Which European country has the most passionate supporters?

Ahead of the Champions League final between Juventus and Barcelona, Mastercard have launched the Fan Passion Report, a study of more than 5,000 European football fans.

Which country’s people have the most sick days because of football? What nationality would be most likely to miss an important family event to go to the football? And which European country is the most popular to visit for a game?

This new survey reveals the differences from country to country when it comes to the game that unites us all. Here are some of the key findings…

• More than a third (35%) of fans have taken a sick day in the past year because of a football match. This is highest in Italy where 51.9% have missed work due to a match.

• Spanish supporters are the most committed to away games, with 92.8% of fans having travelled overseas to support their team.

• Portuguese (63%) and Swedish (51%) fans are the least travelled with the majority preferring to stay at home.

• Spanish fans spend the most at away games – £457 on average per head. Italians spend £398 per head and French £351. Overall, £250 (15%) is the average amount spent by football fans abroad.

• Hungarian fans (69%) often make a longer trip out of away matches and stay for three or more days, while Portuguese (29%) prefer to visit for just one day.

• The survey found that fans in Italy (73%) have more superstitions relating to football than other nationalities in Europe, just ahead of Spanish fans.

• Nearly half (47%) of Italians wear a certain item of lucky clothing during a match, 20% insist on sitting in the same seat every game and 13% eat or drink a specific food item or beverage.

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• Italian football fans are also the most likely to miss an important family event to attend a match with 69% falling into that category.

• England was the most popular country for away supporters to visit with 23% favouring a trip there.

• And football fans from every country polled named Lionel Messi as the best player in Champions League history with the exception of one – the people of Portugal standing by Cristiano Ronaldo.