Forbes appraised the value of Man U as of April 2009 at US$1.87 billion, up 4 percent from $1.8 billion in April 2008, securing its place at the top of the list for a second year in a row.

The second most valuable team was the Dallas Cowboys in the U.S. National Football League (NFL) at $1.65 billion, followed by the NFL's Washington Redskins with $1.55 billion. The two teams saw their values increase by $50 million from 2008 to 2009.

The New York Yankees in Major League Baseball, winners of the 2009 World Series, came in fourth with $1.5 billion, edging out the NFL's New England Patriots at $1.36 billion. In 2008 the Yankees followed the Patriots in fifth place with $1.3 billion.