Who Owns Real Madrid?

Real Madrid operates under its member ownership structure with sustainability initiatives focused on environmental responsibility, community engagement, and ethical governance in professional football.

Environmental Initiatives: The renovated Santiago Bernabéu stadium, completed in 2024, incorporates energy-efficient systems, water conservation measures, and sustainable building materials. The club has implemented recycling programs and waste reduction initiatives at the stadium and training facilities. The retractable roof and improved insulation reduce energy consumption for climate control.

Community Engagement: The Real Madrid Foundation, established in 1997, runs community programs in over 80 countries, focusing on education, social inclusion, and sports development for vulnerable populations. The foundation uses football as a tool for social development and has reached millions of beneficiaries through its programs.

Youth Development: Real Madrid's youth academy, La Fábrica, develops young players while providing education and personal development. The academy has produced numerous professional footballers who have played for Real Madrid and other clubs worldwide.

Ethical Governance: Under its member ownership structure, Real Madrid maintains transparency in financial reporting and compliance with UEFA and La Liga regulations. The club publishes annual financial reports that are available to socios and the public.

Real Madrid is the most decorated club in European football history. The club's major achievements include:

• 15 UEFA Champions League/European Cup titles (record): 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1966, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2024
• 36 La Liga titles (record): most recent 2023-24
• 20 Copa del Rey titles
• 13 Spanish Super Cup titles
• 5 FIFA Club World Cup titles (record): 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022, plus the 2024 Intercontinental Cup
• 6 UEFA Super Cup titles

Real Madrid was named the FIFA Club of the 20th Century in 2000 and has consistently topped the Deloitte Football Money League as one of the highest-revenue football clubs globally. Forbes has valued Real Madrid at over $6 billion, making it one of the most valuable sports franchises in the world.

European Super League (2021): Real Madrid was one of the founding clubs of the European Super League, announced in April 2021. Florentino Pérez served as the proposed league's first chairman. The project collapsed within 48 hours due to massive fan backlash, government pressure, and withdrawals by most founding clubs. Real Madrid, along with Barcelona and Juventus, initially refused to withdraw and pursued legal action to protect the project. The European Court of Justice ruled in December 2023 that UEFA's rules restricting breakaway competitions violated EU competition law, though the Super League project has not been revived in its original form.

Financial Fair Play Scrutiny: Real Madrid has faced scrutiny regarding UEFA Financial Fair Play regulations, particularly related to high spending on player transfers. The club has generally maintained compliance through its strong revenue generation, but the financial dynamics of competing with state-backed clubs have led to complaints about competitive imbalance.

Santiago Bernabéu Renovation Disputes: The stadium renovation, which cost approximately €1.76 billion, faced disputes with local residents over noise, construction disruption, and planned commercial uses of the renovated stadium. Some residents filed complaints about concert noise and event scheduling, leading to adjustments in the club's event plans.

Competitive Tensions with State-Owned Clubs: Real Madrid has been vocal about the competitive advantage enjoyed by clubs with state ownership (such as Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain), arguing that unlimited state backing distorts the transfer market and competitive balance in European football.