MANCHESTER UNITED have climbed up to second in the rankings of most valuable sports franchises, according to Forbes.
The Premier League giants are worth a staggering £3.16billion after recording a 12 per cent growth from last year.
Only American football’s Dallas Cowboys are worth more than the Old Trafford club at £3.67bn.
Latest figures show Champions League winners Real Madrid (£3.13bn) have overtaken arch-rivals Barcelona (£3.11bn) following last year’s rankings.
Baseball’s New York Yankees – who were the second most valuable franchise in 2017 – are fifth with value of £3.06bn.
The World Cup fever which swept the planet this summer has contributed towards United’s, Real’s and Barca’s positions in the rankings.
GETTY IMAGES – GETTY: Real Madrid are the third most valuable sports franchise in the world
REUTERS: Barcelona fell just behind Real Madrid in the Forbes rankings
REUTERS/MICHAEL DALDER: Bayern Munich are the 12th most valuable sports franchise in the world
GETTY IMAGES – GETTY: Premier League champions Manchester City are the second most valuable club in the league
PA:EMPICS SPORT: Arsenal are valued at £1.71bn by Forbes and are third in the Premier League to both Manchester clubs
GETTY IMAGES – GETTY: Maurizio Sarri is now manager of the seventh most valuable club in the world after joining Chelsea
Booming shirt sales and sponsorships of their club’s Russia 2018 heroes have put money in their pockets.
In fact, seven European football clubs make up the top 50 in Forbes’ list .
German giants Bayern Munich (£2.35bn) are 12th, while Manchester City (£1.89bn), Arsenal (£1.71bn) and Chelsea (£1.58bn) come in at 30th, 39th and 46th respectively.
Record-breaking Premier League champions City recorded the largest growth out of any club in the top 50 with 19 per cent.
