Last night, Croatia became water polo world champions for the third time after winning titles in 2007 and in 2017. Yesterday was the second medal in a month for the team after they won silver at the Euros. 

The Croatian water polo team had also won one silver and four bronzes at world championships. Croatia also won the gold medal at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

After the heroics in Doha this past fortnight, many are again asking the question, and with good reason, how does such a small nation like Croatia excel on the world sporting stage?

Croatia has achieved remarkable sporting success since gaining independence in the early 1990s and has punched above its weight with major success in some of the world’s most competitive sports.

Although keenly debated, a number of critics agree that football and tennis, with the amount of participation in the world, are the top two most competitive global games.

In these two sports, which is a good starting measure of a nation’s sporting prowess, Croatia has achieved what some of the so-called ‘big’ nations could only dream of.

Croatia has reached the semi-finals of world’s biggest sporting event, the football World Cup, twice in a row and three times since it became an independent nation in the 1990s with just 3.8 million people.

The nation won bronze at the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France, and the following year climbed to 3rd in the FIFA rankings, won silver at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia and bronze again at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Croatia has also qualified for all but 2 major tournaments since its 1998 debut. Local Croatian clubs have also supplied Europe’s top clubs with dozens and dozens of players over the years, highlighted in by the fact that that a Croatian player has been part of the winning UEFA Champions League team for the past 10 years in a row.

In tennis, Croatia could have possibly gone one better. In 2005 Croatia won the Davis Cup out of over 160 teams in the world and then won it for the second time in 2018. They were also runners-up twice and are currently the No.1 ranked team in the world.

It has produced Wimbledon (Goran Ivanišević), US Open (Marin Čilić), and French Open (Iva Majoli) champions, as well as a number of doubles and junior titles. Ivan Dodig, Mate Pavic and Nikola Mektić have won numerous Grand Slam titles.

Croatia also are the current Olympic gold and silver medalists in tennis.

Moving on to other sports and the roll of honour is even bigger. Croatia has been the world and Olympic champions in handball, rowing, sailing and, of course, water polo.

There are also a host of individuals who have been world champions in their chosen sports, such as the great Janica and Ivica Kostelić (skiing), Blanka Vlašić (high jump), Sandra Perković (discus) and Sara Kolak (javelin), Martin and Valent Sinković (rowing), Giovanni Cernogoraz, Snježana Pejčić and Josip Glasnović (shooting) to name just a few.

There have been big successes in basketball, most notably the silver medal at the 1992 Olympics. There is also the large number of Croatians who have played in the NBA.

At the 2016 Rio Olympics Croatia placed 3rd on a gold medal table weighted by population size.

Punching above its weight? It sure seems like it. But how? What is the secret?

Genetics, quality coaching and development structure, passion, culture, and an enormous love for country are some of the main reasons according to Romeo Jozak, one of the people most qualified to provide some insight.

Jozak is the former Technical Director of the Croatian Football Federation. He has a Doctorate in Science and has worked in almost every role in Croatian football, including working with Dinamo Zagreb’s famous Youth Academy.

Jozak believes that it comes down to a combination of few things.

Genetics

“One obvious reason is the innate talent for sports that the people in this part of the world are born with. This is clearly something intangible we were blessed with in the genetic makeup, but it is undefinable. If we could find a way to bottle it and sell it, it would no doubt be the most sought-after product in the world,” Jozak says.

Coaching

Jozak says that there are a couple of other facts involved apart from genetics. He believes that the high-level quality of youth coaches in sports like football, handball, basketball, and water polo, plays a huge part in shaping the raw talent into something more, and eventually into producing elite athletes.

“We’ve strategically approved our technical development curriculum. That’s a guide material that a lot of coaches and academies are following. The same or similar view on developments is crucial,” he adds.

Patriotism

“The final part, for me at least, the one that binds together everything is the passion and love for sport that is deeply rooted into every Croatian, the love for our country that we can express most visibly when competing,” Jozak says, and there are others who agree this has played a big part.

“It’s a chance to show the world, through different sports, that we exist. Sportsmen are the best ambassadors for us. It is a great inspiration to represent Croatia. There is a lot of pride. With the war and everything that went on, that increased the national energy. We don’t have to teach the kids to sing the national anthem. There’s national pride,” former footballer Igor Stimac once said.

Football

With football being his expertise and him playing a part in the development system, Romeo has some specific views why Croatia has excelled in football.

“Football as a game has a long history in Croatia. Many don’t remember that the Croatian Football Federation was the first such institution in former Yugoslavia. From there on in, the core of every big team in Yugoslavian history was made from Croatians, leading up to 1987 when the only Yugoslavian World Cup title in football had been won, with players such as Boban, Štimac, Prosinečki, and Šuker as the biggest names. It almost seems that from the very beginning we were destined for this game,” he believes, before adding.

“On a more practical note, apart from the factors I mentioned earlier, it is all down to hard work. We have to make sure we don’t miss a single player with the potential to become great, be it in Croatia or in the Croatian diaspora worldwide. Find the players early and then develop them properly, that is where the coaches are the key.”

Does Jozak believe certain areas or regions stand out when it comes to talent in Croatia?

“There are great athletes from every corner of our beautiful homeland that have risen to the very top and made us all proud. Zagreb, Split, Osijek, Rijeka, Pula and many many others.

In the end, it is perhaps this unity most of all, that is sometimes lacking in other areas, but which really comes together in sport, that makes us so successful competing on the world stage.”

IRONMAN 70.3 Swansea has been held for the past two summers and is due back this summer, featuring a 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile cycle and 13.1-mile run.

It will return in July with its run course having been named the third best in the event’s world calendar – and the best across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

The run sees athletes go twice on a loop from the Maritime Quarter and through the Marina along the prom and back along the prom and parts of the seafront main road.

Come rain or shine, runners enjoy it due to factors such as its flat route and its stunning views across the broad sweep of Swansea Bay.

The event is held with the support of Swansea Council and the Welsh Government. It attracts thousands of competitors, supporters and local spectators who enjoy a free day of world class sport.

It’s estimated that the IRONMAN event brings around 20,000 spectators to Swansea. Together with the World Triathlon Para Series it’s estimated to be worth more than £2m to the local economy.

Robert Francis Davies, Swansea Council’s council cabinet member for investment, regeneration, events and tourism, said: “This is great news for Swansea and its IRONMAN 70.3 event.”

IRONMAN UK and Ireland project manager Rebecca Sutherland said: “The Swansea scores for our annual athlete’s choice awards were amazing and have been warmly welcomed in the IROMAN community.”

IRONMAN 70.3 Swansea, on Sunday, July 14 this year, will follow the city’s third staging of the 2024 World Triathlon Para Series on Saturday 22 in the SA1 Waterfront area.

(Lead image: Huw Fairclough for IRONMAN))

The strongman sport involves a series of events designed to test the limits of human strength, including lifting massive weights, pulling vehicles, and carrying heavy objects over great distances. The athletes who participate in these events are some of the strongest men in the world, and their physical prowess and mental toughness have earned them the respect and admiration of fans around the globe. Who is the strongest man in the world?

The most muscular men have come from competitions, including the World’s Strongest Man (WSM), powerlifting, weightlifting, and wrestling. The WSM is an annual international event attracting some well-built men on earth. It began in 1977.

Who is the strongest man in the world?

Take a closer look at some of the strongest men in the world, exploring their accomplishments and more.

