Real Madrid Makes History, Becomes First Club to Earn 1 Billion Euros in Revenue

Real Madrid has made history by becoming the first football club to surpass the 1 billion euro revenue mark in a single year.

According to Deloitte’s annual Money League study, the Spanish giants earned a staggering 1.05 billion euros (£883m) in the 2023-24 season, during which they secured both La Liga and the Champions League titles.

The success of the 14-time European champions has allowed them to maintain their spot as the world’s top-earning football club.

The revenue increase was notably boosted by a significant rise in matchday income, with Real Madrid generating £210m—double the previous year’s figure—thanks to the renovation of their iconic Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.

Manchester City follows closely behind with a revenue of £708m, securing second place after a historic season in which they clinched their fourth consecutive Premier League title and triumphed in the Club World Cup and European Super Cup.

Paris Saint-Germain, with £681m in revenue, and Manchester United, at £651m, complete the top four.

The Money League saw a rise in revenues across the board, with the top 20 clubs collectively earning £9.47bn—up 6% from last year.

The fastest-growing revenue stream was matchday income, which grew by 11% to £1.77bn, largely due to increased stadium capacities, ticket prices, and premium hospitality offerings.

Real Madrid wasn’t the only club seeing growth in matchday revenue.

Barcelona also benefited from this increase, although the club saw a £53m drop in matchday earnings, partly due to games being played in a smaller stadium while their Nou Camp is being redeveloped.

The report highlighted the impressive resilience of clubs even amid global challenges.

Commercial revenue led the charge, rising 10% to £4.14bn, and now accounts for 44% of total income, driven by events beyond football such as concerts and live performances at the clubs’ venues.

The Money League data underscores how the world of football continues to thrive with record-breaking revenues, with Premier League clubs maintaining their dominance.

Aston Villa also made a significant leap into the top 20, marking their first European competition appearance since 2011.