Major League Soccer: The Most Valuable Team In MLS Revealed

Los Angeles Football Club successfully defended its title as the most valuable team in Major League Soccer for the third consecutive year, outperforming Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami, according to the 2025 rankings released by Forbes on Friday.

LAFC was valued at $1.25 billion, up 4% from last year and nearly double the $690 million average value of the league’s 29 teams. Expansion club San Diego FC, who begin playing this year, were omitted from the ranking.

Inter Miami, energized by Lionel Messi’s influence, has achieved remarkable growth in sponsorships and fan engagement since his arrival in July 2023, resulting in a staggering 17% increase in value to $1.2 billion, placing the team second on the Forbes list.

According to Forbes, Miami’s valuation has doubled since 2022.

During the 2024 MLS campaign, Miami claimed a league-record 74 regular season points, and Messi took MVP honors, but the team suffered a shock first-round elimination from the playoffs.

Inter Miami feel Messi’s influence

The signing of Lionel Messi rivals and perhaps even eclipses the historic acquisitions of Pelé in 1972 and David Beckham in 2007, marking a transformative moment for soccer in the United States.

Inter Miami is paying a league-record salary to Messi, and the team is already reaping significant rewards both on the field and in its financial standing.

Speaking in 2023, soon after Messi arrived, Miami co-owner Jorge Mas spoke about the role of the ‘Messi Effect’ and the impact that he could have on the team’s finances.

At that point, Miami was the 11th most valuable team in the league, but Mas insisted that Miami’s value could soon reach $1.3 billion – $1.5 billion.

“When does an athlete truly have the opportunity to change the sport? I think that’s the opportunity that Messi has ahead of himself,” Mas explained.

“It’s the only thing anyone talks about.

“I think that it’s incumbent upon myself and my partners in Major League Soccer and fellow owners to seize the moment that we have ahead of us to hopefully elevate Major League Soccer over the next three to five years to compete with the Premier League.”

Reigning MLS Cup champions LA Galaxy ($1 billion), Atlanta United FC ($975 million) and New York City FC ($875 million) rounded out the top five.

MLS’s 30th season kicks off on Saturday.