Los Angeles Football Club has successfully held off Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami to maintain its position as the most valuable team in Major League Soccer (MLS) for the third year in a row, as reported in the annual 2025 rankings released by Forbes on Friday.
LAFC’s valuation stands at $1.25 billion, marking a 4% increase from the previous year, and nearly double the average value of $690 million for the league’s 29 teams. Notably, the new expansion side San Diego FC, which is set to debut this year, was not included in the rankings.
Meanwhile, Miami, significantly bolstered by Messi’s remarkable influence—which has resulted in unprecedented sponsorship deals and a surge in fan engagement since his arrival in July 2023—claimed the second spot, with their value climbing by 17% to $1.2 billion.
Forbes also indicated that Miami’s valuation has effectively doubled since 2022.
In the 2024 MLS season, Miami achieved a league-record 74 points during the regular season, and Messi was named the MVP. However, the team faced an unexpected early exit in the playoffs.
The top five was rounded out by the reigning MLS Cup champions LA Galaxy, valued at $1 billion, followed by Atlanta United FC at $975 million and New York City FC at $875 million.
The 30th season of MLS is set to kick off on Saturday.
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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