Sponsorship plays a crucial role in supporting LaLiga in maintaining its ambition of being the best professional soccer league in the world. It contributes to the smooth operation of the league, as exemplified by their top associations with EA Sports and Visit Saudi. LaLiga generated $152.56 million annually through central sponsorship deals, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

GlobalData’s latest report, “The Business of LaLiga 2023-24,” reveals that in 2023, LaLiga’s 20 teams generated $905.93 million collectively in annual sponsorship revenue. Barcelona and Real Madrid are expected to generate a significant portion of the team’s revenue in the 2023-24 season, adding to their esteemed reputation in the sport and immense popularity globally.

Joe Pacinella, Sport Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Barcelona and Real Madrid are two of the most valuable soccer entities in the world, with Barcelona generating $369.86 million annually in sponsorship revenue, with much of its popularity attributed to Lionel Messi, whose legacy has kept Barcelona in the hearts of many soccer fans. Real Madrid’s success in the UEFA Champions League has cemented their status as one of the biggest clubs in the world, as evidenced by its annual sponsorship revenue of $278.8 million a year.”

LaLiga’s deals with EA Sports and Visit Saudi offer a huge source of revenue for the league and provide diversity within LaLiga’s sponsorship portfolio, further enhancing their global exposure.

EA Sports is the biggest spender on LaLiga’s roster and serves as the official title sponsor of the league until the 2027-28 season. The brand also has another deal for licensing rights for their soccer video game, EAFC. Collectively, LaLiga receives $42.04 million in annual sponsorship revenue from EA Sports.

Pacinella adds: “EA Sports has an expansive sports sponsorship portfolio, with the brand clearly targeting the biggest sporting properties in the world, such as the Premier League. The brand aims to assert itself as a market leader for soccer in the gaming space and within real-life soccer.”

Visit Saudi also primarily focuses on soccer markets and boasts many global deals on its roster, giving LaLiga worldwide exposure. Visit Saudi is a tourist board that serves as the league’s official travel destination partner, promoting Saudi Arabia to Spanish soccer fans. It further emphasizes Saudi’s involvement in soccer, which has been ever-growing. The tourist board’s deal with LaLiga is worth $21.81 million annually on a one-year deal.

Pacinella concludes: “Only 3 of LaLiga’s 20 clubs generate over $25 million annually in sponsorship revenue, highlighting its struggle to match the appeal of the Premier League, which has 11 clubs that earn over $25 million a year. Despite the huge appeal and success of LaLiga, it certainly lags behind the Premier League in terms of popularity and competitiveness, as Real Madrid and Barcelona are way ahead of the rest.”