Real Madrid break world record for sports team with £1bn revenue Sport Business Real Madrid have claimed the highest operating revenue of any sports team in history after reporting income of more than €1.2bn for last season. The figure declared, €1.221bn, equates to £1.04bn and $1.36bn at current exchange rates and is a three per cent increase on the 2024-25 campaign. As such it surpasses the $1.23bn reported [...]
The 2026 World Cup had its flaws, yes, but it was a resounding success for Fifa Sport Business In the coming days following last night’s World Cup final, Fifa will release a report on how many people watched the tournament across its five and a half weeks. Look out for the social media KPIs – impressions, engagement, video views – that major sporting bodies now have to report, but the headline number will [...]
Manchester United debt pile may force owners to fund new stadium Sport Business Doubts have emerged over Manchester United’s capacity to fund their £2bn-plus new stadium unless the owners inject cash. The club announced on Monday that they had secured the land required to build the 100,000-seater venue – dubbed a “Wembley of the North” – from Indurent, which lets industrial units. The 25-acre site is only 350m [...]
An England World Cup isn’t just football – it is money, politics and a nation’s bad habits June 18, 2026 England are being asked to win the World Cup, yes, but the absurdity is that they are required to do so much more in the process, both commercially and politically, writes Ed Warner. And so they’ve begun. Our boys, Tom’s 26. Their world is in motion, three lions on their shirts, out to erase 60 [...]
Why Messi taking 100 per cent stake in UE Cornella matters April 17, 2026 Lionel Messi’s purchase of Spanish fifth-tier side UE Cornella represents a broader trend of players seeing football assets as long-term investment opportunities, top football finance experts have said. The Argentinian, who will be heading to the Fifa World Cup this year looking to defend the title he won in Qatar, will own 100 per cent [...]
Italy World Cup flop kills five per cent of bets on tournament winner April 2, 2026 Italy’s failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup this week was an early win for bookmakers as it killed five per cent of wagers on the outright winner, betting data shows. Four-time champions Italy lost on penalties in a play-off with Bosnia and Herzegovina on Tuesday, meaning they will miss a third men’s World [...]
Youri Djorkaeff on investing, SailGP and buying an English football club February 16, 2026 French football legend Youri Djorkaeff and his son Sacha on their investment vehicle Playmaker, backing SailGP and buying an English club. Two years after helping his country to win a home World Cup in 1998, Youri Djorkaeff was ticking off another life goal in France colours. Only this time it was on the waters around [...]
Kylian Mbappe wins £53m payout from Paris Saint-Germain December 16, 2025 Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain have been ordered to pay Kylian Mbappe €60m (£53m) after he won a legal dispute over unpaid wages and bonuses. Mbappe had been claiming €263m (£231m) from PSG, who counter-sued the France captain for €240m (£211m), following his acrimonious move to Real Madrid in summer 2024. A French labour court [...]
Zverev latest to enter luxury market with Loewe deal November 14, 2025 Tennis player Alexander Zverev is the latest sports star to cross over with luxury, announcing a deal with German AV brand Loewe. Zverev, also German, is taking part in the ATP Finals this week in Turin and follows Kylian Mbappe in agreeing a global brand ambassador deal with Loewe, which is headquartered in Kronach. It [...]
Chelsea investors Ares buys stake in Mbappe SailGP team June 18, 2025 Chelsea, McLaren Racing and Miami Dolphins investor Ares Management has joined Kylian Mbappe in buying into the French SailGP team. The US firm’s minority stake will see the sailing team become entirely privately owned, and follows recent celebrity investments in the series from the likes of Anne Hathaway (Italy) and Ryan Reynolds (Australia). Ares Management [...]