To work out the most popular football teams in the world, we took a look at the total number of Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tik Tok follower numbers football teams have. So here are the top ten most followed teams on the planet:
10. Arsenal (93.7 million)
For a team that hasn’t won the Premier League since The Invincibles era in 2004, Arsenal have done well to remain one of the most popular football teams in the world.
Players like Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka are their current generation of stars and the signing of Declan Rice for £105m from West Ham shows they mean business.
9. Bayern Munich (127 million)
Over the years German giants Bayern Munich has attracted generations of fans with some of the greatest players ever. With almost 60 million Facebook fans and over 38 million Instagram followers, the club is known for its strong youth academy and world-class players.
The recent signing of Harry Kane that could exceed £100m with add-ons is proof of the pulling power the club has.
8. Liverpool FC (131 million)
Liverpool arguably has the best football fans in England and with 131 million fans on social media is one of the most popular football teams in the world.
There’s an aura with Liverpool, whether it’s the fans belting out the “You’ll Never Walk Alone” anthem, or the chants from “The Kop” at Anfield. Everyone loves backing a winner, and Liverpool is just that with the most combined English and European trophies.
7. Manchester City (131 million)
Since the 2008 takeover of Manchester City by Sheikh Mansour the club has seen billions of dollars invested into it and has rapidly become one of the most popular football teams in the world. The club won its seventh Premier League title and first ever Champions League crown in 2023 and continues to grow in popularity as everybody loves a winner.
6. Chelsea (134 million)
Chelsea have had their struggles in the post-Abramovich despite the big money being thrown around in the transfer market by Todd Boehly. It was Abramovich’s billions that helped Chelsea’s rise to worldwide popularity with superstars such as Frank Lampard, John Terry, Didier Drogba and Ashley Cole winning Premier League titles. The club will need to turnaround their recent poor seasons with other clubs surging in popularity because of their success and big name players.
5. Juventus (144 million)
Juventus is a legendary football club located in Turin, Italy. The club is synonymous with Italian football excellence and has consistently dominated Serie A. Juventus has a global fanbase and has been home to football legends like Alessandro Del Piero and Roberto Baggio.
4. Paris Saint-Germain (187 million)
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) has emerged as a global football powerhouse ever since Qatar Sports Investments became a major stakeholder in 2011. The dominance in Ligue 1 and superstar signings including Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Lionel Messi has helped PSG become one of the most popular teams in the world.
3. Manchester United (206 million)
Similar to Chelsea’s situation, Manchester United’s lack of recent success is taking a hit on the club’s popularity. The Red Devils are still the fourth most popular football club in the world thanks largely to Sir Alex Ferguson’s legacy during his 27-year managerial career at the club.
A massive global fanbase exploded on the back of players such as Sir Bobby Charlton, Ryan Giggs, Eric Cantona, Roy Keane, Paul Scholes and Wayne Rooney to name a few. Old Trafford is the best stadium in the league and if you look beyond the “Glory Hunter” fans, the United fanbase is arguably the best in England.
2. FC Barcelona (342 million)
The second most popular football club in the world is Barcelona with 342 million followers on social media and climbing. A European powerhouse, they trail only behind fierce rivals Real Madrid both in Spanish and European football.
Barcelona’s cultural and social relevance is arguably the most important of any football club in the world, and Lionel Messi was the perfect complement to the club’s history of attractive football during his 20 years at the club.
1. Real Madrid (363 million)
Real Madrid is the most popular football club in the world with 363 million fans. Madrid won a record eighth Champions League title in 2022 and have been crowned champions of Europe 16 times.
Madrid also won a 35th La Liga crown in 2022 and their success both in Spain and Europe has earned them generations of fans. Cristiano Ronaldo’s nine glorious seasons in Madrid only fuelled Real’s global popularity as the world’s most popular football team.
