New Elite Football Index 2025 is launched

“Octagon’s Elite Football Index is simply the most comprehensive analysis ever produced, using metrics which underpin football’s commercial model, said Phil Carling, Managing Director of Football Octagon Worldwide. “It provides brands with the means to optimise their sponsorship investments, whilst providing rights owners with a detailed assessment of their relative performance, highlighting specific areas of strength and those in need of improvement.”

“This year's Elite Football Index truly sets a new standard for understanding the intricate commercial landscape of European football," said Steven Adamson, SVP & Head, UK, Futures Sport & Entertainment. “By combining our deep data analytics with Octagon's industry expertise, we've created a tool that not only highlights the leaders but also uncovers nuanced opportunities and challenges, allowing brands and clubs to make truly informed, data-driven decisions in a rapidly evolving global market.”

Key Insights from the 2025 Elite Football Index include:

• Real Madrid Tops the Table: Real Madrid leads all clubs, standing alone at the top due to unmatched social media engagement, squad star power, global fanbase scale, and consistent on-pitch performance.
• Premier League Drives Global Dominance: The Premier League continues to outpace all other leagues in global commercial opportunity, with international viewership, particularly outside of Europe, more than three times higher than any other league.
• Liverpool and Arsenal Climb Rankings: Both clubs have seen a sharp rise in commercial opportunities through strong on-field performance and savvy brand execution.
• Asia and North America Offer Distinct Growth Opportunities: Asia continues to lead in fanbase volume, while North America emerges as the region with the highest commercial potential, driven by affluence and fan spend.
• Social Media Supremacy: Real Madrid and Barcelona maintain social media dominance, boosted by superstar rosters and high engagement from mobile-first markets like Brazil.
• Fan Sentiment Goes Beyond the Pitch: New brand health data from Futures’ Market Landscape Tracker, surveying over 70,000 global fans annually, reveals that fan perceptions of care and satisfaction are not tightly tied to performance. Clubs like Borussia Dortmund and Atletico Madrid stand out for strong emotional connection with their supporters.
• Fan Priorities and Concerns Vary Widely: Key fan concerns include underinvestment in success, rising ticket prices, and fears around over commercialisation or inclusivity at matches.

The Elite Football Index 2025 is a strategic resource designed to inform brand alignment decisions and club commercial direction, helping industry leaders take evidence-based action in an increasingly competitive global football economy.

To request a copy of the Elite Football Index, please contact Laura.Fairweather@octagon.com.