Top 10 most supported football clubs in the world

"Football fans share a universal language that cuts across many cultures and many personality types. A serious football fan is never alone. We are legion, and football is often the only thing we have in common". -Hunter Thompson.
Famous words by Hunter S Thompson, one of the great American journalists, which probably echo the feelings of the entire spectrum of frenzied football lovers, speckled over the face of this planet.

Though divided into cliques and bogged down by conflicting loyalties towards particular clubs, we are united by the sheer love of the game that sets our pulse racing and our emotions into never-ending crests of excitement, that seldom find alternative sources of solace. The evolution of football is almost complete, with the metamorphosis over the past two decades, coming at god-speed. From being identified as yet another sport, football has turned into a global phenomenon with the eye-catching game being broadcasted over 213 countries worldwide with approximately 3.2 billion, or almost half the population of the world tuning in(World Cup 2010 stats).

"Joga Bonito" is not just about playing the beautiful game, it is more about the supporters who make the trip, in the midst of the sweltering heat, stormy gales or icy winters, to support their respective teams. As die-hard soccer fanatics, we pledge our allegiances to our favourite teams in different leagues around the world. Widely believed to be accurate, the top 10 most supported football clubs are as follows :

1)    Manchester United: The Red Devils have the most fans around the world, with an astonishing 659 million Manchester United fans (nearly a tenth of the world’s population). This fan-base put them on the top of the perch in the list of most popular football club.

2)    Barcelona: Barcelona might have won everything in recent five years, but they are only the second most popular football club, with approximately 260 million fans. Quite a gap between first and second it seems, given the world’s best player is among their ranks.

3)    Real Madrid: Real Madrid, the richest club in the world, are 3rd in list of most popular football clubs with an estimated 180 million fans. You wouldn’t believe it, especially given the Galacticos, excessive spending on talented recruits in the recent years.

4)    Chelsea: Chelsea are another club to have a huge fan base at Asia which leads them to have 140 million supporters worldwide which puts them 4th in the list of most popular football clubs. It seems that Mourinho needs to do a lot of catch up work in this area.

5)    Arsenal : Arsenal have a strong fan base at Asia and Africa that has led them to have 115 million fans worldwide. Given their strong league position this season around, their fan base could see an exponential increase in the coming year.

6)    AC Milan : The Rossieneri, are supported by 98 million fans around the world, with the San Siro, being one of the homage destinations for a football fan making the trip to Italy.

7)    Liverpool : Despite of failing to seize Champions League spot in recent years, Liverpool are estimated to have 70 million global fans. Maybe free Carlsberg’s is an option worth exploring, would draw in the support at the Anfield based club.

8)    Bayern Munich: Bayern Munich are estimated to have 50 million fans which makes them 8th in the list of most popular football clubs.

9)    Inter Milan: Inter Milan are expected to have 24 million fans world-wide.

10)  Juventus: Juventus are currently placed at 10th in the list with 21 million fans across the world.

Digest these facts, until the next post comes your way!