Matchday revenue: The 20 highest-earning teams in the world

Paul Macdonald

• Updated: 23 May 2023 08:37 CDT
• 4 min read

Football is now big business. As owners flood in, matchday revenue has become a significant source of funds, and is a critical part of any football club's financial strategy.

It is one of the ways that these rich football teams sustain their operations, and they are always looking to improve their matchday revenue in a number of ways.

How clubs generate matchday revenue

Matchday revenue covers off a number of areas, such as:

Ticket sales: Each club is able to determine a price for their home matches. These can often vary by competition, but almost certainly by league. Ticket prices across teams also vary depending on the size of their stadium, and any applicable rules put in place. The German Bundesliga, for example, has one of the most cost-effective set-ups for fans, while the Premier League is, in general, the most expensive league to attend.

READ MORE: Commercial revenue: The 20 highest-earning teams in the world

Concessions: Food, drinks, and official club merchandise sold at stadiums also contribute to the overall matchday revenue total. This varies wildly based on the facilities available.

Sponsorship: Advertising banners around the pitch have become more sophisticated over time, and now, with LED boards in most stadiums, generate more than ever before.

Hospitality packages: The bigger clubs can offer hospitality packages to fans, including access to premium seating and catering services.

READ MORE: Broadcast revenue: The 20 highest-earning teams in the world

Football’s biggest matchday revenue earners

PSG top the list with a matchday revenue of €132 million. Paris is notoriously expensive for everything, and that includes tickets for the Parc des Princes, which became a hot ticket from the minute Lionel Messi arrived to partner Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.

Manchester United are second, with revenue of €126m. Old Trafford’s capacity of around 72,000 helps in this regard, and their merchandising on matchday is particularly lucrative, with fans from all over the world visiting, and leaving, with their own piece of memorabilia.

There’s a reason why Tottenham moved to their new stadium - to significantly increase the potential of matchday revenue. Their total of €125m is third-highest and might well be #1 in future lists; the overall experience is akin to US-based stadiums and the concessions have proven to be extremely popular.

Liverpool follow closely behind, with matchday revenue of €112m. Their decision to expand Anfield is already paying dividends, while Barcelona plan to do the same, though the 100k-plus capacity of the current Camp Nou helps to keep their matchday takings high.

Likewise, Real Madrid have been operating under a reduced capacity for the past few seasons as they redevelop the Santiago Bernabeu; when that is complete, they could well be at the top of this list, too.

Atletico Madrid, West Ham, Inter Milan, Borussia Dortmund, Newcastle, Juventus, Milan, Leeds, Leicester, and Everton round out the list, with matchday revenues ranging from €61 million to €18 million.

These clubs may not generate as much revenue as the top teams, but they still attract substantial crowds to home matches and contribute to their overall revenue.

In conclusion, the richest football teams in the world generate substantial amounts of matchday revenue from home matches. This revenue is a critical part of their financial strategy, and it helps to sustain the sport and its participants.