Image: © John Walton / EMPICS Sport
Transfer prices. Wage bills. Ticket costs. We all know football's a pretty expensive business. The amount of money involved highlights the way in which sport in general is now an integral part of the wider economy. Football (soccer) in particular dominates, with some $26 billion a year in global revenue.
As Copa America and UEFA European Championship 2016 kick off, this chart compares the relevant numbers for each tournament. Turns out the South American tournament has the most expensive player (Lionel Messi), whereas the European one has the most expensive team (Germany)!
Infographic by Statista
Did you also know that...
- Football matches around the world generate more revenue than all US sports combined
- Real Madrid is the world's most valuable sports team, worth some $3.26 billion
- The 2014 World Cup made a $2.6 billion profit for organizers FIFA