Barcelona have leapfrogged Spanish rivals Real Madrid to become the world's most valuable football club with a valuation of $US4.76 billion ($NZ6.77b), according to a list published by business magazine Forbes.
Real Madrid, who have topped the list five times in the past, edged Barcelona 2-1 in 'El Clasico' at the weekend, but find themselves second best off the pitch, with a valuation of $US4.75b ($NZ6.75b).
Forbes says the average worth of the top 20 clubs has increased by 30 percent from two years ago to $US2.28b ($NZ3.2b), despite the COVID-19 pandemic impacting matchday revenue, which fell to $US440m ($NZ627m) last season - down 9.6 percent from 2017/18.
European champions Bayern Munich $US4.2b ($NZ5.99b) are third on the list, while the Premier League's 'Big Six' - Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur - are in the top 10.
French champions and Champions League runners-up Paris St Germain moved up to ninth, after being valued at $US2.5b ($NZ3.55b), with a 129 percent increase in two years - the biggest increase among the top 10 clubs.
Reuters
