The biggest football clubs in the world
- Real Madrid, Man Utd, Liverpool and Barcelona are among the biggest clubs in world football
- European and South American sides have huge followings
- Modern investment has seen clubs like Man City and PSG grow in stature
What makes a football club truly 'bigger' than any other given side?
While teams like Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain have grown into modern behemoths, their relative lack of history compared to other teams means their fanbases aren't as big as their competitors. Then again, their lists of domestic honours accrued in recent times means they have to be considered among the giants of world football.
City and PSG are present day phenomenons, but there are sides around the globe who are steeped in tradition and will be until the end of time.
So, in what is a truly impossible task, here are 90min's biggest football clubs in the world.
30. Aston Villa
When it comes to pure heritage, few clubs can compete with Aston Villa. The Birmingham outfit was founded in 1874 and is one of England's most successful teams.
The Villans became only the fourth English club to win the European Cup in 1981/82 and have since emerged as a threat to the top dogs in the Premier League under the tutelage of Unai Emery.
29. Marseille
Marseille may not have quite the same pedigree as they once did, but they remain a formidable side in French football. 1993 Champions League winners, they continue to be one of the most supported clubs across Europe.
While they may not have won the Ligue 1 title since 2009/10 due to PSG's dominance, teams don't relish a trip to the cauldron that is the Stade Velodrome.
28. Newcastle United
Newcastle United may not boast the biggest trophy cabinet in England, but they have some of the most loyal and passionate supporters of any team in the country. The Magpies have always packed out St James' Park, even in the darker days, and returned to the Champions League in 2023/24.
With Saudi Arabian investment in the club, Newcastle are back eating at the big table of English football.
27. Fenerbahce
Fenerbahce are one of Turkey's most well-supported and decorated sides, with 19 Super Lig titles and seven Turkish Cup crowns to their name.
Their famous yellow and blue jersey has become iconic, with Fener desperate to get back to the summit of Turkish football having failed to win a league title in a decade.
26. Flamengo
Flamengo are Brazilian superstars and the most followed club across the country, winning two Copa Libertadores trophies since 2019. The black and red stripes of their kit have been worn by the likes of Zico and Romario over the years.
Other than Sao Paulo, the Rio de Janeiro side are the only team to have never been relegated from the top division of Brazil.
25. Rangers
Having been demoted to the fourth tier of Scottish football after entering administration in 2012, Rangers are now back where they belong. The Glasgow club, who boast a fierce rivalry with Celtic in the Old Firm, went unbeaten during the 2020/21 season in the league, and even reached the Europa League final the following campaign.
With a record 55 league titles to their name, there can be no doubting just how big an institution Rangers are, even if they don't have the same global reach as some other clubs.
24. Porto
One of Portugal's big two, Porto are the second most decorated club in the country, boasting a mightily impressive 30 Primeira Liga titles. Not only this, the Dragons also have two European Cups to their name, most recently winning the competition under Jose Mourinho in 2004.
A club frequently in the latter stages of the Champions League, Porto have an enormous fanbase and are a huge production factory for some of the world's best talent.
23. Galatasaray
Galatasaray are Turkey's most successful club and have a record 24 Super Lig titles in their cabinet. They are one of the few sides from the country to have won European silverware, lifting the UEFA Cup in 1999/00.
While they may not have the financial muscle to compete at the top level in Europe, they still have the capacity to spring a surprise on the continent.
22. Celtic
The first British side to win the European Cup, Celtic's 'Lisbon Lions' established the Scots as one of the biggest clubs in the United Kingdom. The Glasgow side have an enormous backing across Scotland and Ireland and have immense pedigree domestically with 54 league titles and a record 42 Scottish Cups.
The Bhoys' continental influence has waned slightly in recent years, but they remain one of the world's fiercest sides.
21. River Plate
River Plate are Argentina's most successful domestic side having won 54 titles, besting huge rivals Boca Juniors. They also have four Copa Libertadores crowns, most recently lifting the trophy in 2018.
River won the Primera Division for a 38th time in 2023 and the South American giants continue to relentlessly search for more silverware.
20. Boca Juniors
Boca Juniors are an institution in Argentina and one of the biggest clubs in South America. They have claimed a staggering 35 Primera Division titles as well as six Copa Libertadores crowns.
They are the record holders for silverware in Argentinian football and the famous blue and yellow of Boca will forever be synonymous with the passion and fire of South American football.
19. Napoli
Napoli brought over three decades of hurt to an end in 2022/23 as they finally won another Serie A title. It was only the Naples side's third scudetto, but they ran away with the title and played some glorious football under Luciano Spalletti in the process.
While some way off being the most decorated club in Italy, they remain one of the country's most passionate and well-loved teams.
18. Benfica
Benfica are a side with incredible history, winning two European Cups consecutively in 1961 and 1962. However, they are still one of Portugal's giants in the modern day, having won a record 38 Primeira Liga titles.
Benfica have won five of the last ten Portuguese league titles on offer and are one of Europe's greatest talent factories.
17. Roma
Associated with the great Francesco Totti, Roma are one of Italy's elite clubs. They may only have three Serie A titles, but they are a club steeped in fame for their immense presence in the Italian capital.
Roma won their first European trophy since the 1960s in 2021/22 when they lifted the Europa Conference League under Mourinho.
16. Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur's significant trophy drought over the past 15 years hasn't detracted from their status as one of England's most followed clubs. The north London side are a colossal force in the capital and have always been easily identifiable for their attractive brand of forward-thinking football.
