Top 10 Most Valuable Sports Teams In the World 2014: Soccer, NFL Dominate List

Along with 62 championship trophies spanning 112 years, Real Madrid also maintains the title of the world’s most valuable sports franchise.

In the latest sports team rankings released by Forbes, Los Blancos lead the pack of four top flight soccer clubs in the top 10, including Spanish rival and No. 2 Barcelona and the English Premier League’s Manchester United rounding out the top three. Real Madrid achieved a total valuation of $3.3 billion, thanks largely to their ability to generate more revenue than any other sports club in the world.

Major League Baseball’s New York Yankees, at No. 4, and the Los Angeles Dodgers, at No. 6, were the only baseball clubs ranked in the top 10. The National Football League also held down four of the top 10 spots with the No. 5 Dallas Cowboys, No. 8 New England Patriots, No. 9 Washington Redskins and No. 10 New York Giants.

Of the four major American sports leagues, the NBA and NHL were shutout of the top 10, with the New York Knicks coming the closest at No. 13 with a valuation of $1.4 billion. The Toronto Maple Leafs were the highest ranked NHL team, with an estimated value of $1.15 billion for the No. 26 ranking.

They finished third in La Liga, but Real Madrid still provided their drove of fans with a thrilling Champions League victory over Atletico Madrid, and figure to remain in the top spot for quite some time thanks to stars like Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale.

The Catalans couldn’t repeat as La Liga champs, but they did sign superstar Lionel Messi to a lucrative contract extension and just plucked Luis Suarez from the EPL. The team is heavily favored to compete in every major tournament for years and is within striking distance of Madrid.

The Red Devils struggled in their first season without legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson, but it didn’t hurt the club’s bottom line. New manager Louis van Gaal figures to turn the team around quickly, but it won’t matter. United will stay in the top thanks to its 10-year, $1.3 billion with Adidas, the richest uniform deal in history, according to Forbes.

The Yankees were another team that couldn’t put together a playoff season in 2013, but they still managed to stay more than solvent. The Steinbrenner’s still retain 20 percent of the lucrative regional sports network YES, and merchandising remains one of their strongest revenue streams.

Arguably owners of the most recognizable logo in sports, the Cowboys are still the most valuable NFL franchise despite missing the playoffs for the fourth straight season.

The Dodgers spent an incredible amount on new players and nearly reached the World Series for the first time in 26 years. They also signed a 25-year-old, $8.35 billion deal with Time Warner Cable.

They’ve won two straight Bundesliga titles, and are always a threat in Champions League, and Germany’s recent World Cup victory could be a boon for Munich.

Continued success under head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady, along with the second-highest ticket prices in the league, make the Patriots a threat to move up the list.

Team owner Dan Snyder’s fight to keep the team’s name has kept Washington mired in controversy, but with quarterback Robert Griffin III healthy the Redskins could see their value swell even more with a trip to the postseason.

The Giants enjoyed the second-highest attendance average in the league (after Dallas) despite failing to make the playoffs. Like the Yankees they enjoy the U.S.’s richest and largest television market and should stay in the top 10.