Club football in the 21st century has gone beyond mere entertainment to a money-spinning venture and the leagues where the money spins the most make up the most valuable leagues in the world.
Any league that finds itself in the category of the most valuable leagues in the world has a high number of players that cost so much to sign and their transfer market value is always on the rise.
The ranking of the most valuable leagues in the world is not about the leagues that play the best of football, but about Leagues that have the highest concentration of expensive players, best structures (especially stadiums), and generate a significant amount of revenue from broadcast rights, sponsorship deals, and other forms of commercials.
Below is the list of the most valuable leagues in the world and the amount they worth:
- Premier League – €8.89bn (England)
The Premier League started on 20 February 1992 and in its first few years in operation, the league started generating £1 billion-per-year from a television rights deal. In recent seasons, the league generates €2.2 billion per year in domestic and international television rights.
The Premier League is regarded as the most-watched league in the world and is said to have a potential TV audience of 4.7 billion people. It has the second-highest average match attendance and the highest aggregate match attendance in the world.
With all these and more, the Premier League is the most valuable football club in the world. Its current value is €8.89 billion.
- Serie A – €5.14bn (Italy)
Italian first-tier league Serie A is the second most valuable league in the world behind the Premier League. The league is worth €5.14 billion.
The league has been operating as a round-robin tournament since 1929 which is regarded as the most tactical and defensively sound national league in the world.
Clubs in the Italian Serie A negotiate television rights collectively and the league made over $1.6 billion from broadcast rights. And in the 2018-2019 season alone, the league generated total revenue of $3.05 billion from both television rights and sponsorship deals.
- La Liga – €5.05bn (Spain)
La Liga is the third most valuable league in the world. Its current value is placed at €5.05 billion. The league boast of an average match attendance of 26,933, the highest behind Bundesliga and the Premier League.
La Liga is regarded as the sixth wealthiest sports league in the world based on the revenue generated. In the 2017-2018 season, the league reportedly made €4.479 billion from TV rights, sponsorship deals, and other commercial activities.
- Bundesliga €4.51bn (Germany)
The Bundesliga is the 4th most valuable league in the world. Its value is €4.51 billion. The league has the highest average match attendance of 45,134.
It is said that the Bundesliga which was founded in 1962 is viewed in over 200 countries. In the 2018-2019 season, the Bundesliga generated €4 billion in revenue. The league made €1.48 billion from broadcast rights.
- Ligue 1 – €3.44bn (France)
Ligue 1 is the 5th most valuable league in the world. Its current value is €3.44 billion. The league which started as Ligue 1 in 2002 generated the highest revenue in the history of the league during the 2018-2019 season. Both Ligue 1 and Ligue 2, generated €2 billion at the end of the 2018-2019 season.
- Championship – €1.23bn (England)
The Championship is the second tier of league football in England but it is occupying the 6th spot in the list of the most valuable leagues in the world.
The Championship is regarded as the wealthiest non-top flight football division in the world and the ninth richest division in Europe. In the 2018-2019 season, the league had an average match attendance of 20,181.
- Liga Nos – €1.09bn (Portugal)
Liga Nos, also known as Primeira Liga is a Portuguese supreme football league. It is ranked 7th in the list of most valuable leagues in the world. Its value is €1.09 billion.
The league which started in 1934 is ranked 6th best national league in Europe. And its three greatest clubs are Benfica, Porto, and Sporting CP.
- Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A – €966.3m (Brazil)
Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A is the apex league in Brazil. It is ranked 8th on the list of the most valuable leagues in the world. It is the only league outside Europe to make it to the top 10 of the ranking.
The league which started in 1959 is regarded as one of the richest leagues in the world. It generated $1.17 billion in revenue in 2012.
- Premier Liga – €943.8m (Russia)
The Russian Premier Liga started the current structure of the league at the end of 2001. Since then, the league has grown to become one of the strongest leagues in Europe. It reportedly earns about $50 million annually from sponsorship deals and most of the league matches are streamed on Youtube. It is currently valued at €943.8 million.
- Eredivisie – €921.6m (The Netherlands)
Eredivisie is the apex league in the Netherlands. It is ranked 10th in the list of most valuable leagues in the world. Its current value is €921.6 million. The league which started in 1956 is currently sponsored by tycoon Rupert Murdoch who pays the 5 biggest clubs in the league 5 million euros every year.
