Cowboys take Real Madrid’s world’s most valuable team title, Man Utd hold 5th spot

July 15 – Real Madrid have slipped to second behind NFL team the Dallas Cowboys in the annual Forbes list of 50 Most Valuable Sports Teams.

The Cowboys move up one place with an estimated value of $4 billion, up from $3.2 billion last year, with Real – top of the list for the last three years – in second position, despite their value rising by almost 12.5% to $3.65 billion.

Barcelona are up one spot to third at $3.55 billion, Manchester United – ranked first in 2011 and 2012  – stay fifth valued at $3.32 billion and NFL team the San Francisco 49ers at $2.7 billion (£2.04 billion) rise 22 places to take 10th spot.

It is the first time a non-football team has headed the business magazine’s list since it began in 2011.  United – the only English club in the top 20 – saw a 7 % increase in their value despite  missing out on the Champions League . Premier League rivals Arsenal were the biggest movers, rising from No.36 to No.23 with a value of $2.02 billion.

Forbes’ top 10 most valuable teams

  1. Dallas Cowboys $4bn (£3.03bn)
  2. Real Madrid $3.65bn (£2.77bn)
  3. Barcelona $3.55bn (£2.69bn)
  4. New York Yankees $3.4bn (£2.58bn)
  5. Manchester United $3.32bn (£2.52bn)
  6. New England Patriots $3.2bn (£2.43bn)
  7. New York Knicks $3bn (£2.27bn)
  8. Washington Redskins $2.85bn (£2.16bn)
  9. New York Giants $2.8bn (£2.12bn)
  10. Los Angeles Lakers $2.7bn (£2.05bn)

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