European Leagues

How much money Dortmund or Real Madrid will get for winning Champions League

Champions League prize money is crucial for European clubs, boosting finances significantly based on performance.

The pay-out is split among winners, runners-up, semi-finalists, and more, with a performance-based reward system in place.

The pot includes money from performance results, coefficient pay-out, and broadcast market, significantly impacting all 32 teams involved.

With each passing year, the beautiful game has become all-too revolved around a pay-to-play structure – and continental football is the easiest way for clubs around the continent to boost their respective kitties. Winning – or even just featuring in – the Champions League has its obvious benefits.

It’s a sure-fire way of getting your side on the map for the lesser-known clubs, but the financial gain is somewhat unprecedented, particularly in comparison to those competing in the Europa League or the Europa Conference League. As a result, Europe’s top table is treated as the be all and end all of their respective seasons. Even for those who don’t reach the latter stages of the competition, strong performances can bring in additional income.

For this campaign, UEFA and the competition organisers revealed that the overall purse for Europe’s top table contenders would remain the same as 2022/23 – at €2.03 billion (£1.74bn/$2.19bn). Using figures courtesy of The Sporting News, here’s a comprehensive breakdown of how the Champions League prize money is given out: from how much the winner receives for reigning victorious to the finer details of how the rest of the teams are financially boosted.

Inside the Champions League Prize Money

Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, after conquering Europe for the first time in their history last season, pocketed an eye-watering €80m (£68.4m/$86.4m). For either Real Madrid or Borussia Dortmund – the two sides that have reached this season’s rendition of the Champions League final – the maximum financial pay-out they could secure after the final is concluded is €85.14m.

In order to receive a healthy bounty, however, that would require either the Spanish or German side to have a perfect European campaign from start to finish. Looking beyond the eventual winner, there are several different ways in which the overall pot of money is handed out to completing clubs.

The Champions League sees the best players in the world compete — and some are very well paid.
The heaviest portion of money, which equates to 55% of the total prize pot, is distributed among the clubs dependent on their results in the competition. The other 45% is administered and split across the complete pool of 32 participants in two separate ways – 30% of it comes from the coefficient pay-out, and the other 15% from the broadcast market.

Performance-Based Prize Money
Winner earns an extra £17.2m (€20m)
The Champions League trophy on display
Performance-Based Money Distribution

Stage

Prize Money

Winner

£17.2m (€20m/$21.5m)

Runners-up

£12.9m (€15.5m/$16.12m)

Semi-finalists

£10.8m (€12.5m/$13.2m)

Quarter-finalists

£9.1m (€10.6m/$11.4m)

Round of 16

£8.3m (€9.6m/$10.3m)

Group stage wins

£2.4m(€2.8m/$3m)

Group stage draws

£800k (€930k/$1m)

Reaching group stage

£13.5m (€15.6m/$16.8m)

Simply, on the basis of how far a team progresses in the tournament, a grand total of 55% of the prize pot is handed out. Those who reach the group stage are guaranteed a pay out of £13.5m (€15.6m/$16.8m), while the results of the group stage games also yield financial gain.

Any draws result in an additional £800k (€930k/$1m), whereas group stage wins see teams pocket a healthy £2.4m (€2.8m/$3m) per victory. Those who crash out at the group stage are not in line for extra pay-outs, however, and the 16 teams who do manage to progress are promised additional money.

A total of £8.3m (€9.6m/$10.3m) is given out to the eight teams that secure Round of 16 status, while the pay-out increases to £9.1m (€10.6m/$11.4m) should they make further progress into the quarter-final stage. All four semi-finalists of this season’s Champions League – Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, and Borussia Dortmund – are awarded with an extra £10.8m (€12.5m/$13.2m), regardless of whether they win or lose.

Either Real Madrid or Borussia Dortmund will secure an additional £17.2m (€20m/$21.5m) when one of the aforementioned sides secures Champions League winners’ status at Wembley on June 1, 2024. The runner-up, instead, will earn £12.9m (€15.5m/$16.12m).

Coefficient Pay-Out
An additional £512m (€600m), which is equivalent to 30% of the total purse available, will be paid out across all 32 teams that participated in the 2023/24 Champions League – from the likes of Copenhagen to RC Lens to Young Boys all the way up to the final two finalists. The coefficient pay-out is based on UEFA’s algorithm that has tracked each side’s progress in UEFA tournaments, including the Champions League, Europa League and the Europa Conference League, over a 10-year period.

All 32 teams are ranked from No.1 and No.32 and there are bonus points on offer for those who have actually won trophies. All competing Champions League clubs are then paid accordingly to their position in UEFA’s club coefficient rankings, which can be viewed in full on the official UEFA website here.

The lowest-ranked team earns one share £1m (€1.137m), while the top-ranked team earns 32 shares £31m (€36.38m). The highest-ranked team left this season are Manchester City and the lowest-ranked was Newcastle United after their two-decade-long hiatus from European football.

Broadcast Market Pay-Out
Each season, a considerable chunk of prize money is up for grabs from Champions League broadcasting rights from all corners of the globe. This season, for all 32 teams, there is an additional £256m (€300m) on offer as part of the concluding broadcast revenue once all the broadcast-based deals are finalised.

For each country that is represented in Europe’s top tier club competition, from England to Switzerland, their federation is handed out a share of the final prize money, which is entirely dependent on the proportional value of each TV market.