20. Andy Bolton

• Full name: Andrew Bolton
• Date of birth: 22 January 1970
• Age: 54 years old (as of 2024)
• Place of birth: Dewsbury, Yorkshire
• Nationality: British

15 greatest Ajax legends: Who are the best Ajax players of all time?

Football

Andy is a British powerlifter who hails from Dewsbury, Yorkshire. He is the first man to lift a 1000 lb. deadlift in a powerlifting competition. The Briton has also won three World Powerlifting championships (2000, 2001, 2008).

19. Mark Henry

• Full name: Mark Jerrold Henry
• Date of birth: 12 June 1971
• Age: 53 years old (as of 2024)
• Place of birth: Silsbee, Texas
• Nationality: American

Henry is an American powerlifter and retired professional wrestler known during his time in WWE. Mark Henry was one of the three-time champions of the U.S National Weightlifting in 1993, 1994 and 1996.

18. Leonid Taranenko

• Full name: Leonid Ivanovich Taranenko
• Date of birth: 13 July 1956
• Age: 67 years old (as of 2024)
• Place of birth: Minsk, Belarus
• Nationality: Belarusian

Taranenko is known for lifting a truck with his bare hands and deadlifting over 500 pounds. He won several titles, including gold medals at the Olympic Games, World Weightlifting Champions, and European Weightlifting Championships.

Who are the 15 worst goalkeepers of all time? 2023 global ranking

Football

17. Terry Hollands

• Full name: Terry Hollands
• Date of birth: 6 June 1979
• Age: 44 years old (as of 2024)
• Place of birth: Dartford, United Kingdom
• Nationality: British

Despite failing to win the World’s Strongest Man (WSM) competition, the British athlete has one of the most prolonged consistency in the event. Hollands is the only WSM competitor to reach the finals in nine consecutive years.

16. Eddie Hall

• Full name: Edward Stephen Hall
• Date of birth: 15 January 1988
• Age: 36 years old (as of 2024)
• Place of birth: Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, England
• Nationality: British

Eddie Hall has set numerous records, including the most weight lifted in one session (1,041 pounds). Besides weight lifting, Eddie is also a professional actor. In 2015, he was awarded an honorary knighthood by the Queen.

15. Hafthor Bjornsson

• Full name: Hafthor Julius Bjornsson
• Date of birth: 26 November 1988
• Age: 35 years old (as of 2024)
• Place of birth: Reykjavík, Iceland
• Nationality: Icelandic

Who are the top 15 best right-wingers in the world as of 2023?

Football

Hafthor Bjornsson, also known as Thor, is one of the strongest man alive and is widely considered one of the greatest strongman athletes of all time, having won numerous prestigious titles and set several world records.

He is best known for his success in the World’s Strongest Man competition, which he won in 2018, becoming the first Icelandic athlete to win the title since 1996. He also won Europe’s Strongest Man competition five times and the Arnold Strongman Classic four times.

14. Svend Karlsen

• Full name: Svend Karlsen
• Date of birth: 6 December 1967
• Age: 56 years old (as of 2024)
• Place of birth: Oslo, Norway
• Nationality: Norwegian

Svend Karlsen is well known for his catchphrase “Viking Power”. He broke over 30 Norwegian powerlifting records to cement his legendary status. In 2001, he won the WSM competition and finished in the top 3 in 1999 and 2000.

Top 10 richest football clubs in Africa in 2023: What is their value?

Football

13. Bruce Wilhelm

• Full name: Bruce Wilhelm
• Date of birth: 5 October 1945
• Age: 78 years old (as of 2024)
• Place of birth: San Francisco, California, United States
• Nationality: American

Wilhelm is undoubtedly among the most energetic guys globally. During his career, Wilhelm won several prestigious strongman competitions, including the World’s Strongest Man competition in 1977 and the National and World Muscle Power Championships multiple times.

He was known for his incredible strength and innovative training methods, which helped him develop the explosive power and speed that set him apart from many of his competitors.

12. Vasyl Virastyuk

• Full name: Vasyl Virastyuk
• Date of birth: 22 April 1974
• Age: 49 years old (as of 2024)
• Place of birth: Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine
• Nationality: Ukrainian

Ukrainian Vasyl Virastyuk is the first athlete to claim the World’s Strongest Man award and the International Federation of Strength Athletes (IFSA) title in the same year (2004). He is one of the most successful strongman athletes in the history of the sport, having won several prestigious titles throughout his career.

UFC featherweight rankings: Who is the best featherweight fighter?

UFC

11. Magnus Samuelsson

• Full name: Magnus Samuelsson
• Date of birth: 21 December 1969
• Age: 53 years old (as of 2024)
• Place of birth: Linköping, Sweden
• Nationality: Swedish

The Swedish-born legend was known for his incredible arm strength. Samuelsson won the 1998 WSM competition and held the record for most appearances in the event (13). He followed in his mother’s footsteps by winning the arm wrestling championship.

10. Jamie Reeves

• Full name: Jamie Reeves
• Date of birth: 25 April 1968
• Age: 55 years old (as of 2024)
• Place of birth: Stoke-on-Trent, England
• Nationality: British

Jamie Reeves won the World’s Strongest Man competition thrice in 1989 and made it to the podium. He was England’s most energic man for nearly a decade in the late 1980s and 1990s.

Reeves is also known for his contributions to the sport of strongman as a coach and mentor. He has trained and coached many of the top strongman athletes in the world, including four-time World’s Strongest Man champion Zydrunas Savickas.

Who are the 20 greatest Jamaican athletes of all time?

Other Sports

9. Jouko Ahola

• Full name: Jouko Ahola
• Date of birth: 1 December 1970
• Age: 53 years old (as of 2024)
• Place of birth: Hämeenlinna, Finland
• Nationality: Finnish

Ahola is widely regarded as one of the greatest strongman athletes ever, having won the World’s Strongest Man competition twice, in 1997 and 1999. He also won Europe’s Strongest Man competition twice and Finland’s Strongest Man competition eight times. He was known for his impressive strength, agility, and speed, which set him apart from many competitors.

8. Geoff Capes

• Full name: Geoffrey Lewis Capes
• Date of birth: 23 August 1949
• Age: 74 years old (as of 2024)
• Place of birth: Holbeach, Lincolnshire, England
• Nationality: British

British athlete Geoff Capes won two global titles in the mid-1980s, becoming one of the most successful English athletes. He also represented England and Great Britain in Shot Put events and won two Commonwealth titles, two European championships and three Olympic medals.

A ranked list of 10 of the best English golfers in the world currently

Golf

7. Martins Licis

• Full name: Martins Licis
• Date of birth: 28 September 1990
• Age: 33 years old (as of 2024)
• Place of birth: Riga, Latvia
• Nationality: Latvian-American

Martins Licis is a professional strongman athlete from the United States. He was born in Latvia and later moved to the United States when he was a child. Licis has been competing in strongman competitions since 2014 and has quickly risen through the ranks to become one of the top athletes in the sport.

Licis is known for his impressive strength and athleticism, as well as his outgoing personality and his entertaining social media presence. He is also a certified personal trainer and has a degree in economics from California State University, Fullerton.

6. Magnus Ver Magnusson

• Full name: Magnús Ver Magnússon
• Date of birth: 23 April 1963
• Age: 60 years old (as of 2024)
• Place of birth: Egilsstadir, Iceland
• Nationality: Icelandic

Female wrestlers list: A list of 30 of the most famous female wrestlers in the world currently

WWE

Magnus Ver Magnusson is a retired Icelandic strongman and powerlifter. He is known for his incredible strength, technical proficiency, and mental toughness, often employing unique strategies to outperform his competitors in various strongman events.

