Forbes list: Real Madrid, Barcelona stay in top 5, United slide to 6th

Premier League heavyweights Manchester United dropped from second to sixth on Forbes' annual list of the world's most valuable sports teams.

United's value over the 2018 financial year fell from $4.12 billion to $3.81 billion amid a disappointing campaign during which the club finished sixth and out of the Champions League places. In 2012, the Red Devils became the world's first professional team appraised at more than $2 billion. All 50 teams on this year's rankings are valued at $2 billion or more.

La Liga rivals Real Madrid and Barcelona maintain their respective top-five spots, with the Spanish capital-city side landing third, one spot ahead of the Catalan behemoths.

Bayern Munich (17), Manchester City (25), Chelsea (32), Arsenal (42), and Liverpool (45) were the only other football clubs to make the top 50. Chelsea moved up 14 spots after capturing the Europa League last season, while London foe Arsenal slipped three slots after failing to qualify for the Champions League for the third consecutive year.

The NFL's Dallas Cowboys top the list for the fourth year on the spin with a value of $5 billion (£4 billion), one of 26 NFL franchises - down from 29 last year - to make the top 50. Of the remaining sports teams to make the list, nine are from the NBA, eight are from European football, and seven hail from Major League baseball.