The Dallas Cowboys have once again cemented their place at the pinnacle of global sports business, topping Forbes’ 2025 list of the world’s most valuable sports teams. Valued at $13 billion (£9.7bn), the Cowboys continue their dominance since first claiming the top spot in 2016, surpassing football giants like Real Madrid. This year’s valuation marks a 29% increase from 2024, reflecting the franchise’s continued commercial strength.
Trailing the Cowboys is NBA powerhouse Golden State Warriors, now worth $11bn (£8.2bn), while NFL teams Los Angeles Rams ($10.5bn/£7.8bn) and New York Giants ($10.1bn/£7.5bn) hold the third and fourth spots. Completing the top five are the Los Angeles Lakers ($10bn/£7.5bn), underlining the rising influence of NBA franchises in the global market.
The list highlights the growing dominance of American sports, with 30 of the 32 NFL teams, 12 NBA franchises, and only a handful of international teams making the cut. In comparison, only four football clubs – Real Madrid, Manchester United, Barcelona, and Liverpool – feature in the top 50. Manchester United sits joint 24th with the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers at $6.6bn (£4.9bn), while Liverpool dropped sharply to joint 48th ($5.4bn/£4bn). Real Madrid holds 20th place ($6.75bn/£5bn), and Barcelona is 42nd ($5.65bn/£4.2bn).
Other notable entries include the New York Yankees, the highest-valued MLB team at $8.2bn (£6.1bn), and Formula One giants Ferrari ($6.5bn/£4.9bn) and Mercedes ($6bn/£4.5bn).
Overall, the 50 teams on Forbes’ list are worth more than $353bn (£264bn), a 22% increase from 2024 and more than double the value from four years ago. Forbes attributes this surge to skyrocketing media rights deals, sponsorship growth, and the expanding global fan base for American sports.
The rankings reaffirm that while European football retains global popularity, American sports, particularly the NFL, continue to dominate the commercial landscape, generating unparalleled financial clout and capturing the world’s attention.
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