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Real Madrid and Barcelona neck-and-neck as world’s most valuable football brands in the face of COVID-19

Published

6 years ago

July 30, 2020

George Miller

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Real Madrid remain world’s most valuable football brand, but Barcelona narrow the gap to just €6 million
COVID-19 causes total brand value of top 50 clubs to decrease for the first time in 6 years – €751 million or 3.7% is knocked off
English clubs dominate the ranking with six brands in top 10 and 19 in top 50
Liverpool inches two spots up into 4^th place, following historic Premier League win
Bundesliga’s 1. FC Köln is this year’s fastest-growing brand, followed by Leicester City and RB Leipzig – all recording over 40% growth
Tottenham Hotspur’s new stadium takes top spot in Buro Happold’s Venue Performance Rating

Real Madrid remain the most valuable football club brand in the world for 2020, according to the latest edition of the Brand Finance Football Annual. Boosted by winning the LaLiga title for the first time since 2017, the club retained its position at the top of the table in the football industry, but against a backdrop of economic and social disruption, caused primarily by the COVID-19 pandemic, Real Madrid’s brand value has declined by 14% to €1,419 million.

Real Madrid’s disappointing on-pitch performance prior to 2019-20, which saw an earlier-than-normal exit from the UEFA Champions League in 2018-19 and a second successive season adrift of LaLiga champions Barcelona, eroded the club’s dominance of the Brand Finance ranking. The situation was exacerbated by COVID-19, along with a lack of stability around the management of the team. Barcelona, Real’s fierce rivals, are just €6 million behind Real with a brand value of €1,413 million, supported by strong and diverse revenue generation and continued domestic performance in Spain.

COVID-19 knocks off €751 million of brand value

Real Madrid is not the only club to see a drop in brand value this year. COVID-19 has caused the total value of the top 50 football brands to decrease for the first time in 6 years. Through its effect on the three main revenue streams – Matchday, Broadcasting, and Commercial – €751 million or 3.7% has been knocked off the cumulative brand value of the world’s top 50 most valuable football clubs.

The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged professional football worldwide and across all levels. Matchday income for the 501 games remaining in the big 5 leagues dropped to zero, but it is often the smaller clubs and leagues which are more reliant on this revenue stream – in Scotland it makes up 43% of total revenue, compared to only 13% in England.

There have been some positive signs, as Southampton vs Manchester City on BBC broke the Premier League TV audience record with 5.7 million viewers, but the longer-term damage to the game’s economic structure has yet to be revealed.

Richard Haigh, Managing Director of Brand Finance, commented:

“Top-level football has been confronted with the largest existential threat since the Second World War. Loss of income, coupled with health concerns about mass gatherings, have raised question marks about the future of the industry and the financial resilience of clubs across all levels. The full damage of the COVID-19 crisis has yet to unfold and it is not inconceivable there will be casualties in the form of club bankruptcies and changes in ownership.”

Despite the huge implications of COVID-19 for football clubs and their financial results, the majority of the brand value is secured by the clubs’ long-term future – provided they can survive the initial shock. For example, only 21% of Real Madrid’s brand value is delivered by the next five years’ financial results.

Premier power

Real Madrid and Barcelona are followed by a cluster of English Premier League clubs in the Brand Finance Football Annual 2020 ranking, with Manchester United in 3^rd position after their brand value fell by 11% to €1,314 million. Liverpool, who won their first league title since 1990 in runaway style, are in 4^th spot jumping above Manchester City in terms of brand value, rising from €1,191 million in 2019 to €1,262 million, a 6% increase. Chelsea dropped one place in the table to 8^th after their value fell for the fourth consecutive year to €949 million. This was arguably due to the club being absent from the UEFA Champions League and also suffering a transfer ban after being charged with breaking Financial Fair Play Regulations.

Casino Content

Groove says its casino content library passes 20,000 games

Published

5 hours ago

June 29, 2026

Wladimir P.

groove-says-its-casino-content-library-passes-20,000-games

Groove says it has passed 20,000 titles in its aggregated casino content library, delivered to partners via “one API” and managed through its Groove Command back office.

The company said the catalogue includes slots, instant win games, table games, crash games, live dealer and arcade-style titles, plus “emerging verticals including sweepstakes and crypto-native content.” Groove added that the portfolio is now live and available to its partners worldwide.

