Which football team has the most fans? A guide to clubs with massive global support

Football is one of the most followed sports in the world. Various sources estimate that there are approximately 3.5 billion football fans globally. That is nearly half the planet hooked to the beautiful game every step of the way.

Because numbers don't lie, it begs the question: which football team has the most fans?

Answering which football team has the most fans is not just about match attendance; it is about global reach, digital influence, and the emotion that transcends borders.

When you think about the biggest stadiums or the sea of shirts and flags that colour entire cities, the scale of support some clubs command is nothing short of breathtaking.

Some clubs have turned their identity into a worldwide culture, blending history, success, and passion into a force that draws millions from every corner of the planet.

In this post, we explore the most-followed football clubs and rank them based on social media following.

What are the most supported football clubs in the world?

Settling on the most popular football club in the world can be tricky, especially with elite outfits like Real Madrid, PSG, Manchester United, Juventus, and many others claiming a position at the top.

To settle this debate once and for all, we dig deeper into the actual numbers across different social media platforms.

In compiling this list of the most supported football clubs worldwide, we have considered the number of followers on major social media platforms such as Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok.

Because these numbers will keep changing, always check back for updated stats.

1) Real Madrid

• Facebook:130 million
• Instagram:177 million
• X: 52.7 million
• TikTok: 63.7 million
• Total: 423.4 million

Unsurprisingly, Real Madrid are considered to have the most fans in world football. The Spanish giants are the most successful club in European football with 35 league titles and 14 Champions League/European Cup titles.

Real Madrid's success is attributed to the massive support they receive from fans. The club enjoys a massive number of travelling fans on away days.

That notwithstanding, Santiago Bernabeu is always filled to the brim during every home fixture, so it should not be a surprise that the club's tickets are some of the hardest to come by.

Their success in the Champions League has contributed massively to their support. This is the most-watched club football competition on the planet, so the sight of Los Blancos lifting the famous cup time after time is bound to draw people in, particularly those new to the game.

Additionally, some of the best footballers have donned the famous white shirt throughout history, including Ronaldo, Luis Figo, Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema. All of these players and many others have helped boost the popularity of Real Madrid.

Now, looking at the actual stats, especially regarding massive following on social media, Real Madrid have a total of at least 130 million Facebook followers.

Moreover, they have upwards of 52 million followers on X and more than 177 million followers on Instagram. These are massive numbers for a club to have on social platforms.

2) Barcelona

• Facebook: 120 million
• Instagram: 142 million
• X: 50 million
• TikTok: 57.3 million
• Total: 369.3 million

Barcelona are next on the list, and their success in the 2010s contributed massively to their following. Across all social media platforms, Barcelona have at least 369 million followers, around 50 million short of their great rivals, Real Madrid.

The Catalan giants have also had some of the biggest names in world football at different times, including Ronald Koeman, Johan Cruyff, Diego Maradona, Ronaldinho, Lionel Messi and Neymar.

The impact Messi has had on their support over the past 20 years can't be understated, and their global support is now there for all to see.

Barcelona are a big outfit in South America thanks to the exploits of Messi and Maradona, primarily, but also the likes of Luis Suarez and Rivaldo.

In recent years, they have struggled financially, but their global popularity has not waned, even after the departure of Messi. Teenage sensation Lamine Yamal has become the new poster boy for the Blaugrana and is bringing more eyes to the club once again.

The LaLiga giants enjoy a massive Facebook following, which currently stands at 120 million, followed by Instagram at 142 million.

3) Manchester United

• Facebook: 85 million
• Instagram: 64.4 million
• X: 38.7 million
• TikTok: 29.5 million
• Total: 217.6 million

Around 10 years ago, Manchester United were considered the biggest club on the planet with the most fans across the globe. While they once claimed 600 million fans worldwide, these numbers have dipped recently as the club's success on the pitch has dwindled.

The romance around Manchester United is obvious. At their peak, they were a winning machine that frequently toured Asia and America, picking up more supporters.

While Manchester United boast the highest average Premier League attendance, continuing on that path means they will need to start winning major titles again soon.

Since Ferguson retired, the Red Devils have failed to mount a successful title challenge, and in 2024-25, the club recorded their worst performance in recent years, finishing 15th in the league table.

The latest stats show that United's following across different social media platforms has steadily increased.