The arrival of Ange Postecoglou has lifted the Spurs faithful and dreams of glory are not too far away given the Australian's impressive start to life in English football.
15. Atletico Madrid
Atletico Madrid are one of the few Spanish sides who have upset the dominance of Barcelona and Real Madrid in recent years, even reaching two Champions League finals under Diego Simeone.
The capital side have also managed two La Liga titles under the Argentine coach, most recently triumphing during the 2020/21 campaign, and continue to defy the odds year on year.
14. Ajax
Easily the biggest club in the Netherlands, Ajax remain a titan in Europe. The Amsterdam outfit are the most successful club in Dutch football, with seldom a trophy-less season passing in the capital.
With Johan Cruyff the face of the four-time European champions, Ajax have still been able to compete with the continent's big boys despite a lack of financial power in comparison to the other elite sides in Europe.
13. Borussia Dortmund
Seeing the famous black and yellow wall of Borussia Dortmund in the flesh must be on the bucket list of every football supporter across the world, with Signal Iduna Park one of the most fabled grounds in Europe.
Dortmund are the second biggest club in German football and enjoyed huge success in the 21st century under Jurgen Klopp, also claiming a Champions League title in 1997.
12. Inter
Inter were incredibly close to winning their fourth European Cup in 2022/23 when they reached the Champions League final against Manchester City, but narrowly missed out on adding another piece of silverware to their bulging trophy room.
That European disappointment aside, the Nerazzurri are Italy's strongest and most consistent team in the 2020s and look set to add more honours to their impressive list in the near future.
11. Arsenal
Arsenal are record FA Cup winners, the only side to go unbeaten throughout the entirety of the Premier League season and have the third-most trophies of any English club. They are a colossal force.
Mikel Arteta has helped re-energise a Gunners side that had fallen on hard times and they are now back among Europe's most exciting sides.
10. Paris Saint-Germain
Paris Saint-Germain had once sat in the shadows of France's biggest clubs, with only the occasional trophy to boast in the capital. However, the arrival of Qatari investment transformed them into a European powerhouse and easily the strongest side in Ligue 1.
The likes of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe have all graced Parc des Princes in recent seasons, with PSG now a global brand associated with flair, style and excitement.
9. Chelsea
Chelsea's recent success was forged by former owner Roman Abramovich, whose investment helped the Blues compete among the top sides in England and Europe. As a result, they have have won five Premier League titles and two Champions League trophies, but Todd Boehly has since taken over at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues have always had that 'X factor' since the turn of the century, fielding stars such as Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard and Eden Hazard.
8. AC Milan
A giant of world football, Milan are on their way back to rediscovering past glories. The Italian behemoths were dominant domestically in the 1990s and supporters of the club were lucky enough to witness the likes of Marco van Basten and Ruud Gullit in their primes during the decade.
Milan have won seven European Cups - the most of any Italian team - and won a first scudetto in over a decade in 2021/22 as they return to being a European powerhouse.
7. Manchester City
Manchester City have risen to prominence since hefty Middle Eastern investment in 2008 and have now become one of Europe's most frightening teams under the tutelage of the world-class Pep Guardiola.
The Cityzens have now won everything on offer under the Spanish coach, including a famous treble in 2022/23 that saw them end their Champions League hoodoo.
The club's recent dominance of the Premier League is unprecedented and it looks like they're set to add more silverware to their trophy cabinet in the years to come.
6. Juventus
Despite a difficult few years in Turin, few sides can match the history and quality of Juventus since their inception in 1897. No Italian club have more Serie A titles than the Old Lady's 36 or Coppas Italia than their 14.
The likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane and Michel Platini have all worn the black and white of Juve, with the club desperate to reclaim their spot at the top of Italian football once again.
5. Bayern Munich
The biggest club in one of the grandest footballing nations of all time, Bayern Munich are a success machine. They are the record winners of the Bundesliga, DFB Pokal and DFL Supercup, while they also secured a sixth Champions League victory in 2020.
Unless they suffer a mighty downfall in the near future, no German side is ever catching their records at the top of the tree.
4. Liverpool
Liverpool are the most successful club in English football and added yet another trophy to their cabinet with the Carabao Cup in 2023/42. Jurgen Klopp got the Reds back to their best after a difficult period and Arne Slot will want to continue his success.
They also hold the record for the most European Cups won by any English side, grabbing a sixth in 2019.
3. Manchester United
Sir Alex Ferguson helped establish Manchester United as one of the biggest and most decorated clubs in world football, with the Red Devils dominating English football for two decades under the Scotsman's tutelage.
20 Premier League/First Division titles is a record in England, while three Champions League trophies is an impressive total. They'll be back among Europe's best on the pitch sooner or later.
2. Barcelona
Not only have Barcelona boasted the best player to ever take to the field in Lionel Messi, the Catalan club also produced arguably the greatest team in football history under Pep Guardiola in the late 2000s and early 2010s.
They have fans in every corner of the world and are always capable of producing generational talents through their famous La Masia academy.
1. Real Madrid
Here they are, the biggest club in world football: Real Madrid.
The Spanish giants are gargantuan both domestically and in Europe, with a record 15 Champions League/European Cup trophies shining brightly in their vast cabinet.
They have boasted some of the best players the world has ever seen from all across the globe, with the pinnacle of a footballer's career donning that fabled white shirt.
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