This ensures that those leagues that are high in popularity – the Premier League, for example – are financially aided proportionally compared to other divisions – and federations – that rake in lower numbers of viewership. The total money is then split among the federations to their clubs using the following formula:

50% of the allocation to a national federation will be divided among the participating Champions League clubs from that nation based on fixed percentages determined by UEFA.

The other 50% is paid out in proportion to the number of matches played by each club in 2023/24.
The Champions League trophy on display.

As alluded to, last season’s winners Manchester City were awarded an additional £68.4m (€80m/$86.4m) for their Champions League exploits. Dortmund nor Madrid will rake in the absolute most available this term, given neither have boasted flawless records thus far. The former lost once and drew two games in their group stage – and they even lost 2-1 to Atletico Madrid at the quarter-final stage.

The Spanish side, however, have yielded the most amount of money thus far, having not lost a game. Having escaped the group stages with six wins, plus zero draws and losses, to their name, they have suffered a total of four draws from their six knockout outings. To learn how the Champions League prize money will be distributed for the 2024/25 season, please read below.

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CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Mbappe Hat-Trick Dismantles Man City As Real Madrid Hit Last 16

Real Madrid have booked their place in the last 16 of the Champions League after a convincing 3-0 over Manchester City in the second leg of their play-off round tie at the Santiago Bernabeu, with the final aggregate score being 6-2.

A stunning comeback in Manchester last week ensured that Real Madrid only needed to avoid defeat in the second leg in order to be confirmed in the next round. However, Carlo Ancelotti’s side were never going to settle for this, and they extended their aggregate lead inside the opening four minutes in the Spanish capital. A long ball over the top from Raul Asencio went into the path of Kylian Mbappe, who lobbed over the onrushing Ederson and into the back of the net.

Just beyond the half hour mark, Mbappe got his and Real Madrid’s second of the evening. A wonderful team move ended with Rodrygo Goes playing in the French attacker, and he showed great feet to take the ball away from a couple of Man City defenders before blasting in from close range.

That goal put the tie beyond any doubt, but Real Madrid and Mbappe did not stop there. The 26-year-old would finish off for his second hat-trick of the season on 61 minutes after he curled the ball into the far corner to complete a sensational evening for him and his teammates.

However, it was not a perfect match for Ancelotti’s side as they conceded in the final minute after former Barcelona midfielder Nico Gonzalez scored from close range after Omar Marmoush’s free-kick came back off the crossbar.

The result means that Real Madrid are into the next round, and they will face either Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen in the last 16 stage of the Champions League. The draw for that round is set to take place later this week.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

UCL: PSG Whitewash Brest To Set Up Clash With Liverpool or Barcelona

UCL: PSG Whitewash Brest To Stroll Into Last 16

Paris St-Germain roared into the last 16 of the Champions League with a thumping victory over Brest.

Luis Enrique’s side will now face Liverpool or Barcelona with the draw due to take place on Friday, 21 February at 11:00 GMT, in Nyon Switzerland.

Already leading 3-0 from the first leg of their knockout play-off, the hosts again exhibited their superiority over a fellow French side they have now defeated four times this season – scoring 18 times in the process.

Bradley Barcola extended their advantage with a neat near-post effort and his fellow winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia tapped in PSG’s second of the evening before the break.

Portugal international Joao Neves also hit the crossbar for the hosts, before his compatriot and midfield partner Vitinha curled a low shot into the right corner from 18 yards just before the hour mark.

From there PSG moved through the gears.

Goncalo Ramos teed up fellow substitute Desire Doue for their fourth, the impressive Nuno Mendes slid in Achraf Hakimi’s teasing ball for a fifth, Ramos’ deft finish brought a sixth and teenager Senny Mayulu rounded off the scoring with four minutes left.

It ensured a miserable night in the French capital for Brest, who only threatened sporadically when Mathias Pereira Lage’s placed effort was cleared off the line by PSG captain Marquinhos and Pierre Lees-Melou hit the post with a curling effort.

BBC

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Ademola Lookman Trains Fully Ahead Of Champions League Clash

Atalanta has received a significant boost ahead of their upcoming Champions League clash against Club Brugge, with Nigerian international Ademola Lookman returning to full training on Monday, February 17, per Allnigeriasoccer.

Lookman had been sidelined due to a knee injury sustained just two days before a crucial match against Barcelona.

His recovery and return to group training are expected to enhance Atalanta’s attacking options as they prepare for the upcoming fixture.

Lookman’s return is also a positive development for Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle.

Chelle, who was appointed as the head coach of the Nigeria national football team in January 2025, is keen to have his key players in top form ahead of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

The Super Eagles are set to resume their qualifying campaign in March 2025, with matches against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.

Lookman’s return to fitness will be closely monitored by Chelle, as the winger’s pace and creativity could be instrumental in Nigeria’s upcoming fixtures.

Atalanta’s coach will however assess Lookman’s fitness to determine his potential involvement in the upcoming Champions League match against Brugge.

Given the importance of the fixture, Lookman’s inclusion could provide a significant advantage, as his attacking prowess has been a key asset for Atalanta this season.

For Atalanta supporters, Lookman’s recovery is great news, and the club’s prospects in the Champions League look much brighter with him back in the fold.

Atalanta is aiming to build on their strong performances this season, and Lookman’s return is crucial as they look to advance further in Europe’s most prestigious club competition.

As the match day draws closer, both Lookman and Atalanta are hopeful that the winger can make an impact once again, and fans are excited to see the Nigerian back on the pitch.

With Lookman fully integrated into the squad once more, Atalanta’s attacking threat is renewed, and they are optimistic about their chances in the Champions League.

Allnigeriasoccer