Manchester United is the most valuable team in world soccer and Ronaldinho the highest-earning player, according to a survey by Forbes magazine.

The Premier League club is worth $1.453 billion US, according to the American business magazine.

FC Barcelona star Ronaldinho is worth a reported $29.5 million US.
(Junko Kimura/Getty Images)

Manchester United has only the fourth-highest annual revenue at $310 million, but is ranked first overall in financial value because of "superior growth prospects," Forbes said.

Real Madrid is ranked second at $1.036 billion, but has the highest revenue of $374 million.

Arsenal is the third most valuable at $915 million, but its revenue of $246 million is only ninth overall.

Bayern Munich, AC Milan, Juventus, Inter Milan, Chelsea, FC Barcelona and Schalke round out the top 10.

Forbes said its value estimates are based on past transactions, market value and debt of publicly traded teams and current stadium deals.

Manchester United is one of 10 English teams in the top 25, with four each from Italy and Germany, two from Spain, France and Scotland, and one from the Netherlands.

In contrast, Forbes put the Toronto Maple Leafs atop its NHL franchise value list at $332 million in November.

Barcelona star Ronaldinho moves to the top of the richest soccer player list, relegating David Beckham to second.

The Brazilian is worth $29.5 million, according to Forbes, with Beckham at $29.1 million.

Beckham is likely to go back to the top spot when he moves to the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer this summer.

The top 10 is rounded out by Ronaldo (AC Milan), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Michael Ballack (Chelsea), Thierry Henry (Arsenal), Zinedine Zidane (retired), Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid), John Terry (Chelsea), and Steven Gerrard (Liverpool).

Forbes used revenues and operating income for the 2005-06 season and converted the figure into U.S. dollars based on June 30, 2006, exchange rates.