One of the biggest and most popular sports in the world today is football, with over 3 billion fans worldwide. The history of this great sport can be traced back to medieval times, with different rules among different people. However, modern football began in the 19th century when it was played as a sport in English public schools.
The football game has evolved further with the times, and it is played globally with different levels of competition from local community games reaching up to World level matches. The most popular football games are club games. Many football clubs have arisen in different locations worldwide, and these clubs play annually in different competitions.
Top 10 Most Popular Football Clubs in the World
Here’s a comprehensive list of the most popular football clubs today and some of their achievements
1. Real Madrid
Real Madrid is the most popular football club in the world; the club has the biggest fan base compared to other big teams. Their official Instagram handle has over 120 million followers making it the club with the highest Instagram followership. It also has the highest football club followership on Twitter, with a follower count of 45 million followers.
Real Madrid is a Spanish football club based in Madrid. It was founded in 1902 and was originally called the Madrid football club. But in 1920, King Alphonso XIII bestowed on them the title “Real” or Royal in English, and from then on, it was known as Real Madrid. Over time the club has amassed over 30 La Liga titles and over 10 European league cups, just to mention a few.
2. Barcelona FC
Barcelona FC is the world’s second most popular football club. Barcelona FC club, popularly known as Barca, has a follower count of 112 million on Instagram and 44.4 million on Twitter, making them the world’s second most popular football club.
Barcelona FC is also a Spanish professional football club. It is the fourth richest club in the world, with different trophies and honors to its name. The team currently has over 70 domestic trophies and over 20 European trophies.
3. Manchester United
Manchester United FC is one of the most popular football clubs with its roots in Old Trafford, Manchester city in England. The club doesn’t need much introduction as it has its roots deep in the history of English football. Popularly known as the Red Devils, the club was among the 22 inaugural teams of the EPL.
Manchester United has also won many world-class trophies like the FIFA world cup and other European cups. The club has a follower count of 61.2 million followers on Instagram and 33.3 million followers on Twitter. This puts them in the 3rd spot in the world’s top 10 most popular football clubs.
4. Paris Saint Germain
Paris saint Germain, popularly known as PSG, is a professional football club based in France. They compete in Ligue 1, France’s top-flight domestic league. It is among the most successful teams in French football history, with at least 45 titles.
Its popularity also spreads to social media, with a follower count of 63.2 million followers on Instagram and 13 million followers on Twitter. Also, Lionel Messi, a record 7-time Balon D’or winner, is currently signed as a player in this club which has further boosted the club’s popularity among football lovers.
5. Juventus
Juventus is a very popular football club, having world-class players like Gianluigi Buffon, Andrea Pirlo, and Cristiano Ronaldo lace their boots for the team in time past.
The club, which is located in Turin, Italy, competes in Serie A, the top flight of Italian football. It has 60 domestic titles, 9 European titles, and 2 worldwide titles.
The club is also very popular on social media, with a follower count of 55.2 million followers on Instagram and 9.9 million followers on Twitter.
6. Arsenal FC
Arsenal football club, like Manchester United, is a professional English football team based in Islington, London, England. They compete in the English Premier League, the top flight of English football – they’re among the very few teams that have never been relegated in the EPL.
The club has 13 league titles, 14 FA cups, 2 league cups, and 16 FA community shields. Like others, it’s also very popular on social media, with 23.2 million followers on Instagram and 20.3 Million followers on Twitter.
7. Chelsea
Chelsea FC is a professional English football club that is primarily based in Fulham, West London. The club was founded in 1905 and is among today’s most popular football clubs. Like all other English clubs on this list, Chelsea competes in the English top-flight division.
Chelsea FC is one the most successful English football clubs and has amassed many trophies and honors to prove its success. Between 2003 and 2022, the club acquired over 20 trophies. On social media, Chelsea has 36.1 million followers on Instagram and 22.8 million followers on Twitter.
8. Bayern Munich
FC Bayern Muchen (also known as Bayern Munich) is a very popular football club. It is a German football club based in Munich, Bavaria.
The club has won over 30 domestic titles. It is among the 3 European clubs to have won all three major European trophies: the Champions League, Europa’s league, and the cup Winner’s cup.
FC Bayern Munich has 33.4 million followers on Instagram and 2.4 million followers on Twitter.
9. Liverpool FC
Liverpool FC is also a very popular English football club based in Liverpool, England. Like other English football clubs, the club participates in the Premier league. The club was established in 1892. Although they’ve not been too successful domestically since the inauguration of the EPL, winning only one, they won 19 league titles while it was running.
They’re also the most successful English team in the European scene, with 6 European cups, 3 UEFA cups, 4 Super Cups, and 1 Club World Cup. Liverpool FC has 40.8 Million followers on Instagram and 22.5 million Twitter followers.
10. Manchester City
Manchester City is also a very popular English football club based in Manchester, England. The club was founded in 1880. This club also competes in the English top flight and has been dominant for the last 5 years, winning 4 titles, then bringing their total to 8 domestic league titles.
Other titles in their cabinet include 6 FA cups, 8 league cups, 6 FA community shields, and 1 European cup winner’s cup. The club has 35.3 million followers on Instagram and 13.9 million followers on Twitter.
