United and Becks top football’s rich list

MANCHESTER UNITED and David Beckham continue to lead the Forbes lists of the most valuable teams and highest-paid players.

The American business magazine ranks United as being worth $1.86 billion (€1.27bn), ahead of Real Madrid (€1bn) and Arsenal (€794m). Two other Premier League sides are in the top 10, with Chelsea (€453m) in seventh place and Liverpool (€376m) in ninth.

England midfielder Beckham continues to dominate the list of highest-paid players, thanks to recent endorsement deals with Pepsi and Electronic Arts. His earnings last year were estimated at $40m (€27.4m), ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo (€26m) and Lionel Messi (€21.5m).

It is the seventh consecutive year that United have topped the Forbes list and Real Madrid and Arsenal, now under the control of majority shareholder Stan Kroenke, remain second and third.

Barcelona have dropped to fifth place however, with German side Bayern Munich leapfrogging the Catalan team.

AC Milan are the highest-placed Italian side on the list in sixth place, with Juventus in eighth and Inter Milan 10th.

Forbes determined the value using previous sales, broadcast agreements and debt. Real Madrid was ranked as soccer’s richest club by sales in a review published by accountant Deloitte LLP in February, with United third behind Barcelona.

The average value of the 20 clubs on the list increased by 1.3% over past year while operating income rose 25%.

Forbes top 20 soccer teams by value: Manchester United, Real Madrid, Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Barcelona, AC Milan, Chelsea, Juventus, Liverpool, Inter Milan, Tottenham, Schalke, Lyon, Hamburg, Manchester City, Stuttgart, Werder Bremen, Marseille, Atletico Madrid, Borussia Dortmund.

Forbes top 10 richest soccer players: David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Kaka, Ronaldinho, Thierry Henry, Wayne Rooney, Frank Lampard, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Samuel Eto’o