Barca Overtake Real Madrid On Forbes List

Barcelona overtook its eternal rivals, Real Madrid to become the world's most valuable soccer club with a valuation of $4.76 billion, according to business magazine Forbes on Monday.

Real Madrid defeated Barcelona in the famous El Grand Clasico on Saturday but found themselves trailing off the field, second best to the Blaugrana with a valuation of $4.75 billion.

Forbes said the average worth of the top 20 clubs has increased by 30 per cent from two years ago to $2.28 billion despite the COVID-19 pandemic impacting matchday revenue, which fell to $441 million last season -- down 9.6 per cent from 2017-18.

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"The pain is far from over, with a worsening decline in matchday revenue during the current season, as most of the teams in Europe's top leagues still permit few fans to attend games," wrote Forbes' assistant managing editor Mike Ozanian.

An observable fall off the top 3 is Manchester United who had dropped from the usual second or third spot while European champions Bayern Munich ($4.215 billion) replaced the English club on third.

The Premier League's 'Big Six' -- Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur -- are in the top 10.

French champions and last year's Champions League runners-up Paris St Germain moved up to ninth after being valued at $2.5 billion with a 129 per cent increase in two years -- the biggest increase among the top 10 clubs.