Magnusson won numerous strongman competitions, including the World’s Strongest Man competition four times (in 1991, 1994, 1995, and 1996) and Europe’s Strongest Man competition three times. He also set multiple world records in events such as the log lift and the car deadlift.

5. Brian Shaw

• Full name: Brian Shaw
• Date of birth: 26 February 1982
• Age: 42 years old (as of 2024)
• Place of birth: Fort Lupton, Colorado, United States
• Nationality: American

Brian Shaw is an American athlete who has done amazing things an average human cannot do. He has four WSM titles (2011,2013, 2015, 2016). Shaw was also among the World’s Strongest Man 2022 competitors, hoping to clinch his fifth accolade.

Top 30 best midfielders in the world – Global ranking revealed

Football

4. Patrik Baboumian

• Full name: Patrik Baboumian
• Date of birth: 1 July 1979
• Age: 44 years old (as of 2024)
• Place of birth: Abadan, Iran
• Nationality: German-Iranian

Baboumian is an Iranian-born, Armenian-German strongman and former bodybuilder. He holds the title of the Strongest Man of Germany and a world record for log lifts in the 105k category (165 kilograms). The 43-year-old is also one of the global champions of vegan food.

3. Bill Kazmaier

• Full name: Bill Kazmaier
• Date of birth: 30 December 1953
• Age: 69 years old (as of 2024)
• Place of birth: Burlington, Wisconsin, United States
• Nationality: American

Bill Kazmaier is a retired American strongman, powerlifter, and professional wrestler. He won numerous powerlifting and strongman competitions, including the World’s Strongest Man competition three times (in 1980, 1981, and 1982) and the USPF National Powerlifting Championships seven times. He also set multiple world records in events such as the squat, bench press, and deadlift.

Top 20 hottest female footballers in the world right now

Football

2. Mariusz Pudzianowski

• Full name: Mariusz Zbigniew Pudzianowski
• Date of birth: 7 February 1977
• Age: 47 years old (as of 2024)
• Place of birth: Biała Rawska, Poland
• Nationality: Polish

The Polish sensation has the World’s Strongest Man titles (5) more than any other athlete. In addition, he has an incredible record of 42 wins out of 59. Pudzianowski was also inducted into the WSM Hall of fame.

1. Zydrunas Savickas

• Full name: Žydrūnas Savickas
• Date of birth: 15 July 1975
• Age: 48 years old (as of 2024)
• Place of birth: Biržai, Lithuania
• Nationality: Lithuanian

Žydrūnas Savickas, also known as Big Z, is a retired Lithuanian strongman and one of the most successful competitors in the sport’s history.

Throughout his career, Savickas won numerous strongman competitions, including the World’s Strongest Man competition four times (in 2009, 2010, 2012, and 2014) and the Arnold Strongman Classic five times (in 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, and 2014). He also set numerous world records in events such as the log press, deadlift, and keg toss.

Top 20 most popular sports in the world revealed

Other Sports

Who is the strongest person in the world?

Below is a summary list of the world’s strongest men.

1. Zydrunas Savickas
2. Mariusz Pudzianowski
3. Bill Kazmaier
4. Patrik Baboumian
5. Brian Shaw
6. Magnus Ver Magnusson
7. Martins Licis
8. Geoff Capes
9. Jouko Ahola
10. Jamie Reeves
11. Magnus Samuelsson
12. Vasyl Virastyuk
13. Bruce Wilhelm
14. Svend Karlsen
15. Hafthor Bjornsson
16. Eddie Hall
17. Terry Hollands
18. Leonid Taranenko
19. Mark Henry
20. Andy Bolton

Who won World’s Strongest Man in 2024?

Tom Stoltman is the current holder of the World’s Strongest Man and Britain’s Strongest Man. In 2020, he broke the world record for lifting five of the enormous concrete 100-180-kilogram (220-400 lb) balls in under 16.01 seconds.

The list of the strongest man in the world is endless, as there are many upcoming stars. The world’s most muscular men are physically impressive and serve as a source of inspiration for those looking to push themselves to their limits. From weightlifting to strongman competitions, these athletes have proven that incredible feats of strength are possible with dedication and hard work.

Top 25 best-looking footballers in the world in 2024 ranked

Football

READ ALSO: Top 15 hottest female sports reporters and anchors in 2023

Sportsbrief.com recently featured some of the hottest female sports reporters and anchors in 2024. Sports reporting has always been male-dominated, but over the past few years, more and more women have been breaking into the field and making a name for themselves.

Not only are they knowledgeable about sports, but they also bring a unique perspective and fresh energy to the job. In addition to their talent, many female sports reporters and anchors have also become known for their beauty, which has helped them gain a following among sports fans.

There are hundreds of professional football leagues worldwide. FIFA, being the governing body for football globally, oversees leagues played in the six regional confederations the world is divided into: CAF (Africa), AFC (Asia and Australia), UEFA (Europe), CONCACAF (North & Central America and the Caribbean), OFC (Oceania) and CONMEBOL (South America). All these confederations have their own soccer leagues. Read on to know the 12 best soccer leagues in the world.

The Premier League has been hailed as the most thrilling league globally for over three decades. The League has been successful in monetary sense and popularity since it was renamed the “English Premier League” in 1992. Discover the top competitors of this world’s greatest football league below.

Best soccer leagues in the world ranked by Opta Power Rankings

Opta’s Power Rankings is a global team ranking system for nearly 13,500 football teams. The system ranks teams from 183 countries and 413 domestic leagues on a scale of zero to 100, where zero is the worst-ranked team in the world, and 100 is the best team in the world. Below are the world’s best soccer leagues ranked by the Opta Power Rankings:

10 Best pool players ever: top billiard players of all time

Other Sports

12. Turkish Super Lig – Turkey

• Founded: 21 February 1959
• Headquarters: Istanbul, Turkey
• Domestic cup (s): Turkish Cup; Turkish Super Cup
• International cup (s): UEFA Champions League; UEFA Europa League; UEFA Europa Conference League
• Current championship: Galatasaray (2022–23; 23rd title)
• Most championship: Galatasaray (23 titles)

The Süper Lig, or Turkish Super Lig, is one of the top football leagues in the world. The league is officially known as Trendyol Süper Lig for sponsorship reasons and is run by the Turkish Football Federation. There were 18 clubs in the Süper Lig until 2020, and 20 Clubs have been competing in the Süper Lig starting from 2020.

The league’s season runs from August to May, with each club playing the others twice (a double round-robin system) – once at their home stadium and once at that of their opponents – for a total of 38 games.

Who are the 10 most expensive goalkeepers in the world right now?

Football

Seventy-five clubs have participated in the Süper Lig, but only six have won the title to date: Galatasaray (23), Fenerbahçe (19), Beşiktaş (16), Trabzonspor (7), İstanbul Başakşehir (1) and Bursaspor (1). In the 2023-24 season, twenty clubs compete, where a champion is decided, and three clubs are promoted from and relegated to the 1. Lig.

11. Swiss Super League – Switzerland

• Founded: 1898
• Headquarters: Zurich, Switzerland
• Domestic cup (s): Swiss Cup
• International cup (s): UEFA Champions League; UEFA Europa League; UEFA Europa Conference League
• Current champions: Young Boys (2022–23; 16th title)
• Most championships: Grasshopper (27 titles)

The Swiss Super League has 19 teams and is played over 36 rounds from late July to May. The league’s season included a winter break from mid-December to the first week of February. Each team plays each other four times, twice at home and twice away, in a round-robin. Grasshopper has won the most Swiss Super League championships (27 titles).

