The Dallas Cowboys have overtaken Real Madrid as the world’s most valuable sports team. It’s the first time a non-soccer club has risen to top spot since Forbes Magazine created its ranking in 2011.
The value of the National Football League’s Cowboys surged 25 percent to 4 billion dollars (3.6 billion euros) compared with the previous year, according to the Forbes survey published on Wednesday.

Second-placed Real Madrid, who won a record-extending 11thEuropean crown last season, are worth 3.65 billion dollars, 12 percent more than in 2015, with La Liga rivals Barcelona close behind in third on 3.55 billion, the survey showed.

Blockbuster contracts

The NFL had 27 franchises listed in the top 50, while European soccer and the National Basketball Association each had eight teams and Major League Baseball seven.

“Blockbuster TV contracts are fuelling unprecedented increases in sports team values around the globe as the average value of a top 50 franchise has doubled over the past four years,” Forbes senior editor Kurt Badenhausen said.

“The NFL is still king on TV with contracts worth nearly 7 billion dollars annually from its media partners,” he added.

The 10 most valuable teams (in billions of dollars)

1. Dallas Cowboys – 4.0

2. Real Madrid – 3.65

3. Barcelona – 3.55

4. New York Yankees – 3.4

5. Manchester United – 3.32

6. New England Patriots – 3.2

7. New York Knicks – 3.0

8. Washington Redskins – 2.85

9. New York Giants – 2.8

10=. Los Angeles Lakers – 2.7

10=. San Francisco 49ers – 2.7

RTRS/idr