Manchester United have overtaken Real Madrid as the world ’ s most valuable football team , US magazine Forbes announced on Tuesday in its annual global list ranking the sport ’ s wealthiest clubs .
United ’ s enduring brand appeal and aggressive sponsorship strategies had helped the Premier League side reclaim top spot for the first time in five years , with a worth estimated at $ 3 .69 billion ( 3 .27 billion euros ), Forbes said in its survey.
Although Real Madrid have enjoyed unparallelled success in the Champions League — clinching unprecedented back - to - back titles on Saturday for a record 12 th crown — United have roared past the Spanish giants in the commercial stakes .
According to Forbes , United generated revenues of $ 765 million during the 2015 -2016 season , $ 77 million more than both Barcelona and Real Madrid .
“ Manchester United ’s return to the top spot is a testament to their powerful brand and marketing acumen , ” Forbes Media assistant managing editor Mike Ozanian said in a statement .
The Forbes survey found United to be the most profitable team in the world with an operating income of $ 288 million , $ 107 million more than Real.
Barcelona were placed at number two on the 2017 rankings , with a value of $ 3 . 64 billion while Real — first place for the past four years — had slipped to third with a value of $ 3 .58 billion .
The top five was completed by Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich ( $ 2 . 71 billion) and English Premier League side Manchester City ( $ 2 . 08 billion).
United ’ s ascent to top spot comes despite a relatively fallow period in the club’ s on - field fortunes .
The Red Devils have not won the domestic title since Alex Ferguson retired in 2013 and could only muster a sixth place finish in the Premier League under new manager Jose Mourinho. The club did claim victory in the Europa League however , a win which guaranteed their entry to next season ’s money -spinning Champions League.
Off the field though United ’ s fortunes have soared , fuelled by the Premier League ’s multi -billion -dollar television deal which makes the English league by far the wealthiest in the world .
United ’ s coffers have also swollen due to an array of global commercial tie -ups and a kit deal with Adidas worth a reported $ 90 million a year .
The financial might of English football is reflected in the fact that six of the top 10 most valuable clubs hail from the Premier League .
Arsenal were ranked sixth in the list with a value of $ 1 . 93 billion, just ahead of Chelsea ( $ 1 . 85 billion) and Liverpool ( $ 1 . 26 billion) .
Italian giants Juventus — beaten by Real Madrid in last weekend ’ s Champions League final — came in ninth with $ 1 . 26 billion.
Tottenham rounded out the top 10 with a value of $ 1 .06 billion .
French side Paris Saint -Germain were 11 th on the list with a value estimated at $ 841 million .
United ’ s enduring brand appeal and aggressive sponsorship strategies had helped the Premier League side reclaim top spot for the first time in five years , with a worth estimated at $ 3 .69 billion ( 3 .27 billion euros ), Forbes said in its survey.
Although Real Madrid have enjoyed unparallelled success in the Champions League — clinching unprecedented back - to - back titles on Saturday for a record 12 th crown — United have roared past the Spanish giants in the commercial stakes .
According to Forbes , United generated revenues of $ 765 million during the 2015 -2016 season , $ 77 million more than both Barcelona and Real Madrid .
“ Manchester United ’s return to the top spot is a testament to their powerful brand and marketing acumen , ” Forbes Media assistant managing editor Mike Ozanian said in a statement .
The Forbes survey found United to be the most profitable team in the world with an operating income of $ 288 million , $ 107 million more than Real.
Barcelona were placed at number two on the 2017 rankings , with a value of $ 3 . 64 billion while Real — first place for the past four years — had slipped to third with a value of $ 3 .58 billion .
The top five was completed by Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich ( $ 2 . 71 billion) and English Premier League side Manchester City ( $ 2 . 08 billion).
United ’ s ascent to top spot comes despite a relatively fallow period in the club’ s on - field fortunes .
The Red Devils have not won the domestic title since Alex Ferguson retired in 2013 and could only muster a sixth place finish in the Premier League under new manager Jose Mourinho. The club did claim victory in the Europa League however , a win which guaranteed their entry to next season ’s money -spinning Champions League.
Off the field though United ’ s fortunes have soared , fuelled by the Premier League ’s multi -billion -dollar television deal which makes the English league by far the wealthiest in the world .
United ’ s coffers have also swollen due to an array of global commercial tie -ups and a kit deal with Adidas worth a reported $ 90 million a year .
The financial might of English football is reflected in the fact that six of the top 10 most valuable clubs hail from the Premier League .
Arsenal were ranked sixth in the list with a value of $ 1 . 93 billion, just ahead of Chelsea ( $ 1 . 85 billion) and Liverpool ( $ 1 . 26 billion) .
Italian giants Juventus — beaten by Real Madrid in last weekend ’ s Champions League final — came in ninth with $ 1 . 26 billion.
Tottenham rounded out the top 10 with a value of $ 1 .06 billion .
French side Paris Saint -Germain were 11 th on the list with a value estimated at $ 841 million .
