, as well as a record seven club world championships.
Real Madrid has the second highest average all-time attendance in Spanish football and regularly attracts over 74,000 fans to the Bernabéu to watch and feel the thrill of the club’s football live games. The club is one of the most supported teams globally, with millions of fans worldwide. The club also has one of the largest social media presence in the football world, being the first sports team to reach a hundred million followers on Facebook. Real Madrid boasts over 280 million supporters following the club’s football live actions across all its social media pages. Fans also enjoy streaming all football live matches on the club’s official mobile application.
Real Madrid holds many long-standing rivalries, most notably El Clásico with Barcelona and El Derbi Madrileño with Atlético Madrid. The El Classico is the world’s most popular and most-watched football rivalry. Apart from the thousands of fans who always come to see the football live match experience of the El Clasico, millions of fans all over the world also follow the football live update on air. In fact, the last edition of El Classico recorded about 650 million football live viewers in over 180 countries.
Real Madrid is estimated to be worth $5.1 billion in 2022, the world’s most valuable football team. In 2021, it was the world’s second highest-earning football club, with annual revenue of €640.7 million.
Conclusion
Football is one of the sports with widespread popularity across virtually every nation. The ten football clubs listed above compete at the highest level of the game and are referred to as the best based on their history, finances, records, trophies, achievements, and social media presence. Other notable mentions include Inter Milan, AC Milan, Atletico Madrid, FC Porto, Sevilla, and Ajax.