The world's biggest clubs need more than just on-pitch success to make the big bucks, and that means putting their star players outside of their comfort zone...
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The upper echelons of the 2020 table (which is calculated using revenue generated during the 2018-19 season) is dominated by the European elite -- with Barcelona making more money than anybody else last season and becoming the first-ever club to break the €800 million ($890m) barrier in the process.
Last year's table-toppers, Real Madrid, have been bumped down into second place with Manchester United following in third -- still well ahead of their Premier League rivals but slowly conceding ground to the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City.
For the record, Arsenal narrowly missed out on a place in the top 10, though their fans might well have become accustomed to that sort of thing by now.
But it is not just on-pitch success and TV rights that stuffs the elite's coffers to the brim -- there are various commercial partnerships and corporate wangles that generate big cash for the biggest clubs by putting their star players in all manner of advertisements and photo shoots.
1. Barcelona (global revenue generated in 2018-19: €840.8m)
As per
Deloitte's report, Barca's leap to the summit is a consequence of the club's decision to "take charge of its own merchandising and licensing activities."
They may have surrendered the crown, but Real still haul in plenty of cash through lucrative partnerships with Adidas and Emirates, as well as EA Sports and Nivea.
In further good news, Los Blancos can also still boast more fans joining their official Facebook page than their bitter rivals, with 110.8m "likes" last season to Barca's measly 103.2m.
United are infamous for striking up vast numbers of bold and bizarre commercial deals around the world, with their bulging portfolio boasting official vision, coffee, mattress, headwear, electrical styling, and denim partners.
Bayern are the highest German team on the list by some margin, with Borussia Dortmund following in 12th place.
The Bavarians have several "platinum partners"
including Hylo eye care, who seem to specialise in shining intense white light directly into the faces of professional footballers.
City have fallen one place from last year despite enjoying their most successful ever season on the pitch in 2018-19, winning a domestic treble.
Liverpool are on the up and thus become only the third English club to push beyond the £500m revenue barrier. They retain the seventh spot from last year, but a triumphant 2019-20 may well see them rise by the time the 2021 League is published.
When it comes to the London clubs, Spurs are on top. In fact, they have achieved their highest-ever position by swelling revenue a whopping 21% on the previous year's tally, thanks in no small part to them reaching their first ever Champions League final.
The Blues drop down to ninth place after enjoying four consecutive years up in eighth. A scant slide but a slide nonetheless.
It won't come as much of a shock to learn that Juve have leapt back into the Top 10 by benefiting from the "
Cristiano Ronaldo effect" -- a large bump in commercial activity since the Portuguese superstar's grand arrival in Turin.
Deloitte speculate that the signing of Ronaldo (who has more Instagram followers than Barca and Real Madrid combined) has "undoubtedly increased" the Serie A side's appeal with sponsors.
Wilshere gives Rice jump scare on his birthday
West Ham midfielder
Declan Rice is no stranger to being terrorised by his teammates, with
Jack Wilshere the latest to petrify his poor, sensitive colleague.
Rice sleeping like a vampire is one thing, but that discombobulated yelp will never, ever get old.
