Disparity in Champions League Earnings: Barcelona Trails Madrid by €130 Million

Following Barcelona’s defeat to PSG, they’ve missed out on qualifying for the revamped 32-team Club World Cup in 2025, marking a significant financial setback.

Despite meeting their minimal financial objectives, Barcelona’s earnings from the Champions League remain considerably lower than Madrid’s over the past three seasons. Madrid’s deeper runs in the tournament have substantially widened the financial gap between the two Spanish giants.

Barcelona’s Champions League earnings for the current season amount to €47 million, comprising various bonuses for advancing through the stages. In contrast, Real Madrid has accrued €65 million, with the potential for further increases depending on their performance in the semifinals against Bayern Munich.

This disparity in earnings becomes more pronounced when considering the financial reports published by UEFA at the end of each season. For instance, Barcelona’s earnings for the 2021/22 season totaled €71 million, compared to Madrid’s €134 million as champions. Similarly, in the previous campaign, Barcelona earned €70 million after being eliminated in the Europa League playoffs, while Madrid earned €119 million despite their semifinal exit.

The absence of Barcelona from the upcoming Club World Cup also contributes to this financial gap. While Madrid is set to participate, Barcelona’s exclusion means forfeiting the €50 million allocated to each participating club.

In summary, Barcelona has amassed €188 million from Champions League earnings over the past three seasons, whereas Real Madrid has accumulated €318 million, highlighting a substantial €130 million difference that underscores Madrid’s financial dominance in European competition.