Red football teams: A list of the 10 best football teams that wear red

Football

10. Brazilian Serie A – Brazil

• Founded: 23 August 1959
• Headquarters: São Paulo, Brazil
• Domestic cup (s): Copa do Brasil; Supercopa do Brasil
• International cup (s): Copa Libertadores; Copa Sudamericana
• Current championship: Palmeiras (2022–23; 11th title)
• Most championships: Palmeiras (11 titles)

The Brazilian Serie A is called the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A. Many commonly refer to the contest as the Brasileirão or Brasileirão Assaí due to sponsorship with Assaí Atacadista. There are 20 clubs in the Brasileirão, and the league’s season is from May to December. Each club plays the others twice (a double round-robin system) – once at their home stadium and once at that of their opponents – for a total of 38 games. Brasileirão has a flair and samba touch. It is working on deals in international TV rights and sponsorships to bring in extra revenue for the clubs.

Who is the greatest soccer player of all time? Let’s finally settle this debate

Football

9. Belgian Pro League – Belgium

• Founded: 1895
• Headquarters: Wervik, Flemish Region, Belgium
• Domestic cup (s): Belgian Cup; Belgian Super Cup
• International cup (s): UEFA Champions League; UEFA Europa League; UEFA Europa Conference League
• Current championship: Antwerp (2022–23; 5th title)
• Most championships: Anderlecht (34 titles)

The Belgian Pro League is the top league competition for association football clubs in Belgium. It operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Challenger Pro League. The competition is officially called the Jupiler Pro League due to sponsorship reasons with Jupiler. It has been contested by 16 clubs from the 2023–24 season onwards, with Antwerp winning the 2022–23 season.

8. Portuguese Primeira Liga – Portugal

• Founded: 1934
• Headquarters: Porto, Portugal
• Domestic cup (s): Taça de Portugal; Supertaça
• League cup(s): Taça da Liga
• International cup (s): UEFA Champions League; UEFA Europa League; UEFA Europa Conference League
• Current champion: SL Benfica (2022–23; 38th title)
• Most championships: Benfica (38 titles)

What is LFL football? All the facts and the details about the sport

Other Sports

The Primeira Liga, also known as Liga Portugal, is the top level of the Portuguese football league system. It was first known as “Campeonato da Liga da Primera Diviso” when it was established in 1934. The league is officially called Liga Portugal Betclic for sponsorship reasons. More than 70 teams have participated in the Primeira Liga championship, but only five clubs have won the contest. The three top winners are Benfica (38 victories), Porto (30 victories), and Sporting CP (19 wins).

7. Dutch Eredivisie – Netherlands

• Founded: 1956
• Headquarters: Zeist, Netherlands
• Domestic cup (s): KNVB Cup; Johan Cruyff Shield
• International cup (s): UEFA Champions League; UEFA Europa League; UEFA Europa Conference League
• Current championship: Feyenoord (2022–23; 16th title)
• Most championships: Ajax (36 titles)

In the Netherlands, the Eredivisie League is the top division for professional football. Two years after professional football began in the Netherlands, the League was established in 1956. It is one of the most significant ones in Europe, according to many. UEFA ranks Eredivisie as the fifth-best League in Europe as of the 2022–23 season. It features 18 clubs. With 35, 24, and 15 titles won, the top three teams in this division are Ajax, Eindhoven PSV, and Feyenoord.

Best players in MLS: 20 of the most talented players in the MLS currently

Other Sports

6. English Championship – England

• Founded: 2004
• Headquarters: London, UK
• Domestic cup (s): FA Cup
• League cup(s): EFL Cup
• International cup (s): UEFA Europa League (via FA Cup); UEFA Europa Conference League (via EFL Cup)
• Current championship: Burnley (2022–23; 2nd title)
• Most championships: Burnley; Newcastle United; Norwich City; Reading; Sunderland; Wolverhampton Wanderers (2 titles each)

The English Football League Championship (EFL Championship) is the highest division of the English Football League (EFL) and second-highest overall in the English football league system, after the Premier League. The league is also known as the Championship in England or the Sky Bet Championship (for sponsorship purposes). The league has 24 clubs, and Burnley won the 2022–23 edition.

5. French Ligue 1 – France

• Founded: 1932
• Headquarters: Paris, France
• Domestic cup (s): Coupe de France; Trophée des Champions
• International cup (s): UEFA Champions League; UEFA Europa League; UEFA Europa Conference League
• Current championship: Paris Saint-Germain (2022–23; 10th title)
• Most championships: Paris Saint-Germain (10 titles)

Why is Brazil not in FIFA 23? The case of the missing Samba

Football

The French Ligue 1 is among the top five best leagues in soccer. The league is officially known as Ligue 1 Uber Eats for sponsorship reasons. It is under the Ligue de Football Professionnel, a French governing body that runs France’s major professional football leagues.

Twenty clubs compete in this league, and a promotion and relegation system is used to promote top teams to Ligue 2. League 1 seasons run from August to May. Clubs play two matches against the other teams in the league – one home and one away – totaling 34 matches for the season.

4. Spanish La Liga – Spain

• Founded: 1929
• Headquarters: Madrid, Spain
• Domestic cup (s): Copa del Rey; Supercopa de España
• International cup (s): UEFA Champions League; UEFA Europa League; UEFA Europa Conference League
• Current championship: FC Barcelona (2022–23; 27th title)
• Most championships: Real Madrid (35 titles)

Who are the greatest Mexican basketball players of all time?

NBA

The Spanish La Liga is among the world’s top three best leagues in soccer. The Spanish Football League Championship has 20 competing teams, and sixty-two teams have previously participated. The top teams in this league are Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, and Valencia.

Barcelona has won 27 La Liga championships, while Real Madrid has won 35. Legendary soccer players Lionel Messi and Ronaldo raised the bar for Spanish La Liga, and the league keeps improving every year, even without them.

3. Italian Serie A – Italy

• Founded: 1898
• Headquarters: Milan, Italy
• Domestic cup (s): Coppa Italia; Supercoppa Italiana
• International cup (s): UEFA Champions League; UEFA Europa League; UEFA Europa Conference League
• Current championship: Napoli (2022–23; 3rd title)
• Most championships: Juventus (36 titles)

The Italian Serie A, officially known as Serie A TIM for sponsorship reasons, is a professional tournament for football teams in Italy. The winners are awarded the Scudetto and Coppa Campioni d’Italia. Since the 1929/30 season, the competition has been run in a round-robin format. According to the IFFHS report, Serie A was the strongest national League in the world in 2020. The league is home to three of the most well-known clubs in the world: Juventus, AC Milan, and Inter Milan.

Which are the 10 most successful Spanish soccer clubs based on trophies?

Football

2. German Bundesliga – Germany

• Founded: 24 August 1963
• Headquarters: Frankfurt, Germany
• Domestic cup (s): DFB-Pokal; DFL-Supercup
• International cup (s): UEFA Champions League; UEFA Europa League; UEFA Europa Conference League
• Current champion: Bayern Munich (2022–23; 32nd title)
• Most championships: Bayern Munich (32 titles)

The Bundesliga is the most-watched League in Germany. The league’s seasons run from August to May, with 18 clubs in competition, and matches are played on the weekends (Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays).

