Football is one of the most popular sports in the world. It is played by people of all ages in more than 200 countries. Football clubs are organized teams that compete against each other in matches. There are thousands of football clubs around the world, however, some are more popular than others. In this blog, we will take a look at the 20 most popular football clubs in the world.
Barcelona
1. Barcelona
With an impressive twenty-five La Liga titles, Barcelona is the second most successful team in Spanish football history. On five occasions, the Catalans have lifted the Champions League trophy, most recently in 2015.
Famous players to have graced the Nou Camp include Diego Maradona, Johan Cruyff, Ronaldinho and Lionel Messi – who is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time.
Real Madrid
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol, commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. Formed in 1902, the club played its first official game in November 1902. Madrid won the 1957–58 European Cup, which was their first international title. In 1902, the club played its first-ever competitive match against Arenas Club de Getxo.
In 1962, Real Madrid also reached the final of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup which they played against Eintracht Frankfurt, however, lost 2–1. Winners of the European Cup in 1974 and 1986, they reached the competition’s final for the third time in 2005, becoming the first club ever to do so. As well as this, they also became the first team to retain their European crown by winning their fourth title in the 2007–08 season. In addition to that, they lifted the Spanish Cup in 1957 and 2007. The Liga championship titles in 1936, 1954, 1955, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1966, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2007 and 2016. With their first professional club kit supplied by Adidas and sponsored by Banco Santander,[1]
The most successful period for the club started in 1953 under cup specialist Vicente del Bosque when they won La Liga championship for five years running from 1986 until 1990 including four Copa del Rey trophies within that spell too. In addition they were runners up twice in La Liga during that time. Before that
Bayern Munich
1. Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich is one of the most popular football clubs in the world, with a large fan base in Germany and across Europe. The club has won numerous prestigious trophies, including the Champions League, Bundesliga, and DFB-Pokal. Bayern Munich is also one of the richest clubs in the world, with a annual revenue of over €500 million.
Juventus
Juventus, founded in 1897, is the most successful club in Italy, with 33 Serie A titles and 13 Coppa Italia trophies. The Old Lady has also won two European Cups / Champions Leagues, seven UEFA Cups / Europa Leagues and three Intercontinental Cups / World Club Championships. Juve’s first-team stars include Cristiano Ronaldo, Paulo Dybala and Giorgio Chiellini.
In terms of overall trophies, Juventus are the second most successful club in Europe behind only Real Madrid – and they are closing in on the Spanish giants’ record. The Bianconeri have also been crowned world champions twice by FIFA.
Arsenal
Arsenal Football Club is, globally, one of the most popular football clubs. The club was founded in 1886 and has since amazed a large following. Arsenal has always been a club with a rich history. They have won 13 First Division and Premier League titles, as well as 10 FA Cups. The club’s most recent success came in the form of their 13th FA Cup win in 2020.
The Arsenal Museum is located at the Emirates Stadium and is definitely worth a visit for any die-hard fan of the club. It chronicles the club’s storied past and houses some incredible memorabilia, including Arsene Wenger’s coat! If you’re ever in London, make sure to add Arsenal Football Club to your list of must-see sights.
Liverpool
1. Liverpool
-Liverpool is one of the most popular football clubs in the world. They have a huge fan base and are one of the most successful clubs in history.
-Their home ground is Anfield, which is one of the most iconic stadiums in the world.
-Liverpool has won 18 league titles, 5 European Cups/Champions Leagues, and 3 UEFA Cups/Europa Leagues.
AC Milan
1. AC Milan
AC Milan is one of the most popular football clubs in the world. The club has a rich history, and was founded in 1899. AC Milan has won 18 Serie A titles, 7 Coppa Italias, 5 Supercoppa Italianas, and 3 UEFA Champions League titles. The club is also the second-most successful club in international competitions behind only Real Madrid.
Also known as the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, AC Milan’s home stadium is the San Siro. The San Siro is one of the largest stadiums in Europe, with a capacity of over 80,000 spectators.
Some of the most famous players to have played for AC Milan include Paolo Maldini, Franco Baresi, Alessandro Nesta, Andriy Shevchenko, Ronaldinho, Kaka, and Gianluigi Buffon.
Paris Saint-Germain
Paris Saint-Germain, commonly referred to as PSG, is a French professional football club based in Paris. The club was founded in 1970 and currently plays in Ligue 1, the top division of French football. PSG has won seven Ligue 1 titles, thirteen Coupe de France trophies, nine Trophee des Champions, one Ligue 2 title, and one UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup.
The club’s home ground is the Parc des Princes stadium, located in the southwest of Paris in the 16th arrondissement. PSG shares an intense rivalry with Olympique de Marseille; the two clubs contest Le Classique.
PSG’s traditional kit colours are blue and red, their crest features the Eiffel Tower surrounded by two laurels. The current head coach is Thomas Tuchel while their most notable players include Neymar Jr., Kylian Mbappe, Mauro Icardi and Angel Di Maria.
