Manchester City rise while Man United fall to lowest yet in brand value rankings

Champions League winners Real Madrid top the Brand Finance rankings for 2022

Real Madrid celebrate after beating Liverpool to win the Champions League final at the Stade de France in Paris on Saturday, May 29, 2022. Reuters

Real Madrid celebrate after beating Liverpool to win the Champions League final. Getty

Luka Modric kisses the trophy. Getty

Marcelo lifts the trophy for Real Madrid. Getty

Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior celebrates after scoring the only goal of the Champions League final against Liverpool. AP

Real Madrid players celebrate after their victory in Paris. Getty

Dejected Liverpool player Fabinho after the match. AP

Real manager Carlo Ancelotti celebrates after the match. Getty

Dejected Mohamed Salah of Liverpool after the match. Getty

Real Madrid players celebrate after the match. Getty

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois celebrates winning the Champions League. Reuters

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois saves from Liverpool attacker Mohamed Salah in the second half. Getty

Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior scores the opening goal. PA

Karim Benzema scores for Real Madrid late in the first half but the goal was ruled out by VAR for offside. PA

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah fires a shot past Real Madrid's Croatian midfielder Luka Modric. AFP

Liverpool midfielder Fabinho is shown a yellow card. AP

A first-half shot from Liverpool's Sadio Mane beats Real keeper Thibaut Courtois but hits the post. Getty

Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior celebrates with teammates after scoring. PA

Liverpool attacker Sadio Mane sees his shot hit the post. Getty

Vinicius Junior scores for Real Madrid. EPA

Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois catches a cross. AP

Vinicius Junior celebrates after scoring for Real Madrid. Getty

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp on the sidelines. EPA

Liverpool's Luis Diaz shoots at goal. Getty

Real attacker Karim Benzema scores but the goal was disallowed. Getty

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah sees a shot saved in the first half by Real goakeeper Thibaut Courtois. Getty

Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois makes a save from Mohamed Salah. Reuters

Liverpool full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold goes to cross the ball. Getty

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti. AFP

Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois screams at his defence after Liverpool hit the post in the first half. PA

Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois under pressure from Liverpool's Jordan Henderson. EPA

Liverpool's Sadio Mane reacts to a challenge from Real midfielder Casemiro. EPA

English Premier League winners Manchester City have overtaken Barcelona and now have world football's second best brand value, according to a new study.

City were runners up behind Uefa Champions League and La Liga winners Real Madrid in Brand Finance's Football 50 2022 report.

The report said City's brand value had increased 19 per cent to just over €1.3 billion ($1.39bn), placing them just ahead of Barcelona, whose value was up 5 per cent to a little under €1.3bn.

Brand value refers to the present value of earnings specifically related to brand reputation.

"Brand Finance’s 2022 football fan research shows that the Manchester City brand has grown in perception and following, scoring highly in metrics such as ‘the club is ambitious’ and ‘the club has a global following’," the report said.

City were named the highest revenue-generating club in the Deloitte Money League for the first time in their history, and Brand Finance said the club's high revenue "can be credited to their continued on-field performance in the 2022 campaign ― winning the English Premier League and reaching the 2021 European Champions League Final and 2022 semi-final".

City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said this week that the club have emerged from Covid-19 in a robust financial position and are now ready to go "from strength to strength".

Rivals Manchester United fell to fifth place in the rankings — their lowest yet, as they ended the season with their lowest Premier League points total, although their brand value did rise by 11 per cent.

"Despite failing to qualify for the European Champions’ League group stages as well as a long run of poor form on-field, Manchester United are still able to record growth in both brand value and brand strength, reverting a three-year decline in value," the report said.

"Following the announcement of the European Super League last year, United were one of the six English Premier League clubs who lost brand value as a result. This year’s brand valuation shows that United have substantially recovered their previous brand strength, and still remain strong among international audiences."

Real Madrid recovered from a 10 per cent slump last year amid Covid-19 uncertainties and weaker fan sentiment as a result of the floundering plan for a European Super League.

Its brand value rose 19 per cent in the past year to €1.5bn, driven by a combination of improved brand strength and a positive revenue trajectory.

"Real Madrid are now clearly the dominant brand in the global football business," said Hugo Hensley, head of sports services, Brand Finance.

"For four years, they have been the most valuable brand thanks largely to their business success off the field. However, their continued success on the field has delivered them the brand double, and they are now also the world’s strongest football brand. Even opponents recognise, respect and admire the reputation of Real Madrid."

Middle East investment and sponsorship is prominent among the top 10 teams.

Manchester City are owned by Abu Dhabi's City Football Group, while Paris Saint-Germain are owned by Qatar Sports Investments. Real Madrid and Arsenal meanwhile have sponsorship deals with Dubai's Emirates airline. Outside the top 10, Emirates also sponsors 17th-placed AC Milan, 35th-placed Olympique Lyonnais and 48th-placed Benfica.