A little over 45000 spectators watch Bundesliga games in stadiums. Fifty-six clubs have competed in Germany’s Bundesliga since its founding. Bayern Munich has won 32 titles, 11 from the last eleven seasons, a European record. The Bundesliga has other champions like Borussia Dortmund, Hamburger SV, and Werder Bremen.

1. English Premier League – England

• Founded: 27 May 1992
• Headquarters: London, UK
• Domestic cup (s): FA Cup; FA Community Shield
• International cup (s): UEFA Champions League; UEFA Europa League; UEFA Europa Conference League
• Current champion: Manchester City (2022–23; 7th title)
• Most championships: Manchester United (13 titles)

Which are the best Mexican football clubs based on trophies?

Football

The English Premier League is a top-tier football league in the world. It has had fifty clubs participating since its inception in 1992: 48 English and 2 Welsh clubs. Twenty clubs partake in the competition, with each playing 38 games. AN EPL season starts in August and ends in May. Seven teams have won the Premier League trophy: Liverpool (1), Blackburn Rovers (1), Leicester City (1), Arsenal (3), Chelsea (5), Manchester City (7), and Manchester United (13).

What are the criteria used to rank football leagues?

Six factors used to compare soccer leagues in FIFA and determine the best are:

• Competitiveness
• Quality of football
• Success on an international level
• TV rights & viewership numbers
• Star Power
• Average attendance

What are the best soccer leagues in the world?

Below are the 30 world’s best soccer leagues ranked according to the Opta Power Rankings:

Which are the best soccer teams in Ireland of all time?

Football

What are the best leagues in soccer?

Below are the ten best soccer leagues in the world ranked by Opta Power Rankings:

FIFA has 210 men’s leagues and 129 women’s national teams. Meanwhile, FIFA 23 contains over 30 licensed leagues, over 100 licensed stadiums, over 700 clubs, and more than 19,000 players. The world has many football leagues because each country has its own domestic league. The English Premier League tops the rankings of the best soccer leagues in the world, with a potential TV audience of 4.7 billion people, because it has strong teams. EPL teams make the league incredibly competitive, thus making the contest unpredictable and exciting to fans.

How many teams are in the CFL and which is the most successful team?

Football

Sportsbrief.com published an article comparing Cristiano Ronaldo and Ronaldo Nazario. The Cristiano vs Nazario debate seems to be a never-ending one. Most of Cristiano’s fans believe he is the greatest soccer player ever, even though the Portuguese striker believes some icons are better than him.

For this reason, Cristiano’s fans always compare him with other legendary players of his generation and retired superstars like Ronaldo Nazario, who left outstanding records.

As time passed, sports flourished into a successful business. The sports sector generates billions in revenue globally. Consequently, professional sports leagues are sizable enterprises in modern society, with multiple income streams. People will invest time and money to watch their favourite players or teams live. So, which are the richest sports leagues in the world?

Sports are popular with people of all ages, especially among the young adult demographic. Many people are regarded as the world’s wealthiest because they are prepared to spend time and money watching their favourite and most famous MLB players.

The 15 richest sports leagues in the world currently

Some of the richest sports leagues in the world are characterized by their global popularity and lucrative broadcasting rights deals. Here is a list of the world’s top 15 richest sports leagues today.

15. Nippon Professional Baseball – $35 million

Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) is the highest level of baseball in Japan. It is a men’s professional baseball league that consists of two separate leagues: the Central League and the Pacific League. NPB is considered one of the highest-quality baseball leagues outside of Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States.

Who has the biggest contract in the MLB? 10 highest paid baseball players

Baseball

The Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) organization generated approximately 5.38 billion Japanese yen (approximately $35 million) in ordinary revenue. The organization oversees various baseball-related activities and initiatives, including the administration of the professional baseball league in Japan.

14. Italy’s Serie A – $69.35 million

Napoli was previously the most expensive team in Italian Serie A, but now Juventus has that title. This has come to fruition thanks to the masterful planning of Cristiano Ronaldo’s super move. And then there are other superstars like Romelu Lukaku.

The Italian Serie A is not the best telecom bargain compared to the people and the German Bundesliga. If an improved transmission agreement were approved in 2019, I would start receiving an annualized €1.3 billion. It is projected to generate an annual sponsorship revenue of $69.35 million for the 2023/24 season.

13. Australian Football League – $91.16 million

Who is the highest paid WNBA player? A ranked top 10 list

NBA

The AFL consists of 18 teams, with the league expanding over the years. Some of the prominent teams include the Collingwood Magpies, Essendon Bombers, Carlton Blues, Richmond Tigers, Hawthorn Hawks, and the Sydney Swans.

In 2022, the Australian Football League (AFL) disclosed an operating profit of AUS$20.7 million (US$14.33 million), indicating a significant year-over-year (YoY) surge with a boost of AUS$66.8 million (US$46.25 million).

12. Major League Soccer – $116 million

MLS began play in 1996 with ten teams. Over the years, the league has expanded, and there were 28 teams in total. The league is divided into the Eastern and Western Conferences, and teams compete in a regular season followed by the MLS Cup Playoffs.

The team with the best regular-season record is awarded the Supporters’ Shield. The playoffs culminate in the MLS Cup, which determines the league champion.

In 2022, Los Angeles FC emerged as the MLS team with the highest revenue, boasting a total of approximately 116 million U.S. dollars. Additionally, in 2023, LAFC retained its status as the league’s most valuable club.

What is LFL football? All the facts and the details about the sport

Other Sports

11. Belgian Pro League – $408 million

The Belgian Pro League, also known as the Jupiler Pro League for sponsorship reasons, is the top professional football division in Belgium. It consists of 18 teams, and the competition operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Belgian First Division B.

In the 2021-2022 period, operational revenues surged to €381.5 million (approximately$408 million), marking a substantial 31% growth equivalent to an increase of €90.8 million. This surpasses the operational revenues recorded in all seasons scrutinized prior to this.

10. Russian Premier League – $869 million

The Russian Premier League stands as one of the top 10 richest sports leagues in the world. The league comprises 16 teams, with Zenit Saint Petersburg securing consecutive championships from 2018–19 to 2022–23. Its estimated revenue is €813 million (approximately$869 million).

9. UEFA Champions League – $3.3 billion

Each year 32 teams are invited to compete here depending on their performance in their respective games. The teams are randomly divided into eight groups of four using an algorithm. The total revenue of the UEFA Champions League amounted to over 3.1 billion euros ($3.3 billion)

Which is the most watched sporting event in the world right now?

Other Sports

After that, each group play the other twice. Twenty-two teams have been crowned champions since the tournament was founded in 1955. Every team in Europe’s leagues aspires to win this trophy, the ultimate prize in European football.

The current record for most Champions League titles is held by Real Madrid (13 European cups). BT Sports has paid for airing its Europa League and Champions League matches.

8. Germany’s Bundesliga – $3.8 billion

In Germany, spectators regularly fill stadiums to watch games in the Bundesliga; on average, they sell 42,738 tickets for every game. The German Football Association announced that the combined revenues of the country’s professional teams topped 4 billion euros ($4.33 billion) in 2018, an increase of 5.4% from the previous football season.

During the 2021/22 season, the Bundesliga’s overall revenue surpassed 3.6 billion euros ($3.8 billion), indicating a modest uptick from the prior year. Bayern Munich has clinched the German first division title 33 times.