Chelsea
1. Chelsea
Chelsea is one of the most popular football clubs in the world, with millions of fans worldwide. The club has won numerous trophies over the years, including the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League. Chelsea is well-known for its strong youth academy, which has produced some of the world’s top players.
Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund is one of the most popular football clubs in the world. It is based in Dortmund, Germany and was founded in 1909. The club has won many trophies, including the Bundesliga (German first division) title eight times and the DFB-Pokal (German Cup) four times. As well as this, Dortmund reached the final of the UEFA Champions League in 2013.
Dortmund’s success is built on a strong youth academy, which has produced many world-class players such as Mario Götze, Robert Lewandowski, and Mats Hummels. The club also has a large and passionate fan base, which makes it one of the most atmospheric places to watch football in Europe.
Atlético Madrid
Atlético Madrid is one of the most popular football clubs in the world. The club has a rich history, and was founded in 1903. Atlético Madrid has won many prestigious trophies, including La Liga and the UEFA Champions League. The club’s fans are some of the most passionate in the world, and its stadium, the Wanda Metropolitano, is one of the largest and most modern in Europe.
Inter Milan
Inter Milan is one of the most popular football clubs in the world. The club has a rich history, and was founded in 1908. Inter has won numerous trophies, including 18 Serie A titles and three UEFA Champions League titles. The club is also known for its passionate fans, who create an electric atmosphere at Inter’s home ground, the San Siro. Inter is a true giant of European football and will always be one of the most popular clubs in the world.
Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur, commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English football club based in Tottenham, London. The club was formed in 1882 and plays in the Premier League. Spurs have won two league titles, eight FA Cups, four League Cups, seven FA Community Shields, and one UEFA Cup. The club’s home ground is Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Spurs are one of the most popular football clubs in England with a large fan base both domestically and internationally. The club has a long-standing rivalry with Arsenal and the two teams are known as the North London derby.
Napoli
1. Napoli
Blessed with some of the most passionate fans in world football, it’s no wonder that Napoli are one of the most popular clubs on the planet. The southern Italian outfit have won two Serie A titles, but their real claim to fame is their stunning UEFA Cup victory in 1989. Diego Maradona was the star man for Napoli during that period and his exploits helped make the club a global name.
AS Roma
AS Roma, founded in 1927, is one of the most popular football clubs in Italy. The club has won three Serie A titles, nine Coppa Italia titles, and two Supercoppa Italiana titles. AS Roma also reached the final of the UEFA Champions League in 1984. The club plays its home matches at the Stadio Olimpico, which has a capacity of over 70,000.
Valencia CF
Valencia Club de Fútbol, commonly referred to as Valencia CF or simply Valencia, is a Spanish professional football club based in Valencia. They play in La Liga.
They are one of the oldest clubs in Spanish football history, having been founded on 18 March 1919. Valencia have won six La Liga titles, seven Copas del Rey, two Supercopas de España, one Copa Eva Duarte and one Copa de la Liga. In European competitions, they have reached two UEFA Champions League finals in a row (2000 and 2001), losing both times. They also reached the 2004 UEFA Cup final which they lost 3–0 to Marseille.
Bayer Leverkusen
Bayer Leverkusen is a German football club based in Leverkusen, North Rhine-Westphalia. The club plays in the Bundesliga, the top tier of German football, and is the current runner-up in the DFB-Pokal.
The club was founded in 1904 by workers at the Bayer AG chemical company. It was formerly known as TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen, VfL Bayer 04 Leverkusen or just Bayer 04. In 1999, the club’s name was changed to “Bayer Leverkusen” to reflect its more global status as a multi-national corporation.
Leverkusen has won one domestic title (the DFB-Pokal in 1993) and one continental title (the UEFA Cup in 1988). The club also came close to winning both the Bundesliga (in 2002) and the Champions League (in 2002 and 2019), but ultimately fell short on both occasions.
The team’s home ground is BayArena, which has a capacity of over 30,000. The club’s main rivals are FC Köln and Borussia Mönchengladbach.
Manchester United
1. Manchester United
With an estimated global fan base of 659 million, Manchester United is easily the most popular football club in the world. The English Premier League giants have won a record 20 league titles, three European Cups, and countless other domestic and international trophies. Led by legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United dominated English football for much of the late 1990s and 2000s. Even after Ferguson’s retirement in 2013, the club has remained one of the most successful and popular teams in the world.
Manchester City
“1. Manchester City
Manchester City is an English football club based in Manchester, that competes in the Premier League. The club was founded in 1880 as St. Mark’s (West Gorton), and played their first competitive match in October 1881, when they entered the First Round of the FA Cup. They have since played a record number of matches in the top flight and won the League Championship on five occasions, most recently in 2019–20.
City has also competed in European competitions, reaching the semi-finals of the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1970–71 and 1986–87. They have won one continental trophy, the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup in 1969–70. The club has also won numerous domestic competitions, including six League Championships (most recently in 2018–19), six FA Cups (most recently in 2020), seven League Cups (most recently in 2019), and eight Community Shields (most recently shared with Liverpool in 2019).”