Facebook takes the lion's share with at least 85 million, followed by Instagram with 64.4 million, and then X and TikTok.

4) PSG

• Facebook: 53 million
• Instagram: 65.1 million
• X: 15.2 million
• TikTok: 48.8 million
• Total: 182.1 million

Unlike other clubs on this list, PSG are not steeped in history. They were only founded in 1970, at which point Real Madrid and Manchester had already won European Cups.

Still, they have risen to international prominence since being purchased by Qatar Sports Investments in 2011.

They have always had a passionate local following, but over the past 13 years, PSG have expanded and created a huge global appeal.

Players like Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Messi have played in Paris, which has catapulted their social media following to 183.5 million across all platforms.

Most recently, the arrival of Luis Enrique as PSG manager has put the Parisians on an even higher pedestal. They bagged their first treble at the end of the 2024/25 campaign and recently reached the FIFA Club World Cup final.

These achievements have helped the club grow its fanbase, even in the United States.

These latest success stories have undoubtedly pushed the club's popularity rating a notch higher, with at least a million additional followers seen on Facebook and more than 1.5 million more added to their Instagram numbers since the last update.

On TikTok, PSG have seen the number of their followers surge by more than four million since lifting the Champions League trophy last season.

5) Juventus

• Facebook: 47 million
• Instagram: 60.4 million
• X: 10 million
• TikTok: 35.5 million
• Total: 152.9 million

Juventus round off the top five, which means the five clubs with the most fans in the world have all had either Ronaldo or Messi play for them at some point, which is not a coincidence.

Beyond the Ronaldo factor, Juventus have always been a club synonymous with the Champions League – they have finished runners-up more times than any other club.

The Old Lady also enjoys a massive social media following across different platforms. For example, there are at least 10 million Juventus followers on Twitter, 47 million followers on Facebook and 60.4 million Instagram followers.

Social media following is an important indicator of just how massive these clubs are. Given the millions who check up on these pages almost every day to get up to date with the latest from these clubs, these numbers can only keep growing.

We will keep updating these numbers on social media to reflect the reality of the growing support for football clubs like Man United, Juventus, Barcelona, Real Madrid, and PSG.

6) Manchester City

• Facebook: 51 million
• Instagram: 54.6 million
• X: 17.7 million
• TikTok: 26.9 million
• Total: 150.2 million

Manchester City are currently the most successful club in the world, especially after recent doubles and trebles in European football. City's rise to global prominence has largely been attributed to their success on the pitch.

That aside, the fact that the Citizens have attracted some of the best players and continue to do so has earned them great admiration from football lovers.

Manchester City players such as Erling Haaland, John Stones and Phil Foden, who all enjoy massive social media followings, have contributed to the massive following the Citizens are currently enjoying at home and abroad.

Even more noteworthy is that, in addition to winning trophies and having great players, City's head coach, Pep Guardiola, is regarded as one of the most successful coaches in football history.

With Pep Guardiola at the helm, City are on course to become one of the most-crowned clubs in European football. So when it comes to the question of which football team has the most fans, Man City will always be part of the discussion.

7) Chelsea

• Facebook: 55 million
• Instagram: 42.1 million
• X: 25.9 million
• TikTok: 16.9 million
• Total: 139.9 million

Chelsea FC have gained a massive following recently, especially in the 2000s. With that, they always prominently featured in discussions about which football team has the most fans. So while the club's performance has dipped, the Blues boast a massive number of fans.

Moreover, Chelsea have been famed for nurturing budding talents. Today, Chelsea are one of the most-followed EPL outfits on social media, which is a huge representation of global support. For example, Chelsea currently have 50 million followers on Facebook, 25.8 million followers on X, 42.1 million followers on Instagram and at least 16 million fans on TikTok.

8) Liverpool

• Facebook: 48 million
• Instagram: 45.7 million
• X: 24.5 million
• TikTok: 20.6 million
• Total: 138.8 million

Liverpool‘s popularity has grown over the years. The Reds are among the most popular football clubs in the world today, boasting a massive support base offline and online. With that, the Reds fit the bill and rightly answer the question of which football team has the most fans.

Having the best players over the years has helped Liverpool compete at the top of European football. The club's most recent successes happened under former coach Jurgen Klopp.

