- The top 10 most valuable leagues in world football.
- England has two entries with the Premier League topping the list, and the EFL Championship placed at 6th.
Football is arguably the most lucrative and supported sport in the world with a resounding appeal to attract multiple investors due to its money-spinning opportunity for both investors, teams, and league bodies.
We’ve often-times see an unusual intense debate amongst football fans regarding the best league or league that plays the most scintillating football. However, there’s no comprehensive answer to the argument concerning the best league or the one that plays good football.
There’s also a buzz regarding the leagues with the highest valuations currently which is the reason we put these articles together.
To arrive at the conclusion concerning the most valuable football leagues, certain things need to be considered which include the league with the best management, the highest concentration of expensive players, best aesthetics, television rights, highest revenue, and sponsorship deals.
The European football market alone is estimated to be worth around €25.5 billion a year in annual revenue, with emerging markets in Asia and the US catching up. However, these eye-watering valuations aren’t spread evenly. Much of it is generated and held by a few elite, well-known leagues.
Here Are 10 Top Most Valuable Leagues And Valuations
- Premier League – (€8.56BN, England)
EPL tops the list as one of the most valuable football leagues in the world with a valuation of €8.56bn shouldn’t come as a surprise. The English Premier League is a well-managed competition contested by 20 financially buoyant teams that have the highest concentration of expensive players in their ranks which gives credence to how financially buoyant some of these teams are in terms of splashing the cash.
The fact that the league is run by proficient and well-detailed management ‘Football Association Premier League Limited. This says a lot about the success the league has enjoyed since the birth of competition in 1992 in terms of global followership, revenue generated and sponsorship deals signed by the league.
- Serie A – (€4.96BN, Italy)
The Italian top-flight league retains its position as the second most valuable football league in the world with a total value of €4.96bn compared to the €5.14bn they were worth last year. Perhaps their valuation was affected due to the effect of the pandemic which took a toll on almost every league financially.
Serie A may not be as the Premier League in terms of the audience, however, the league also has had its own dedicated followers since the birth of the league in 1929.
- LaLiga – (€4.89BN, Spain)
The recent report of Messi’s departure after years of playing in the league is definitely a major blow for the league itself and Barcelona’s loyalist at large.
Irrespective of where the Argentine ply his trade this season that won’t stop the teams in the league from attracting some of the best players in world football. Just like the days of Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham, Luis Figo, Ronaldo O’Fenomeno, Cristiano Ronaldo, Romario, Ronaldinho and many more.
LaLiga’s valuation is placed at €4.89bn behind the Italian top-flight league which is a reflection of the aggregate value of the players in the league, likewise, the revenue generated, broadcast right, and sponsorship deals.
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- Bundesliga – (€4.33BN, Germany)
Been placed in 4th position doesn’t necessarily mean the German top-flight league doesn’t have fascinating players who could stand toe-to-toe with other top stars from other leagues in the world. The league is valued at €4.33bn and they could boldly say they’ve experienced quite a massive growth since it was founded in 1962.
While the league is not the best in the world, one thing that is certain about it is the fact that it’s arguably the best-run league and most financially secure in the world. Another unique thing that also stands the league out is that their teams rarely splash astronomical fee on a player.
- Ligue 1 – (€3.45BN, France)
The French top-flight league just secured the service of Lionel Messi, a footballer whose personal worth is enough to boast the league valuation. The league would certainly experience a larger percent of followership compared to what they have presently.
Ligue 1 is placed in 5th position with a current valuation of €3.45bn, with a one percent rise compared to last year’s valuation that is worth €3.44bn. The league may not be enjoying the kind of mouthwatering revenue other leagues enjoy, but with Messi teaming up with other top stars like Kylian Mbappe and Neymar it is expected that their fans base would catapult to another level.
- Liga Portugal Bwin – (€1.24BN, Portugal)
Liga Portugal Bwin is also known as Primeira Liga has been one of the hunting grounds for Europe’s top teams in search of brilliant players.
With that in mind, great numbers of names come to mind like Bruno Fernandes, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Joao Felix who moved from their respective teams to top sides in Europe.
With their current valuation, the fans can’t begrudge the league management because it’s a no-brainer to compare or compete with other leagues in terms of their respective broadcast right, revenue generated and the kind of sponsorship deals signed.
- Championship – (€1.12BN, England)
The English second tier is regarded as the toughest non-top-flight league in the world with a valuation worth a billion which is bigger than some top league valuations in Europe. Last year the league is placed sixth in the world but now they’ve dropped to seventh behind the Portuguese Liga.
The Championship may be a non-top tier league, yet it is regarded as one of the leagues with the high valuations in the world. With teams like Fulham, Sheffield United, and AFC Bournemouth playing in the league as the most valuable sides in the English second division.
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- Brasilieiro Serie A – (€1.04BN, Brazil)
Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A is also known as the Brazilian Championship, which harbors great teams like Flamengo, Palmeiras, Santos, Sao Paulo, Corinthians, and Cruzeiro.
The league is ranked eighth in the world and over the years it’s has been the hotbed for talents.
While the above leagues are Europe-based, the Brazilian top-flight is the only league outside Europe to make this list, which gives credence to how big and credible the league is compared to other South American leagues.
- Eredivisie – (€1.01BN, Netherlands)
The Eredivisie moved position from 10 to 9 in the current ranking of the most valuable leagues in the world. The Netherlands’ top-flight is no doubt one of the best leagues in Europe, but when it’s come to comparing with other leagues in terms of their star players, revenue generated, and broadcast right the Eredivisie is far behind.
While leagues like LaLiga and English Premier League are been contested by 20 teams, Eredivisie is contested by 18 which means their total matches all through the campaign would be 34 compare to the aforementioned leagues that play 38 games with bigger television deals.
- Premier Liga – (€979M, Russia)
The home of two of the biggest teams, ‘Zenit St Petersburg and CSKA Moscow’ who obviously has the biggest superstars and most valuable players in their ranks.
The league has been on the upward trajectory since it experiences a restructuring at the end of 2001 which birthed their current success as one of the financially buoyant leagues in football in terms of annual sponsorship deals and broadcast right.
