Top 10 Football Clubs with the Largest and Most Passionate Fanbases in the World

Paris Saint-Germain is a professional football club based in Paris, France. Originally founded as the multi-sport club Stade Saint-Germain, it was officially established in 1970 and currently competes in Ligue 1, the top tier of French football. The club has won the Ligue 1 title 10 times to date.

In cup competitions, PSG has had considerable success, winning the French Cup 14 times, the French League Cup 9 times, and the French Super Cup 10 times. On the European stage, PSG's biggest achievement came in 1996 when they won the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, and they have reached the UEFA Champions League final once. Representing the 'City of Light,' Paris Saint-Germain's team colors are blue and red, reflecting the flag of Paris. Their home stadium is the Parc des Princes.

Paris Saint-Germain is the most-followed football club in France. The current Ligue 1 champions boast an enormous fanbase not only in France but worldwide. PSG is the only French team to feature in the list of clubs with the largest fanbases. The club is also one of the fastest-growing football teams globally at the moment. With stars like Neymar and Lionel Messi joining the team, PSG has attracted millions of new fans.

Juventus Football Club, commonly known as Juventus, is a professional football club based in Turin, Piemonte, Italy. Established in 1897, the club has worn its iconic black and white striped jerseys since 1903.

Juventus is the most popular football club in Italy, with over 12 million fans, accounting for approximately 34% of Italy's total football fanbase, according to a September 2016 study by Demos and Pi. The club enjoys widespread support throughout Italy, particularly in the southern regions, Sicily, and Malta. Juventus is consistently ranked among the top teams in Turin, with high demand for home match tickets in the city.

Juventus is one of the most successful football clubs in Italy, dominating Serie A with two consecutive championships. This success has earned the club a loyal and massive fan following, reflected in the club's growing fanbase both locally and internationally.

Chelsea is a professional football club based in Fulham, London, England. Founded in 1905, the club competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football. Chelsea is one of the most successful clubs in England, with over 30 major trophies, including six national championships and seven European titles. Their home stadium is Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea is also one of the clubs with the largest fanbases in the world. They rank sixth in the UK for average match attendance, with about 40,000 fans at Stamford Bridge. During the 2013–14 season, Chelsea ranked seventh in the Premier League for fan attendance, averaging 41,572 spectators. The club's traditional supporters come from all areas of Greater London, from working-class neighborhoods like Hammersmith and Battersea to the affluent areas of Chelsea and Kensington, as well as the home counties. Additionally, Chelsea has numerous official fan clubs in the UK and around the globe. From 2007 to 2012, Chelsea ranked fourth worldwide for annual shirt sales, averaging 910,000 shirts. Chelsea's official Twitter account has 6.29 million followers.

Since being acquired by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, Chelsea has grown into a global powerhouse, winning three Premier League titles, a Champions League, a Europa League, and several domestic cups since 2004. This success has further boosted Chelsea's fanbase ranking.

Liverpool is a professional football club based in Liverpool, England. The club currently competes in the Premier League, the top division of English football.

Liverpool is one of the most loyal fanbases in the world, with one of the highest average attendances in Europe. The club has over 200 official fan clubs in more than 30 countries, recognized by the international supporters' association. Notable groups include Spirit of Shankly. With such a large and passionate following, Liverpool often organizes international tours, playing in front of 101,000 fans in Michigan, USA, and 95,000 in Melbourne, Australia. Fans of Liverpool, affectionately known as Kopites, get their name from the iconic standing and seated areas in The Kop stand. In 2008, a group of supporters formed their own club, A.F.C. Liverpool.

Home to Anfield, the club is known for having the most dedicated and long-standing fans in the world. They continue to celebrate their iconic 2005 UEFA Champions League victory over AC Milan in Istanbul, a dramatic comeback that remains a defining moment in the club's history.

Bayern Munich is a professional sports club based in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. The team currently competes in the Bundesliga, the highest division of German football.

At the 2018 annual general meeting, Bayern's board reported that the club had 291,000 official members and 4,433 registered fan clubs, with over 390,000 supporters. This makes Bayern Munich the club with the largest fan membership worldwide. Bayern's supporters span across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, with fans traveling over 200 km (120 miles) to attend home matches at the Allianz Arena. The club averages 75,000 attendees per game, consistently filling the stadium to capacity. Every Bundesliga match has been sold out for years. According to a study by Sport Markt, Bayern is the fifth most popular football club in Europe with 20.7 million supporters, and the most popular club in Germany with 10 million fans.

Founded in 1900 by 11 footballers led by Franz John, Bayern Munich has grown to become the dominant force in German football and is ranked sixth globally in terms of fanbase size. Over the past decade, with the rise of social media, Bayern's global following has expanded significantly, making it one of the most followed clubs worldwide.

