Cowboys extend reign as most valuable sports team, Eagles ranked No. 21

The average value of the world’s 50 leading sports teams rose to $3.43 billion in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an annual list published by Forbes on Friday that was topped by the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys.

Forbes said the average value of the world’s 50 most valuable teams on the list was up 11% from last year’s ranking.

That increase during a year in which the sporting calendar was upended due to the pandemic while many competitions were held in empty venues was attributed to ever-escalating media rights deals, Forbes said.

The Cowboys, who have topped the list since they unseated Spanish soccer club Real Madrid in 2016, were valued at $5.7 billion, a 3.6% rise when compared to last year.

Major League Baseball’s New York Yankees ($5.3 billion), the National Basketball Association’s New York Knicks ($5 billion), and soccer’s Barcelona ($4.76 billion) and Real Madrid ($4.75 billion) rounded out the top five.

The list was made up of teams from four sports, with the NFL leading the way with 26, followed by basketball (nine), soccer (nine), and baseball (six).

Only one Philadelphia team, the Eagles, made the list at No. 21:

World’s 50 most expensive sports franchises

1. Dallas Cowboys (NFL): $5.7 billion
2. New York Yankees (MLB): $5.25 billion
3. New York Knicks (NBA): $5 billion
4. Barcelona (La Liga): $4.76 billion
5. Real Madrid (La Liga): $4.75 billion
6. Golden State Warriors (NBA): $4.7 billion
7. Los Angeles Lakers (NBA): $4.6 billion
8. New England Patriots (NFL): $4.4 billion
9. New York Giants (NFL): $4.3 billion
10. Bayern Munich (Bundesliga): $4.21 billion
11. Manchester United (Premier League): $4.2 billion
12. Liverpool (Premier League): $4.1 billion
13. Los Angeles Rams (NFL): $4 billion
14. Manchester City (Premier League): $4 billion
15. San Francisco 49ers (NFL): $3.8 billion
16. Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB): $3.57 billion
17. New York Jets (NFL): $3.55 billion
18. Chicago Bears (NFL): $3.53 billion
19. Washington Football Team (NFL): $3.5 billion
20. Boston Red Sox (MLB): $3.47 billion
21. Philadelphia Eagles (NFL): $3.4 billion
22. Chicago Cubs (MLB): $3.36 billion
23. Houston Texans (NFL): $3.3 billion
24. Chicago Bulls (NBA): $3.3 billion
25. Denver Broncos (NFL): $3.2 billion
26. Boston Celtics (NBA): $3.2 billion
27. Chelsea (Premier League): $3.2 billion
28. San Francisco Giants (MLB): $3.18 billion
29. Las Vegas Raiders (NFL): $3.1 billion
30. Seattle Seahawks (NFL): $3.08 billion
31. Green Bay Packers (NFL): $3.05 billion
32. Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL): $3 billion
33. Baltimore Ravens (NFL): $2.98 billion
34. Minnesota Vikings (NFL): $2.95 billion
35. Miami Dolphins (NFL): $2.9 billion
36. Atlanta Falcons (NFL): $2.88 billion
37. Indianapolis Colts (NFL): $2.85 billion
38. Arsenal (Premier League): $2.8 billion
39. Los Angeles Clippers (NBA): $2.75 billion
40. Brooklyn Nets (NBA): $2.65 billion
41. Los Angeles Chargers (NFL): $2.6 billion
42. Carolina Panthers (NFL): $2.55 billion
43. Kansas City Chiefs (NFL): $2.5 billion
44. Houston Rockets (NBA): $2.5 billion
45. Paris Saint-Germain (Ligue 1): $2.5 billion
46. New Orleans Saints (NFL): $2.48 billion
47. Jacksonville Jaguars (NFL): $2.45 billion
48. New York Mets (MLB): $2.45 billion
49. Dallas Mavericks (NBA): $2.45 billion
50. Cleveland Browns (NFL): $2.35 billion