Rachel Tourgeman, Head of Partnerships at Groove, said the company focuses on curation rather than chasing volume: “Twenty thousand games is a number. What matters is what sits behind it…” Says Tourgeman. “We don’t add studios for the sake of volume. We add them because they bring something distinctive: a mechanical innovation, a visual language, a player-engagement hook that our operators can’t get elsewhere. Our partners trust us to curate, not just collect. That trust is why we keep growing, and why the quality curve keeps rising alongside the quantity curve.”

Groove said recent integrations include KingMidas Games (150+ mobile-first titles), Urgent Games and Bryogames, which it described as offering “proprietary mathematics with real-time RTP customisation.” The company said the additions were assessed for technical compatibility and “commercial distinctiveness.”

Yahale Meltzer, Co-Founder and CEO of Groove, positioned the milestone as part of a broader platform pitch: “The aggregation space is crowded with platforms that offer ‘access’ and little else,” said Meltzer. “Twenty thousand games through a single API is not just scale. It is a statement. It says that Groove has become the default engine for operators who want to move fast, compete smart, and never compromise on content depth. But we are not stopping here. The next 20,000 will be even more selective, more integrated, and more aligned with where player behaviour is heading. Volume without curation is noise. We are building a signal.”

The post Groove says its casino content library passes 20,000 games appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

content-aggregation

Octoplay integrates with Lottomart to expand UK distribution

Published

5 hours ago

June 29, 2026

Wladimir P.

octoplay-integrates-with-lottomart-to-expand-uk-distribution

Octoplay has expanded its UK distribution through a new integration with operator Lottomart, making a selection of the supplier’s slot games available to Lottomart players.

Under the agreement, Lottomart has added five Octoplay titles to its casino library: Fire Rail Express: Hold & Win, Break the Diamond Piggy, 777 Hot Reels: Megacharged, Big Bang Bonus: Hold & Win and The Lucky Fella: Hold & Win.

Chris Ruddock, Commercial Director at Lottomart, said: “We’re always on the lookout for exciting content that adds something fresh to our portfolio, and Octoplay’s titles do exactly that. Their distinctive style, engaging mechanics, and wide range of themes make them a fantastic addition to our casino. We’re really looking forward to seeing how our players respond.”

Ralitsa Georgieva, Chief Executive Officer at Octoplay, added: “Going live with Lottomart adds another respected UK operator to our growing list of partners in the market. The UK remains a core pillar of our European strategy, and we are pleased to bring our portfolio to Lottomart’s players.”

The post Octoplay integrates with Lottomart to expand UK distribution appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Commercial Gaming

Momentum forms UAE commercial gaming JV with Fanatics after GCGRA approval

Published

5 hours ago

June 29, 2026

Wladimir P.

momentum-forms-uae-commercial-gaming-jv-with-fanatics-after-gcgra-approval

Momentum Group and Fanatics have formed a strategic joint venture to run and expand Momentum’s licensed commercial gaming operations in the UAE, the companies said on 29 June, 2026. The partnership is based in Abu Dhabi and brings Momentum’s existing UAE commercial gaming licenses and operations into the new entity.

The joint venture will operate and grow the activities currently licensed to Momentum in the UAE, including lottery, iGaming, sportsbook, and content websites. Momentum said the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) has approved the change in control of Momentum’s existing licensed entities.

Scott Burton, Chief Operating Officer, Momentum Group, said:

“The UAE has built one of the world’s most carefully regulated commercial gaming markets, and this joint venture is a reflection of the confidence that brings. Combining Momentum’s regional experience with Fanatics’ global product capability creates a partnership well placed to grow alongside this market for the long term.”

Conor Grant, President, Fanatics Gaming, said:

“The UAE is establishing one of the most thoughtfully regulated commercial gaming markets in the world, and Momentum has demonstrated what a responsible, credible operation within it looks like. We are entering this market for the long term, committed to building something genuinely category-defining together.”

Momentum said the companies plan to invest through the joint venture in technology, product, and customer experience, and to advance responsible gaming and player protection in line with the GCGRA framework.

The post Momentum forms UAE commercial gaming JV with Fanatics after GCGRA approval appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.