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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.

Coco Rush

Million Games Releases its Latest Video Slot Coco Rush

Published

32 minutes ago

May 4, 2026

Wladimir P.

million-games-releases-its-latest-video-slot-coco-rush

Million Games has released Coco Rush, a feature-driven video slot combining Cash Collect mechanics, RushReel bonuses and fixed jackpot functionality.

Developed in collaboration with Million Stars partner studio Yugo Workshop, Coco Rush introduces a vibrant island theme centred around the Golden Mask, a character that reflects the game’s dynamic and unpredictable gameplay.

The title is built on a 5×3 reel layout with 20 paylines and low volatility, offering accessible gameplay supported by strong feature frequency.

At the core of the game is the Mystery Mask mechanic, where all Mask Symbols transform at the end of each spin into either matching paying symbols or Coins and Collector symbols that trigger the Cash Collect Feature.

The Cash Collect Feature includes three fixed jackpots:

• Mega – 1000x base bet

• Major – 200x base bet

• Mini – 50x base bet

An additional RushReel feature can unlock during spins, awarding multipliers or extra Mask Symbols that enhance both base game and bonus payouts.

“Coco Rush is a great example of how our Million Stars partners continue to evolve and push their craft,” said Thomas Nimstad, CEO of Million Games.

“Yugo Workshop has taken proven mechanics and refined them into something that feels both familiar and fresh, witha clear focus on player engagement and repeat play. It’s exactly the kind of progression we want to support and bring to market.”

Coco Rush offers a maximum win potential of 5000x the bet and is now available for operators and aggregators via the Million Games distribution network.

The post Million Games Releases its Latest Video Slot Coco Rush appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Himmel & Hölle

Hölle Games Releases its Latest Video Slot Himmel & Hölle

Published

32 minutes ago

May 4, 2026

Wladimir P.

holle-games-releases-its-latest-video-slot-himmel-&-holle

Hölle Games has released its latest video slot Himmel & Hölle.

This 3×3 title positions an Angel on one side, and a Demon on the other with a tight 5 paylines for that medium-high volatility. A couple of nifty features are included too: players can win Respins with the Expanding Wilds feature. Land either of the Angel or Demon Wilds to trigger an expansion, and then a wheel game. That wheel game pays out up to 500x the bet, and there are also Ladder and Gamble mini-games available, for the more diabolical volatility hunters.

The game also features a thumping Eurodance styled soundtrack.

Lucifer the Light-Bringer and landlord of hell himself, said: “The team have blended two cosmological themes into one beautiful canvas – with top notch graphical fidelity and a very well balanced paytable, I could play this for eternity.”

Hölle Games is a fully independent “Made in Germany” video slots studio. With licences for MGA, Sweden, Greece, UK and ISO 27001 certification, they not only focus on providing “Classic” games German players love, such as Fruits, Bells XL and Höllische Sieben, but also produce a “Premium” series of slots with unique artwork and cutting-edge game concepts. These often carry distinctive German product names that most Germans will instantly recognise, such as “Holla die Waldfee”. Furthermore, Hölle Games has produced a new and unique game mechanic called “Bonus Spin”, a player friendly and compliant solution for the German tax regulation, which they have invited other studios to freely use.

The post Hölle Games Releases its Latest Video Slot Himmel & Hölle appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Amusnet

Amusnet Releases its Latest Online Slot Game Golden Tiger 1000

Published

32 minutes ago

May 4, 2026

Wladimir P.

amusnet-releases-its-latest-online-slot-game-golden-tiger-1000

Amusnet has released Golden Tiger 1000, a visually striking title that blends joyful gameplay with high win potential, set against a breathtaking cherry blossom mountain village in full bloom. The game invites players into a lively Asian-inspired world where every spin feels like a celebration of fortune, movement and surprise.

From the very first spin, Golden Tiger 1000 delivers an engaging and dynamic experience. Stacked symbols, shimmering Money Bags, Coins and Sycee create frequent win opportunities, while the charismatic Tiger Wild symbol steps into complete combinations and elevate payouts. Designed with a bright and energetic aesthetic, the game maintains a constant sense of anticipation as the reels come alive with each cascade of outcomes.

At the heart of the experience lies a powerful feature set built to amplify excitement and reward potential. The Respin Feature plays a key role, locking symbols in place and opening the door for additional matches and enhanced win sequences. Meanwhile, multipliers can escalate results up to an impressive 25,000x the bet, positioning every spin as a potential breakthrough moment for players seeking high-volatility thrills.

With its playful tone, rich visual identity and strong win mechanics, Golden Tiger 1000 strikes a balance between entertainment and intensity. It is designed to appeal to a broad audience – offering approachable gameplay layered with features that deliver meaningful impact and sustained engagement.

Amusnet continues to strengthen its portfolio with titles that combine immersive design and innovative mechanics. Golden Tiger 1000 stands out as a lively new addition, offering operators a fresh, high-performing slot and players a thrilling journey towards golden rewards.

Random Multiplier

The Random Multiplier feature adds an unpredictable boost to gameplay excitement, activating at any moment during base game spins or feature sequences. When triggered, it applies a random multiplier value that can significantly increase total winnings, turning even standard wins into high-value outcomes.

Respin Feature

The Respin Feature can trigger randomly on any spin, selecting a symbol to dominate the reels. During the feature, only the chosen symbol and Wild symbol appear, increasing win potential. Each time the symbol or a Wild symbol land, it locks and triggers another respin. The feature ends when no new symbols appear or the grid is filled, awarding all wins with the chance for powerful multipliers.

Special Respin Feature

Triggered randomly when the Wild symbols are thrown to the reels, up to three Wild symbols can appear, sometimes filling a full reel. These Wild symbol lock in place and carry into the next spin, instantly activating a Respin Feature and boosting chances for stronger wins.

Gamble

Play the game and multiply the winnings through the Gambling feature.

Jackpot Cards

The Jackpot Cards bonus game is triggered at random during the gameplay to allow players to win impressive jackpots.

The post Amusnet Releases its Latest Online Slot Game Golden Tiger 1000 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.