Whatever happens in Saturday’s UEFA Champions League final (9 a.m. ET) at Paris’ Stade de France, two of the world’s richest clubs will only get richer.
The match features the world’s most valuable soccer team, Real Madrid, against the fourth-most valuable, Liverpool, per Forbes.
- The Spanish club saw its valuation grow 7% year-over-year to $5.1 billion, edging rival Barcelona, which has a $5 billion valuation, for the top spot.
- The two clubs are the sixth- and seventh-most valuable teams in the world behind the Dallas Cowboys, New York Yankees, and three NBA teams.
- While the La Liga clubs own the top two spots, the Premier League has the strongest overall presence, with six clubs in the top 11.
The average value of the top 20 soccer teams grew 10% year-over-year to $2.5 billion. All of the top teams play in Spain, the U.K., Germany, or Italy.
Millions at Stake
The two teams are playing for more than just bragging rights. The winner collects $22.7 million, while the loser will take home $17.6 million as Champions League runner-up.
The tournament winnings are spread among the top-performing clubs, with each team in the Round of 16 securing $10.9 million.
Both finalists are in familiar territory, with Liverpool winning the 2018-2019 tournament and Real Madrid taking the three prior.