World’s most valuable football clubs named, featuring Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Man United

Football

7. La Liga Santander – $5.33 billion

The Spanish La Liga is the best football league in Spain and is #7 on our list of the best in the world. La Liga is not as well-known as the English Premier League; it is home to two of the best football teams in the world: Real Madrid and Barcelona.

La Liga generates revenue from commercial deals, player transfers, ticket sales, and broadcasting deals. The 2017–18 season saw a record-breaking increase of 20.6% in revenue for La Liga clubs, with a total of €4.479 billion earned. With the relaxation of capacity restrictions in the previous season, the total revenue for La Liga experienced a substantial 23% surge, reaching $5.33 billion in the 2021-22 period.

6. National Hockey League – $5.93 billion

Although the Public Hockey Association (PHA) may be one of the weaker games in Northern America, compared to other parts of America, it has a massive fanbase. During the 2017–2018 season, the NHL generated €4.2 billion, making it the most lucrative hockey league in the world.

Top 10 highest-paid cricket players in the world right now

Cricket

That figure grew to $5.09 billion in the 2018–19 season thanks to an extra $2 billion, or $200 million per season, paid by NBC and NBC SportsNet as part of a (decade-long) licensing deal. In the 2021/22 season, the total league revenue of the NHL was $5.93 billion.

5. English Premier League – $6.6 billion

Each English club earns money even through business operations and sponsorship deals. Approximately $5.3 billion is the result of the English Head Association’s leveraging of television broadcasting licenses. In 2016, for instance, the Chief Association approved a television contract for $13.6 billion.

Each of the 20 teams in the league received an equal share of these resources. Using publicly available data, the Head Association earned €5.3 billion in the fiscal year 2016/17. The advantages increased due to Man United’s Association’s acquisition of Cristiano Ronaldo and Romelu Lukaku in the past seasons.

Champions League vs Premier League: Which is considered better and why?

Football

Is the Premier League the richest league?

During the 2021/22 season, the cumulative revenue of clubs in the English Premier League surged to around 5.45 billion British pounds (approximately $6.6 billion). This marked a notable 11 percent increase in total revenue compared to the preceding year.

4. Indian Premier League – $8.4 billion

Cricket is not among the most popular sports in the world, and it is 3-year quite surprising that the seasons have landed it on our list of essential sports federations. Remarkably, they are in fourth place, with attendance much-exceeding hockey and, unexpectedly, the most significant football associations. Prominently feature the Indian Head Association in their discussions.

A staggering $7 billion is earned by an organization with only two bands, each of which typically performs for only two of the year’s twelve months. However, when you realize that cricket is the most popular sport in India, a country with a population of 1,339,000,000, you may begin to see the gravity of the situation. India is so dedicated to cricket that a significant match often delays other activities.

Who owns the NBA? The organizational structure of the NBA discussed

NBA

In 2022, the Indian Premier League’s worth reached approximately $8.4 billion, reflecting a notable upturn from the pandemic years. This resurgence was propelled by a new media rights auction and the addition of two extra teams

3. Major League Baseball – $10.32 billion

Baseball, like soccer, has a minimal international fan following because most players are drawn from regional support bases. We have repeatedly seen that having many North Americans on your side is a considerable advantage, and MLB is among the wealthiest sports leagues in the world.

With 1992 as the starting point, $1.2 billion has been generated through several cross-income streams. Averaging 2018’s growth rate of $10.7 billion and 2019’s projection of $10.8 billion, it has grown to $10.3 billion. Therefore profit made by each team in the 2017-18 season was above $300 million.

Considering that in 2018 the average price of a baseball ticket was $32.44 million, you can see how the MLB teams make millions of dollars off ticket sales. This exemplifies MLB’s consistent and predictable expansion since around 2006.

How many teams are in the CFL and which is the most successful team?

Football

Since just six of the top 50 clubs are affiliated with this league, MLB and the NFL do not share stadiums. The current MLB’s revenue is generated from several sources such as broadcast rights, merchandise sales, ticket sales, and sponsorships.

2. National Basketball Association – $10.58 billion

The Public Basketball Association enjoys greater global and North American fame than National Football League or Major League Baseball. It is not surprising, considering that football is among the top five most popular sports world’s games group, with an estimated 800 million supporters.

So, it stands to reason that the world’s top ball association would be among the top three best in revenue. The National Basketball Association (NBA) generates an estimated $500 million in global media income thanks to lucrative broadcasting deals with public television networks.

Every year in 2019, NBA fanatics place a valuation of $1.87 billion on the league’s three best teams, with the average valuation of each several being $1.87 billion.

The best Chicago athletes: A list of top athletes who hail from Chicago

Other Sports

In the 2022/23 season, the 30 franchises of the National Basketball Association (NBA) collectively generated a revenue of $10.58 billion, marking a notable rise of over 500 million dollars compared to the preceding year.

Regular attendance and discounted tickets reveal the unstoppable rise of NBA games with a value of above $2 billion, including the Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls, and Brilliant State Warriors.

1. National Football League – $18.6 billion

The National Football League (NFL) ranks first on this list of richest sports leagues in the world in 2023. From a financial perspective, the NFL is far more powerful than European football in terms of how the game is generally viewed and well-known.

Given that a sizable chunk of its fanbase is North American, most of its long-haul audience consists of people from the United States and Canada because no one outside those countries cares about it.

Here is a list of the most attractive soccer couples in the world currently

Football

Most of the National Football League’s annual revenue comes from long-term contracts with telecom companies like ESPN, Fox, NBC, and others. The NFL’s 32 franchises receive the lion’s share of the revenue, and the company is home to 29 of the world’s 50 most expensive stadiums.

Summary table of richest sports leagues in the world

A ranked list of 13 of the best-selling soccer jerseys in the world

Football

Which is the richest of the sports leagues in the U.S. on an annual revenue basis?

The richest sports leagues in the U.S. is the National Football League. It consists of 32 teams, divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). It generates an annual revenue of $18.6 billion.

What sports league is the richest?

Some of the richest sports leagues include the National Football League (NFL), Major League Baseball (MLB), National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Premier League (PL/EPL).

Is the NFL worth more than the Premier League?

While the NFL ranks in terms of revenue, the English Premier League (EPL) stands as the undisputed premier league in the world’s most beloved sport. The NFL makes more money from sponsorship deals than the Premier League.

What is the most watched sports league in the world?

The Premier League is the world’s most popular watched sport in the world. It boasts the most lucrative television contract in sports, securing its global reach and bringing in fans from anywhere and everywhere.

5 Most Valuable NBA Teams in 2023, Warriors on Top, Lakers Third

NBA

The richest sports leagues in the world generate substantial revenue from ticket sales and merchandise. They also benefit significantly from broadcasting rights, merchandise sales, and sponsorship agreements.

Sportsbrief.com listed the best streaming services for soccer fans. It makes sense that football fans would want to watch their preferred teams and leagues from around the world live on TV, especially if they enjoy watching with friends.

These football live-streaming websites or the best soccer streaming services will work just fine with an active internet connection.

American swimmer Michael Phelps, hailed as the most decorated athlete in Olympic history, continues to be synonymous with excellence in sports. Phelps has left an indelible mark on swimming and the Olympic Games with an unparalleled career boasting 28 Olympic medals, including an astonishing 23 golds.

Despite initial setbacks at the 2012 London Olympics, including a surprising failure to medal in his first event, Phelps demonstrated his resilience by securing silver and gold medals in subsequent races. His victory in the 4 × 200-meter freestyle relay marked his 19th career Olympic medal, surpassing the previous record held by Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina. However, as the recent chart disclosed his top position as the World Aquatics champion, his gratitude towards his coach on social media has amazed fans.

