Real Madrid, Barcelona top football's rich list

By Stuart Condie

Associated Press

Published: Wednesday, Feb. 8 2012 5:12 p.m. MST

FC Barcelona President Sandro Rosell holds the trophy awarded to Barcelona soccer team for Laureus World Team of the Year at the Laureus World Sports Awards in London, Monday Feb. 6, 2012.

Lefteris Pitarakis, Associated Press

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Summary

Real Madrid and Barcelona are football's biggest moneymakers for the third straight year and look set to out-earn their rivals for the foreseeable future.

LONDON — Real Madrid and Barcelona are football's biggest moneymakers for the third straight year and look set to out-earn their rivals for the foreseeable future.

The annual review of football finance by Deloitte shows Madrid topping the list for the seventh straight year with revenue of 479.5 million ($636.5 million) to the year ending June 30, an increase of 9 percent on the previous 12 months.

One more year at the top would equal Manchester United's No. 1 streak from 1997-2004, but the accountancy firm says on-field success could push Barcelona ahead next year.

Barcelona trails Madrid by seven points in the Spanish league but its income increased 13 percent to €450.7 million ($598.3 million) and it could go up further if it retains its Champions League title.

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