UEFA has officially released its latest economic report, providing a comprehensive overview of the financial landscape of European football clubs and federations.
Real Madrid once again emerges as a financial and sporting powerhouse, solidifying its position at top of the Euroepan revenue scale due to its success in the 2024 Champions League.
Real Madrid’s Champions League Revenue
Real Madrid’s victorious campaign in the 2024 Champions League significantly boosted the club’s financial standing. Before the final at Wembley, the club had already secured €80.6 million in earnings, broken down as follows:
€15.6 million for participating in the group stage.
€16.8 million for their six victories in the group stage (each worth €2.8 million).
€9.6 million for reaching the Round of 16.
€10.6 million for making it to the quarter-finals.
€12.5 million for advancing to the semi-finals.
€15.5 million for reaching the final.
€4.5 million for winning the tournament.
These earnings totaled €85.1 million, but UEFA’s coefficient-based distribution model significantly increased the club’s overall earnings. Real Madrid, as the highest-ranked club in UEFA’s coefficient system, received an additional €36.4 million, further raising their total revenue to €141 million through market pool allocations.
Changes in Champions League Prize Distribution
The latest UEFA report also sheds light on the updated distribution model for the Champions League, which now sees €670 million shared among the 36 clubs that qualify for the final phase. Key aspects of the new system include:
€18.62 million guaranteed for each team participating in the group stage.
Victory bonuses of €2.1 million per win and €700,000 per draw.
A performance-based league bonus, where the lowest-ranked team earns €275,000 and the top-ranked team (Liverpool in this case) secures €9.9 million.
Additional financial incentives for teams advancing beyond the group stage.
Knockout rounds introduce a preliminary phase for clubs ranked 9th to 24th, each receiving an extra €1 million. Further earnings include:
€11 million for teams progressing to the Round of 16.
€12.5 million for quarter-finalists.
€15 million for semi-finalists.
€18.5 million for each finalist.
An additional sum for the Champions League winner, ensuring a minimum of €86 million in earnings for any club that reaches and wins the final.