The Dallas Cowboys have once again secured their position as the world’s most valuable sports team, according to Forbes’ latest annual rankings. The NFL franchise has held the top spot since 2016 and continues to widen the gap, underlining the financial power of American sports, particularly the National Football League.
Forbes valued the Cowboys at $13 billion, marking a sharp 29% increase compared with last year. The surge reflects strong media rights deals, commercial partnerships, and the team’s unmatched global brand recognition. Since overtaking Real Madrid nearly a decade ago, the Cowboys have remained the benchmark for sports franchise value worldwide.
The list is heavily dominated by U.S. teams, with the NBA’s Golden State Warriors placing second at $11 billion. Close behind are two other NFL franchises, the Los Angeles Rams at $10.5 billion and the New York Giants at $10.1 billion. The Los Angeles Lakers, another NBA powerhouse, round out the top five with a valuation of $10 billion.
The broader rankings highlight the overwhelming financial strength of American leagues. Out of the top 50 most valuable sports teams, 30 come from the NFL and 12 from the NBA. Major League Baseball, Formula One, La Liga, and the Premier League make up the remainder, with only a handful of representatives each.
Football clubs from Europe continue to struggle to keep pace with U.S. franchises. Only four football teams appear in the top 50 this year: Real Madrid, Manchester United, Barcelona, and Liverpool. Several major names, including Manchester City, Bayern Munich, and Paris Saint-Germain, dropped out of the rankings after appearing in the previous year’s list.
Real Madrid remains the highest-ranked football club, valued at $6.75 billion and sitting 20th overall. Manchester United follow closely, valued at $6.6 billion and tied for 24th place. Barcelona rank 42nd with a valuation of $5.65 billion, while Liverpool slipped significantly, falling from 27th last year to joint 48th at $5.4 billion.
Outside football and basketball, the New York Yankees stand out as the most valuable baseball franchise. The iconic MLB team ranks 10th overall with a valuation of $8.2 billion. Formula One teams also made a strong showing, with Ferrari valued at $6.5 billion and Mercedes at $6 billion, reflecting the sport’s growing commercial appeal.
Forbes reported that the combined value of the top 50 sports teams now exceeds $353 billion, representing a 22% increase from 2024 and more than double the total from four years ago. The publication attributed much of this growth to rising media rights fees, which continue to reshape the economics of professional sports.
The latest rankings reinforce a clear trend. U.S. leagues, particularly the NFL, are pulling further ahead in financial terms, driven by lucrative broadcasting contracts, consistent fan engagement, and strong domestic markets. While global football clubs still command massive followings, the business gap continues to widen.
As media rights deals expand and commercial revenues grow, the dominance of American franchises looks set to continue. For now, the Dallas Cowboys remain firmly at the top, symbolizing the immense financial scale of modern professional sports.