Manchester City is a professional football club based in Manchester, England. To date, Manchester City has won 8 English league titles, 6 FA Cups, 8 League Cups, 6 Community Shields, and one Cup Winners' Cup. Their home ground is the Etihad Stadium, which has a capacity of about 55,000 seats. Known as "The Citizens," their traditional rivals are Manchester United. Currently, the club competes in the Premier League.

Manchester City boasts a significant global fanbase. Since moving to the City of Manchester Stadium, the average attendance has ranked sixth in England, surpassing 40,000 spectators. Even in the late 1990s, when the club was relegated twice in three seasons and played in the third tier of English football, Manchester City's home crowds remained at 30,000, compared to an average of just 8,000 during those years.

A study conducted by Manchester City in 2005 estimated their fanbase in the UK at around 886,000, with a global reach of 2 million. Since the club was taken over by Sheikh Mansour, recent trophies have helped significantly boost this number, with fans increasing exponentially worldwide.

Arsenal is a professional football club based in Holloway, London, currently competing in the Premier League, the highest level of English football.

Fans of Arsenal affectionately refer to themselves as "Gooners," a nickname derived from the club's moniker, "The Gunners." Their fanbase is vast and fiercely loyal to the team. Throughout the 2007–08 season, the average attendance for home matches was the second-highest in the UK, with 60,070 spectators per game, filling 99.5% of the Emirates Stadium's seats. In 2006, they ranked fourth in terms of average home attendance. Arsenal has the seventh-highest average attendance in Europe among club teams.

Like other major English clubs, Arsenal has a dedicated supporters' group that works closely with the club's independent members' association. The Arsenal Supporters Trust actively promotes positive engagement among fans, supporting the club through various chants such as "One-Nil to the Arsenal" and "Boring, Boring Arsenal." Under manager Arsène Wenger, the team built a storied history in the Premier League and has consistently been a contender for the title over the past decade. The club is second only to Manchester United in popularity within the UK.

Real Madrid Club de Fútbol, commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. Widely regarded as the most successful football club of the 20th century by FIFA, Real Madrid has earned its place among the elite in world football.

According to market research firm Sport Markt, Real Madrid boasts around 41 million fans across Europe, ranking just behind their fierce rivals, Barcelona. In Latin American markets such as Mexico, Brazil, and Argentina, the club enjoys an even larger following, with an estimated 8 million supporters as of February 2009. Honorary members of Real Madrid include tennis legend Rafael Nadal, singer Jennifer Lopez, actress Penélope Cruz, cyclist Alberto Contador, and chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen.

Known for its rich, unrivaled history, Real Madrid is the most successful football club in the world, having secured 11 European titles and numerous La Liga championships. With over 150 million followers on social media, the club continues to attract global attention, amplified by its extensive media coverage in numerous countries.

Barcelona is a professional football club based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, competing in La Liga, the top tier of Spanish football.

The term 'Barcelonista' originated from the Catalan language, used by the club's fans, who began gathering at the club’s first stadium. In Spain, it is estimated that about 25% of the population supports Barça. The club’s fanbase grew significantly from 100,000 in the 2003–04 season to 170,000 by September 2009, with Ronaldinho’s impact and Joan Laporta’s media strategy being key factors, focusing on Spanish and English-language online platforms. As of June 30, 2022, the club had 143,086 official members, known as 'socis'.

Barcelona ranks second globally for the largest social media following among all football clubs. Their fanbase includes many notable figures, including Pope John Paul II, who was an honorary member, and former Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero. Barcelona has been the most successful football club in the past decade, completing their second treble in 2015, winning the Champions League, La Liga, and Copa Del Rey, alongside the Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup. The club’s iconic trio of Neymar, Luis Suárez, and Lionel Messi contributed to their global appeal. The El Clásico rivalry with Real Madrid is the most-watched football match, further boosting the popularity of FC Barcelona.

Manchester United is a professional football club based at Old Trafford in Manchester, England. The club competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football. Known as the 'Red Devils', Manchester United is one of the most supported clubs worldwide, and it had the highest revenue in the world during the 2016-2017 season, generating €676.3 million annually. As of 2019, it was the third most valuable football club in the world, valued at £3.15 billion ($3.81 billion).

Manchester United enjoys global recognition, boasting one of the highest average home game attendances in Europe. The club claims to have a fanbase spanning over 200 officially recognized branches in at least 24 countries worldwide, which has been further leveraged through extensive summer tours. According to Deloitte, United has over 165 million fans on social media globally.

The club also ranks third globally for social media followers among all sports teams (behind Barcelona and Real Madrid). A 2014 study found that Manchester United has the most vocal supporters in the Premier League. There’s a popular joke that no matter the game, one-third of the stadium will be filled with United fans. Whether in the US, Africa, Asia, South America, or Europe, the Red Devils continue to reign supreme.