Liverpool top the list, boosting their coffers by an impressive €56.92 million in prize money ahead of the Last 16.
The revamped Champions League is proving to be a financial goldmine for all of the clubs who have advanced through the first stage of the tournament.
Liverpool, the team to have won the most Champions League prize money ahead of the Last 16
Liverpool, as the top seed in the league phase, has already raked in an impressive €56.92 million in prize money, including a very handy €11 million for direct qualification to the Round of 16. The Premier League leaders tops the list in total earnings and their payout will be close to €100 million when the new “value pillar” (a combination of the old market pool and rankings from the last 5–10 years) is calculated at the end of the tournament.
Barcelona, who finished the first phase second, secured an additional €9.62 million on top of its earnings. The Catalan club has amassed €55.145 million so far, second only to Liverpool. Here’s the breakdown of Barça’s income: €18.62 million for participation, €12.6 million for six wins in the league phase, €700,000 for a draw against Atalanta, €9.625 million for finishing second in the league, a €2 million bonus for ranking among the top eight, and €11 million for reaching the Round of 16.
Real Madrid, after eliminating Manchester City and reaching the Round of 16, has brought in €49.77 million. However, the club lags behind Barcelona, earning €6.5 million less in the league phase and nearly €5 million less than Atlético Madrid. Real Madrid’s breakdown includes €18.62 million for participation, €10.5 million for five league-phase wins, €7.155 million for finishing 11th in the league, a €1 million bonus for ranking between 9th and 16th, and €11 million for progressing through the playoffs.
How much do clubs earn just for participating in the Champions League in 2024/25?
UEFA has significantly boosted club revenues with the new format, adding €400 million more compared to the 2023–2024 season. Just participating now guarantees €18.62 million per club, up from €15.64 million previously. An additional €183.15 million is distributed based on final league standings, ranging from €9.9 million for Liverpool to €275,000 for Young Boys, who finished in 36th place.
Atlético has also benefited, earning €53.62 million so far, with €8.8 million coming from their fifth-place finish. Comparatively, Girona, in their debut Champions League season, earned just €1.1 million for finishing 33rd, bringing their total earnings to €21.92 million. Future payouts from the “Value Pillar” will be calculated by UEFA at the end of the season.
Earnings per knockout round victory in the Champions League are lucrative. Teams that advance to the quarterfinals will add €12.5 million to their coffers. The four semifinalists will each earn an additional €15 million, while reaching the grand final comes with an impressive reward of €18.5 million per team. The ultimate victor of the final will claim an extra bonus of €6.5 million, solidifying the Champions League as a financial powerhouse for successful clubs.
In total, there’s still a lucrative €42.5 million up for grabs for the team that emerges as the Champions League winner on March 31. This hefty prize underscores just how financially rewarding the competition is, especially for the eventual champion.