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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.

Clawbuster

REEVO Enters into Partnership with Clawbuster

Published

50 minutes ago

March 13, 2026

Wladimir P.

reevo-enters-into-partnership-with-clawbuster

REEVO has announced a new partnership with Clawbuster, a fast-rising iGaming studio known for blending nostalgic arcade mechanics with modern slot gameplay. This collaboration reinforces REEVO’s commitment to expanding its aggregation ecosystem with distinctive, high-engagement content designed to help operators stand out in competitive markets.

Through this partnership, Clawbuster’s growing portfolio of titles will be integrated into the REEVO aggregation platform, giving operators seamless access to content that combines creativity, strong mechanics and commercial performance.

Headquartered in Limassol, Cyprus and founded in 2022/2023, Clawbuster has quickly built momentum in multiple international markets by introducing a unique claw mechanic that transforms traditional slot gameplay into a suspense-driven hybrid experience.

The studio places strong emphasis on customization, VIP engagement and localised optimisation, aligning with REEVO’s focus on scalable and performance-oriented aggregation solutions.

For REEVO, this partnership represents another strategic step in expanding its global distribution network with studios that bring originality and measurable operator value.

Daniel Cuc, Head of Account Management at REEVO, said: “Partnering with Clawbuster is an exciting addition to REEVO’s aggregation platform. Their innovative approach to gameplay and strong focus on engagement align perfectly with our strategy to deliver differentiated, high-performing content to operators worldwide. At REEVO, we continue to expand our ecosystem with studios that bring fresh ideas and real commercial potential. Clawbuster’s creative direction and flexibility make them a strong fit for our growing global network.”

Evija Mole, Commercial Director at Clawbuster, said: “Bringing Clawbuster to REEVO marks a major milestone for our team. REEVO provides an ideal stage for the game, giving us the opportunity to showcase its energy, character, and rapid-fire excitement just the way we designed it.”

The post REEVO Enters into Partnership with Clawbuster appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

AdmiralBet

SYNOT Games Announces Strategic Partnership with Admiralbet

Published

50 minutes ago

March 13, 2026

Wladimir P.

synot-games-announces-strategic-partnership-with-admiralbet

SYNOT Games has announced a strategic partnership with Admiralbet, Bulgaria’s foremost casino operator and market leader.

Under the new agreement, Admiralbet will showcase a selected portfolio of SYNOT Games-developed games. Players can enjoy a diverse selection that includes popular titles such as 40 Coins of Chance and 100 Stunning Fruits. The integration of these games into Admiralbet’s offerings promises to redefine gaming standards and deliver an enhanced entertainment experience.

This partnership is a key part of SYNOT Games’ strategic expansion into the Balkan region, a market known for its discerning players who demand cutting-edge iGaming solutions. This new venture with Admiralbet further emphasizes the company’s dedication to delivering unmatched gaming solutions and retention tools that address the evolving needs of today’s iGaming market.

Martina Krajčí, Chief Commercial Officer at SYNOT Games, said: “This collaboration with Admiralbet not only strengthens our market presence in Bulgaria but also opens the door to a new audience of sophisticated gamers seeking innovative, high-quality entertainment. We are committed to driving excellence in the region by providing state-of-the-art gaming experiences that set new benchmarks in the industry.”

Mr. Beleski, General Manager at Admiralbet, said: “Our collaboration with SYNOT Games represents a strategic enhancement of our casino offering. By integrating their high-quality and engaging titles, we continue our commitment to delivering a superior and diversified gaming experience that meets the expectations of Bulgarian players and reinforces our position as a trusted leader in the market.”

The post SYNOT Games Announces Strategic Partnership with Admiralbet appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Conferences

SYNOT Successfully Participated in the Irish Gaming Show

Published

50 minutes ago

March 13, 2026

Wladimir P.

synot-successfully-participated-in-the-irish-gaming-show

SYNOT has successfully participated in another edition of the Irish Gaming Show, which took place at the beginning of March at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Dublin. This prestigious gaming exhibition represents a key meeting point for operators, manufacturers and distributors active in the Irish market.

In cooperation with the distributor John Lynch, SYNOT introduced the latest gaming systems Gamifire Prime and Firebird Platinum to visitors, presented in the modern UP2-32 cabinets. These brand-new game mixes offer players an attractive combination of fruit and themed games. The Gamifire Prime set features a total of 36 sophisticated titles, including popular Hold & Win concepts. Firebird Platinum also includes 36 games, featuring well-liked linked titles.

“The products attracted great interest among local operators and received very positive feedback. Our company representatives were ready to provide visitors with detailed information not only about the showcased products but also about other premium solutions from our portfolio. Our jackpot systems SUPER LINK and MAGIC BALL LINK also drew significant attention from visitors,” said Roland Andrýsek, Sales Director of SYNOT Group.

During the exhibition, the Company established a number of new business contacts and discussed opportunities for future cooperation. Expansion into key international markets remains an important part of SYNOT Group’s long-term strategy. The company aims to further strengthen its position not only in the Irish market but also in many other regions.

The post SYNOT Successfully Participated in the Irish Gaming Show appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.