Michael Phelps achieved many victories under his coach’s guidance

As the anticipation builds for the swimming segment of the 2024 World Aquatics Championships, which is set to commence in Doha next Sunday, Swimming Stats recently shared a compelling post on their Instagram account. Highlighting the most decorated swimmers in a single edition, the post ignites excitement and speculation among swimming enthusiasts worldwide. That list shows Michael Phelps in the top position. More than six swimmers like Caeleb Dressel, Tracy Caulkins are securing different positions and medals besides him. Reposting it again on his Instagram story, legendary swimmer Michael Phelps recently expressed his heartfelt gratitude to his coach, Bob Bowman, for his unwavering support throughout his career. He captioned it, “Some fun memories… Thanks @coachbowman!!”

The iconic athlete-coach partnership, which commenced when Phelps was just 11 years old, has been instrumental in shaping him into one of the most celebrated Olympians in history. Bowman even pushed Michael Phelps to break the world record at 15. Phelps, often referred to as the ‘Baltimore Bullet’ and the ‘Flying Fish,’ reflected on Bowman’s pivotal role in his journey to greatness. However, despite such marvelous victories, Phelps was previously defeated by Katie Ledecky, which has created a huge buzz in the sports world.

Katie Ledecky surpasses Michael Phelps’ record

In a historic display of swimming prowess, Olympic champion Katie Ledecky shattered records at the World Aquatic Championships in Fukuoka, Japan. The 26-year-old prodigy had drawn level with Phelps earlier in the week by triumphing in the 1,500-meter freestyle, marking her fifth triumph in that specific race.

“Teased Because of His Big Ears”: Michael Phelps Conquered Over the Disease That
1.6 Million American Children Suffer From, Proving the Naysayers Wrong

Ledecky credited her competitors for propelling her to new heights in a post-race interview. “It’s always a battle; it’s always a great race. So I know I have to bring my best every single time.” Ledecky outpaced her competitors by a commanding margin, leaving silver medalist Li Bingjie of China trailing by almost 4.5 seconds. However, now everyone’s eyes are on the upcoming result of the match that will take place in Doha.

WATCH THIS STORY: Rare Image Shows Swimming Legend Michael Phelps’ Real Father

Major US consultancies who have advised Saudi Arabia on its global sports spending spree – including its proposed takeover of golf’s PGA Tour – are coming under fire in Washington for possible violations of federal disclosure laws.

Four prominent consulting firms, including McKinsey, have been accused of refusing to fully comply with subpoenas for information about their work for the oil-rich kingdom by the Senate permanent subcommittee on investigations. The Senate panel has been conducting an inquiry into authoritarian governments’ efforts to deploy soft power and other influence strategies in the US.

So far, the consultancies have only provided information of “limited substantive value”, according to a memo released to the media by the committee’s Democratic chairman, Richard Blumenthal.

But in a more serious turn of events for three of the firms, the senator has also strongly suggested that the consultancies could be violating federal disclosure rules – known as the Foreign Agents Registration Act (Fara) – by not formally declaring to US authorities that they are acting as agents of the Saudi government.

Failure to file under Fara, which was designed to control illegal foreign influence over the US government, is considered a federal crime and can lead to hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines or imprisonment.

The Saudi public investment fund (PIF), a sovereign wealth fund chaired by the crown prince and de facto Saudi leader, Mohammed bin Salman, and is worth an estimated $776bn, is at the heart of Blumenthal’s inquiry.

The PIF controls major investments around the world, including the 2021 takeover of the British football club Newcastle United, and has made major investments in the US, including in Meta, JP Morgan Chase, Starbucks, Microsoft, Lucid Motors, Activision Blizzard, Electronic Arts, Live Nation Entertainment and Uber.

The PIF also owns stakes in US private equity and venture capital firms including Blackstone, General Atlantic, KKR, Hellman & Friedman, Apollo, Brookfield and CVC.

The PIF has routinely objected to being subjected to US laws and has rebuffed repeated requests by the Senate committee to hand over documents subpoenaed by the panel. To get around the issue, Blumenthal looked to gather information from the US consultancies that have advised Saudi Arabia for answers.

The Saudi government responded by issuing an injunction against the consultancies in the Saudi courts, claiming that the records sought by the committee are classified and that their release could harm Saudi national security interests. The consultancies affected include Boston Consulting Group, McKinsey & Company, M Klein & Company, and Teneo, which are all headquartered in the US.

“Accepting the PIF Consultants’ refusal to cooperate with this Subcommittee would create a dangerous and unsupportable precedent – that American companies can shield commercial interactions with foreign governments that are directed towards the United States from oversight simply by choosing to have their contracts governed by foreign law,” Blumenthal said.

The Saudi government’s insistence that the US consultancies working for the PIF be treated as “public employees of the government of Saudi Arabia” has put the consultancies at legal risk. Under US law, any individual working as an agent of a foreign government must comply with Fara, which only one of the consultancies – Teneo – has so far done.

Blumenthal said in a memo that a key question for the panel’s inquiry was assessing whether Fara would apply to the consultancies.

In a statement to the Guardian, a spokesperson for McKinsey, which has faced substantial criticism for its work for Saudi Arabia in the past, pushed back on the Saudi government’s claim.

skip past newsletter promotion

after newsletter promotion

“McKinsey employees are employees of McKinsey, not the Saudi Government, and we have disputed any claims our employees are tantamount to public officials under Saudi law,” a spokesperson said.

BCG declined to comment. M Klein & Company did not respond to the Guardian’s request.

Teneo, which has filed under Fara, declined to respond to a request for comment about the firm’s compliance with the panel’s subpoena.

Executives from all four of the firms are due to testify in Washington on Tuesday.

Saudi Arabia’s suggestion that consultants and advisers for the PIF are Saudi government employees also appears to contradict previous public statements by England’s Premier League, which in 2021 agreed to allow a consortium headed by the PIF to takeover Newcastle United. The Premier League has said it received “legally binding assurances” that the PIF was separate from the Saudi government.

The issue has been contentious in the UK amid questions about whether the Saudi government has a controlling influence on Newcastle and whether its ownership should therefore be subject to the league’s owners’ and directors’ test.

Richard Masters, the Premier League chief executive, told the BBC in November 2021 that if his organization found evidence of state involvement in the running of the club, “we can remove the consortium as owners of the club”.

Got a tip on this story? Please send it to US.Investigations@theguardian.com

ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2024 updated points table, highest wicket-takers, run-scorers: India, Australia and South Africa are the three teams that have qualified for ICC Men’s U19 Cricket World Cup 2024 semifinal. The battle for the fourth and final spot in ICC Men’s U19 Cricket World Cup 2024 knockout stages hinges on Saturday’s (February 3) high-octane Pakistan Under-19 vs Bangladesh Under-19 Super Six match in Benoni. On Friday (February 2), three of the four semi-finalists for the ICC Men’s U19 Cricket World Cup 2024 were determined, leaving one spot open in the final four as the Super Six stage concludes in South Africa.

Following their commanding victory over Nepal Under-19 Cricket team, the undefeated India Under-19 Men’s Cricket team maintains their dominance at the top of Group 1 in ICC Men’s Under-19 Super Six standings of the Under-19 World Cup 2024, boasting eight points from four wins in as many games. Pakistan sits in second place, also unbeaten, with six points from three matches.

After the end of group stage matches, in the ICC U19 World Cup Super Six stage, the teams have been divided into two groups.