So while the German tactician decided to take a break from coaching, his emotional appeal to supporters greatly contributed to Liverpool's growing support base in Europe, the Americas and Africa.

The Reds are one of the well-run clubs in the world, and they expect to grow immensely in the coming years, thanks to their proper structural development under Fenway Sports Group.

Liverpool will look to enjoy a prolonged spell of success under Arne Slot, who guided them to Premier League triumph in his first season as a manager.

Today, Liverpool enjoy a combined huge following of at least 138 million fans on social media platforms, so the EPL club fits perfectly into the question of which football team has the most fans.

9) Bayern Munich

• Facebook: 61 million
• Instagram: 42.7 million
• X: 7 million
• TikTok: 21.9 million
• Total: 130.8 million

Bayern Munich enjoy a huge following of at least 130 million fans across popular social media platforms.  As the most successful Bundesliga club, boasting 33 titles to date, Bayern Munich's support base online and offline can only keep expanding.

The Bundesliga club have had some of the best coaches take charge at the hallowed Allianz Arena. That notwithstanding, having the capacity to attract the best football players has immensely contributed to the club's massive support in Europe and beyond.

Bayern's Facebook following stands at least 61 million. Unfortunately, these numbers have hardly improved since we first published this post on the most supported football clubs in the world.  The Bavarians currently have 42.7 million followers on Instagram, followed by 21.9 million supporters on TikTok.

However, we think they need to put a little more effort into the X platform, where 7 million followers on their official handle put them way behind clubs that do not enjoy as much limelight as the Bundesliga giants.

10) Arsenal

• Facebook: 43 million
• Instagram: 29.8 million
• X: 22.4 million
• TikTok: 7.5 million
• Total: 102.7 million

While Arsenal have enjoyed a great following over the years, it has not reflected much on social media platforms, especially when compared to the stats of other clubs.

The Gunners currently boast at least 102 million followers across Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X. The last three EPL seasons (2022/23, 2023/24 and 2024/25) have proven that Arsenal have a chance to become the next big news in English Football, especially with Mikel Arteta's stewardship.

The Gunners have always spoken about their club in the loudest ways possible. They want to be heard like everyone who supports a big football club.

11) Tottenham Hotspur

• Facebook: 35 million
• Instagram: 17.1 million
• X: 8.8 million
• TikTok: 36.9 million
• Total: 97.8 million

Tottenham have been one of the most consistent teams in the Premier League, so the question of which football team has the most fans rightly ropes Spurs into the discussion.

The club has some of the most loyal supporters in world football. Spurs are, without a doubt, among the most popular football clubs in the world today, thanks to their domestic record and experience in European competitions such as the UEFA Champions League.

The London-based club was founded on 5 September 1882. That alone makes it one of the oldest football clubs in the world. Thus, you would imagine the thousands of fans who have stuck with the club since its inception. Nicknamed the Lily Whites, the club is currently coached by Australian tactician Ange Postecoglou.

In the many years that the Spurs have existed, the club has bagged many honours. Apart from being one of the most successful clubs in the Premier League, Spurs enjoy a massive social media following, which ropes in fans from outside England.

In particular, 35 million followers on Facebook and another 36.9 million fans on TikTok translate to massive engagement on the said platforms.

Tottenham's presence on X is not particularly impressive. Amassing a following of at least 8.8 million means they are on the right track to having massive fans checking on the club's updates on the platform.

Moreover, the fact that the Spurs have one of the most advanced stadiums in the world today, boasting a massive capacity of 62, 850 means they are not stopping anytime soon, especially when it comes to winning over fans.

12) Atletico Madrid

• Facebook: 21 Million
• Instagram: 17.9 million
• X:  5.5 million
• TikTok: 27.9 million
• Total:  72.3 million

With at least 72.3 million followers across major social media platforms, namely Facebook, TikTok, Instagram and X, Atleti are one of the most-followed football clubs in the world today.

The 11-time La Liga title winners draw a bigger percentage of their online following from TikTok, a relatively new platform that football clubs are now using to interact with fans.

Facebook and Instagram follow closely with 21 million and 17.9 million fans, respectively. However, these numbers are likely to increase in the future.

The club's most recent Atleti La Liga crowning was in the 2020/21 season, when they narrowly beat city rivals Real Madrid to the league title by just two points.

