The weekly report number 548 issued by the CIES Football Observatory highlights the widening digital gap among clubs worldwide on social media platforms. This reflects how modern football is now measured not only by the number of titles or stars on the pitch but also by its fan engagement outside the stadium.
Real Madrid continues to assert its global digital dominance, leading the list with a total of 487.6 million followers across the five major platforms. The distribution of followers includes 133 million on Facebook, 178 million on Instagram, 72.7 million on TikTok, 84.2 million on X, and 19.7 million on YouTube. Barcelona follows closely with 441.8 million followers, comprising 125 million on Facebook, 144 million on Instagram, 66.4 million on TikTok, 80.6 million on X, and 25.8 million on YouTube.
Details of the Event
Manchester United secured the third position with a total of 238.6 million followers, including 86 million on Facebook, 65.6 million on Instagram, 32.8 million on TikTok, 43.1 million on X, and 11.1 million on YouTube. Paris Saint-Germain ranked fourth with 208.1 million followers, followed by Manchester City in fifth place with 187.8 million, Liverpool with 179.2 million, and Juventus with 178.3 million. Bayern Munich came in eighth with 165.2 million followers, marking the club with the highest growth rate over the past year, having added 16.1 million new followers.
Chelsea ranked ninth with 156.5 million followers, while Arsenal completed the top ten with a total of 118.5 million followers. The report did not limit itself to traditional European powers but also highlighted the significant digital transformation occurring in Saudi football in recent years.
Background & Context
Al-Nassr ranked sixteenth globally as the largest Arab and Asian club, with a total of 66 million followers, distributed among 8.1 million on Facebook, 29.2 million on Instagram, 20 million on TikTok, 5.8 million on X, and 2.9 million on YouTube. Directly behind it in the Arab context, Al-Ahly of Egypt ranked eighteenth globally with 60.1 million followers, comprising 19 million on Facebook, 12.3 million on Instagram, 7.3 million on TikTok, 20 million on X, and 1.5 million on YouTube.
Al-Hilal came in twenty-fourth globally with a total of 36.1 million followers, including 3.9 million on Facebook, 10.1 million on Instagram, 7.3 million on TikTok, 12.2 million on X, and 2.6 million on YouTube. Al-Ittihad also made it to the list of the top 50 clubs globally, with a total of 14.6 million followers, distributed among 1.3 million on Facebook, 3.9 million on Instagram, 4.1 million on TikTok, 4.6 million on X, and 700 thousand on YouTube.
Impact & Consequences
In Africa, Zamalek appeared in the fortieth position globally with a total of 17.4 million followers, including 8.1 million on Facebook, 2.4 million on Instagram, 1.4 million on TikTok, and 5.4 million on X. Wydad Casablanca also made a notable presence with 8.3 million followers, while Raja Casablanca had 13 million followers. Meanwhile, Persepolis of Iran, Kaizer Chiefs, and Orlando Pirates continue to enhance their digital presence in the Asian and African markets.
The report indicated that 26 countries were represented in the list of the top 100 clubs globally, with Spain leading with 21 clubs, followed by England with 17 clubs, and Brazil with 11 clubs. It also clarified that Instagram and Facebook are the largest platforms for clubs, each accounting for 31 percent of total followers, followed by TikTok with 17 percent, X with 16 percent, and finally YouTube with 5 percent.
Regional Significance
The report reflects how digital platforms have become a parallel arena of influence in football, where fans are no longer measured solely by attendance in stadiums or television viewership but also by the level of daily engagement through phones and social media platforms. Saudi clubs, in particular, seem to be entering a new phase of global expansion, benefiting from the fan momentum created by major signings and the increasing visibility of the Saudi league outside the Arab region.
The figures placing Al-Nassr, Al-Hilal, and Al-Ittihad among the most followed clubs outside Europe signify a significant success in enhancing the digital identity of Saudi clubs, opening new avenues for growth and expansion in the future.