The financial “Cristiano Ronaldo derby” has a clear winner. Manchester United, housed at the Old Trafford often known as the “Theatre of Dreams” could well be turning into a bit of a nightmare.
According to the 2026 Deloitte Football Money League released recently, Manchester United have suffered a historic fall from grace, plunging to 8th place globally, the club’s lowest position in the report’s 29-year history. Meanwhile, Ronaldo’s other former club Real Madrid sit at the top of the rich list.
Football rich list: Liverpool become richest Premier League club
For the first time ever, Liverpool (€836m) has officially overtaken Manchester United to become the highest-earning club in England. While the Reds surged to 5th place globally, fuelled by a Premier League title, Champions League revenue and high-profile Anfield concerts, United’s lack of top-tier European football saw their broadcast income crater by over €50 million.
Real Madrid richest club: The unstoppable billionaires at the summit
While Cristiano Ronaldo has played for United too, his other former club, Real Madrid, continue to operate in a league of its own. The Spanish giants retained the top spot in this rich list with a staggering €1.16 billion (£975m) in revenue.
They are currently the only club in history to breach the €1 billion mark in consecutive seasons, driven by a 23% explosion in commercial income and the successful redevelopment of the Santiago Bernabeu.
The new top 10 club (Men’s Revenue 2024/25):
Real Madrid: €1,161m
Barcelona: €975m
Bayern Munich: €861m
Paris Saint-Germain: €837m
Liverpool: €836m
Manchester City: €829m
Arsenal: €822m
Manchester United: €793m
Tottenham: €673m
Chelsea: €584m
Football richest Women’s game: Arsenal dethrone Barcelona in historic shift
For the first time in the report’s history, the women’s game has shattered the €150 million cumulative revenue milestone, with the top 15 clubs growing by a staggering 35% year-on-year.
In a massive power shift, Arsenal Women (€25.6m) have officially dethroned Barcelona Femení to become the world’s richest women’s club.
The “Gunners” saw a 43% explosion in income, largely due to their bold strategy of playing major home fixtures at the 60,000-capacity Emirates Stadium, which generated nearly €7m in matchday revenue alone, double that of any other club. While Chelsea Women (€25.4m) sit narrowly in second, the report highlights a growing “financial gap” as the top three clubs now account for nearly half of the entire league’s wealth.