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
Dallas Cowboys (NFL): $5.7 billion
New York Yankees (MLB): $5.25 billion
New York Knicks (NBA): $5 billion
Barcelona (La Liga): $4.76 billion
Real Madrid (La Liga): $4.75 billion
Golden State Warriors (NBA): $4.7 billion
Los Angeles Lakers (NBA): $4.6 billion
New England Patriots (NFL): $4.4 billion
New York Giants (NFL): $4.3 billion
Bayern Munich (Bundesliga): $4.21 billion
Manchester United (Premier League): $4.2 billion
Liverpool (Premier League): $4.1 billion
Los Angeles Rams (NFL): $4 billion
Manchester City (Premier League): $4 billion
San Francisco 49ers (NFL): $3.8 billion
Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB): $3.57 billion
New York Jets (NFL): $3.55 billion
Chicago Bears (NFL): $3.53 billion
Washington Football Team (NFL): $3.5 billion
Boston Red Sox (MLB): $3.47 billion
Philadelphia Eagles (NFL): $3.4 billion
Chicago Cubs (MLB): $3.36 billion
Houston Texans (NFL): $3.3 billion
Chicago Bulls (NBA): $3.3 billion
Denver Broncos (NFL): $3.2 billion
Boston Celtics (NBA): $3.2 billion
Chelsea (Premier League): $3.2 billion
San Francisco Giants (MLB): $3.18 billion
Las Vegas Raiders (NFL): $3.1 billion
Seattle Seahawks (NFL): $3.08 billion
Green Bay Packers (NFL): $3.05 billion
Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL): $3 billion
Baltimore Ravens (NFL): $2.98 billion
Minnesota Vikings (NFL): $2.95 billion
Miami Dolphins (NFL): $2.9 billion
Atlanta Falcons (NFL): $2.88 billion
Indianapolis Colts (NFL): $2.85 billion
Arsenal (Premier League): $2.8 billion
Los Angeles Clippers (NBA): $2.75 billion
Brooklyn Nets (NBA): $2.65 billion
Los Angeles Chargers (NFL): $2.6 billion
Carolina Panthers (NFL): $2.55 billion
Kansas City Chiefs (NFL): $2.5 billion
Houston Rockets (NBA): $2.5 billion
Paris Saint-Germain (Ligue 1): $2.5 billion
New Orleans Saints (NFL): $2.48 billion
Jacksonville Jaguars (NFL): $2.45 billion
New York Mets (MLB): $2.45 billion
Dallas Mavericks (NBA): $2.45 billion
Cleveland Browns (NFL): $2.35 billion