However, even with more than 70 million fans following Atletico Madrid online from all around the world, their support base is nowhere close to Real Madrid's nearly half a billion fans worldwide.

13) AC Milan

• Facebook: 29 million
• Instagram: 17.7 million
• X:  8.5 million
• TikTok: 21.7 million
• Total:  76.9 million

AC Milan are the second club from Italy featured in this post on the most-followed teams in the world. Founded in 1899, AC Milan have grown by leaps and bounds to become one of the most popular football clubs in the world today.

Interestingly, AC Milan have a larger following than their city rivals Inter Milan, a team with which they share a stadium (San Siro).

A massive following of 76.9 million gives AC Milan bragging rights on social media, where they engage with fans 24/7, not just on match days. Of particular interest is Facebook, which has a fan following of 29 million, closely rivalled by Instagram and TikTok.

Being one of the most successful clubs in Italy, it is no surprise that the Rossoneri enjoy massive support domestically and abroad.

AC Milan have won 19 Serie A titles, the most recent being the 2021/22 season. These achievements on the field have continued to grow massive support worldwide. With that, we expect the numbers on AC Milan's social media pages to keep soaring.

Paulo Fonseca, a 51-year-old Portuguese tactician, currently coaches AC Milan. Fonseca has been in charge of the Rossoneri since the summer of 2024, after switching from French side Lille.

14) Inter Milan

• Facebook: 33 million
• Instagram: 14.4 million
• X:  3 million
• TikTok: 16.3 million
• Total:  64.7 million

A this time of writing this post about football clubs with the most fans, Inter Milan have a cumulative following of 64.7 million across major social platforms, namely Facebook, Instagram, X and TikTok. So, while that is nearly ten million less than city rivals AC Milan, the Nerazzurri have made significant gains in recent years.

Inter Milan finished second in the 2024/25 Serie A season, just a point behind Napoli, who bagged a Scudetto for the second time in the last three seasons. However, it will take some time before the 2024/25 Serie A winners break the 20 million barrier in online following.

Inter Milan's recent successes, bagging the Serie A title in the 2023/24 season, reaching the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League finals and finishing second in the domestic league, mean we could see the number of Nerazzurri followers soar in the coming years. 

That also means we could see an intensified activity from Inter Milan ultras, who have been very vocal in recent years.

Watch the Champions League Final on the big screen at San Siro 📺#ForzaInter #UCLFinal #ParisInter

— Inter ⭐⭐ (@Inter_en) May 26, 2025

15) Borussia Dortmund

• Facebook: 15 million
• Instagram: 20.7 million
• X:  4.4 million
• TikTok: 13.9 million
• Total:  54 million

Borussia Dortmund are undoubtedly one of the most-followed clubs in Germany. Famous for the Yellow Wall, Dortmund's success in German football cannot be understated. 

The club's ultras have played a crucial role in ensuring Dortmund continue to attract a massive following at home and abroad.

With more than a century of history, they have won the Bundesliga title at least eight times and bagged several other honours. Signal Iduna Park, which is the home stadium for Dortmund, adds to the rich football legacy for which the club is known.

The stadium's current capacity is 81,365, making it one of the largest stadiums in the world, and it reflects the massive support the club enjoys at home.

There are at least 15 million Dortmund followers on Facebook, 20 million on Instagram, and 13.9 million on TikTok. These numbers are expected to rise and will continue to shape the club's social media engagement with fans.

An expanding fan base means Dortmund will retain its spot as one of the most-followed clubs in the world.

FGG says: Fan power

It's likely no surprise who sits at the pinnacle of this list, especially considering their storied past. However, the two clubs that truly stand out for their recent achievements are Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Manchester City.

PSG have endeavoured to weave itself into the vibrant culture of Paris, actively engaging with the local youth and even drawing inspiration from the glitz of the NBA.

In contrast, Manchester City have forged its impressive reputation solely through exceptional performances on the pitch. With this, they have amassed a dedicated global fan base by consistently demonstrating their dominance as one of the premier teams in football.

While legacy sides like AC Milan, Juventus, and even Spurs have maintained strong followings, it will be interesting to see how things hold in the coming years, especially as football's global audience continues to grow.

A key social battleground will likely come with the World Cup in America and how that impacts football fans. This is especially true for the USA, where the Premier League is already spending significant efforts to gain fans.