Group 1: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, New Zealand, Ireland and Nepal

Group 2: Australia, West Indies, South Africa, England, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe 

ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2024 – Group 1 Updated Points Table

ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2024 – Group 2 Updated Points Table

ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2024: Top 5 Highest Run-Scorers

1. Musheer Khan (India U19): 334 runs in five matches

2. Uday Saharan (India U19): 308 runs in five matches

3. Jamie Dunk (Scotland U-19): 263 runs in four matches

4. Hugh Weibgen (Australia U19): 252 runs in five matches  

5. Shahzaib Khan (Pakistan U-19): 234 runs in four matches 

ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2024: Top 5 Highest Wicket-Takers

1. Kwena Maphaka (South Africa U19): 18 wickets in five matches 

2. Saumy Kumar Pandey (India U19): 16 wickets in five matches 

3. Ubaid Shah (Pakistan U19): 12 wickets in four matches 

4. Callum Vidler (Australia U19): 11 wickets in four matches 

5. Nathan Edward (West Indies U19): 11 wickets in five matches 

In the 2022/23 season, Real Madrid had the highest revenue out of any soccer club worldwide, generating around 831.4 million euros. Manchester City placed second, with a total revenue of 825.9 million euros.

Read more

Soccer clubs with the highest revenue worldwide in 2022/23

(in million euros)

Characteristic	Total revenue in million euros
Real Madrid	831.4
Manchester City	825.9
Paris Saint-Germain	801.9
Barcelona	800.1
Manchester United	745.8
Bayern Munich	744
Liverpool	682.9
Tottenham Hotspur	631.5
Chelsea	589.4
Arsenal	532.6
Juventus	432.4
Borussia Dortmund	420
AC Milan	385.3
Inter	378.9
Atlético Madrid	364.1
Eintracht Frankfurt	293.5
Newcastle United	287.8
West Ham United	275.1
Napoli	267.7
Marseille	258.4

Collapse statistic
”
class=”button button–primary lightButton lightButton–hollow margin-top-20 font-size-15px flex–inline flex–center”>
Expand statistic

Download for free

Source

Release date

January 2024

More information

Survey time period

2022/23

Supplementary notes

All figures have been rounded.

Open this statistic in…

Citation formats

Citation formats
View options

Other statistics on the topic

Soccer

Profit from additional features with an Employee Account

Please create an employee account to be able to mark statistics as favorites.
Then you can access your favorite statistics via the star in the header.

Register now

Profit from the additional features of your individual account

Currently, you are using a shared account. To use individual functions (e.g., mark statistics as favourites, set
statistic alerts) please log in with your personal account.
If you are an admin, please authenticate by logging in again.

Login

To access this feature you need a Statista Account

Already have an account?
Login

You need one of our Business Solutions to use this function

• Immediate access to statistics, forecasts & reports
• Usage and publication rights
• Download in various formats

Already have an account?
Login

Statista Accounts:
Access All Statistics. Starting from $2,388 USD / Year

Basic Account

Get to know the platform

You only have access to basic statistics.

Starter Account

The ideal entry-level account for individual users

• Instant access to 1m statistics
• Download in XLS, PDF & PNG format
• Detailed references

Professional Account

Full access

Business Solutions including all features.

* Prices do not include sales tax.

Statistics on

”

Soccer

”

The most important statistics

The most important statistics

The most important statistics

The most important statistics

The most important statistics

The most important statistics

Other statistics that may interest you Soccer

Club football

8

UEFA Champions League

7

English Premier League

8

Soccer in the US

4

Major League Soccer (MLS)

6

FIFA World Cup

8

Further related statistics

16

• 
  Premium Statistic
  Amateur clubs in the Italian Football Federation 2018-2019, by region
• 
  Premium Statistic
  Number of amateur soccer clubs in Italy 2014-2019, by sector
• 
  Premium Statistic
  Serie A soccer stadiums Italy 2018-2019, by shareholder
• 
  Premium Statistic
  Most popular football clubs in the United Kingdom (UK) 2016
• 
  Basic Statistic
  Kit supplier deals of leading European soccer clubs 2023, by annual value
• 
  Basic Statistic
  Soccer teams ranked by sponsorship revenues (kit, shirt, stadium) 2015/16
• 
  Basic Statistic
  European football clubs average attendance 2013/14
• 
  Basic Statistic
  Brand value of Serie A (Italy) football teams 2018
• 
  Basic Statistic
  Number of foreign players in pro soccer leagues 2021
• 
  Basic Statistic
  FIFA World Cup vice champions 1930-2022
• 
  Basic Statistic
  Sponsorship revenue (kit, shirt) of the FC Chelsea 2014-2016
• 
  Premium Statistic
  Soccer participation rate South Korea 2019, by age group
• 
  Basic Statistic
  Sponsorship revenue (kit, shirt) of Juventus FC 2014/16
• 
  Basic Statistic
  Sponsorship revenue (kit, shirt) of Real Madrid 2014-2016
• 
  Premium Statistic
  Number of soccer venues in Italy 2019, by region
• 
  Basic Statistic
  Presence of racism in English soccer 2021

Further Content: You might find this interesting as well

Statistics

• Amateur clubs in the Italian Football Federation 2018-2019, by region
• Number of amateur soccer clubs in Italy 2014-2019, by sector
• Serie A soccer stadiums Italy 2018-2019, by shareholder
• Most popular football clubs in the United Kingdom (UK) 2016
• Kit supplier deals of leading European soccer clubs 2023, by annual value
• Soccer teams ranked by sponsorship revenues (kit, shirt, stadium) 2015/16
• European football clubs average attendance 2013/14
• Brand value of Serie A (Italy) football teams 2018
• Number of foreign players in pro soccer leagues 2021
• FIFA World Cup vice champions 1930-2022
• Sponsorship revenue (kit, shirt) of the FC Chelsea 2014-2016
• Soccer participation rate South Korea 2019, by age group
• Sponsorship revenue (kit, shirt) of Juventus FC 2014/16
• Sponsorship revenue (kit, shirt) of Real Madrid 2014-2016
• Number of soccer venues in Italy 2019, by region
• Presence of racism in English soccer 2021

Statista Accounts:
Access All Statistics. Starting from $2,388 USD / Year

Learn more about how Statista can support your business.

Deloitte. (January 25, 2024). Soccer clubs with the highest revenue worldwide in 2022/23 (in million euros) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved February 15, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/271581/revenue-of-soccer-clubs-worldwide/

Deloitte. “Soccer clubs with the highest revenue worldwide in 2022/23 (in million euros).” Chart. January 25, 2024. Statista. Accessed February 15, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/271581/revenue-of-soccer-clubs-worldwide/

Deloitte. (2024). Soccer clubs with the highest revenue worldwide in 2022/23 (in million euros). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: February 15, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/271581/revenue-of-soccer-clubs-worldwide/

Deloitte. “Soccer Clubs with The Highest Revenue Worldwide in 2022/23 (in Million Euros).” Statista, Statista Inc., 25 Jan 2024, https://www.statista.com/statistics/271581/revenue-of-soccer-clubs-worldwide/

Deloitte, Soccer clubs with the highest revenue worldwide in 2022/23 (in million euros) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/271581/revenue-of-soccer-clubs-worldwide/ (last visited February 15, 2024)

Soccer clubs with the highest revenue worldwide in 2022/23 (in million euros) [Graph], Deloitte, January 25, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/271581/revenue-of-soccer-clubs-worldwide/