The Dallas Cowboys will end 2011 as the National Football League's (NFL) most valuable team for a fifth consecutive year, according to a Forbes report released on Wednesday.

With protracted labor talks finally resolved in July to end a months-long league lockout, the average NFL team is now worth 1.04 billion, a 1.4 percent rise from last year.

The Cowboys lead the way with an overall value of $1.85 billion, two percent higher than in 2011.

The Washington Redskins are second ($1.56 billion), with the New England Patriots third ($1.4 billion) and the New York Giants fourth ($1.3 billion).

The Giants, up 10 percent, benefited from the biggest rise this year largely due to the success of their new home venue, the New Meadowlands stadium.

English Premier League soccer champion Manchester United, however, retains the title as the world's most valuable sports team, according to a Forbes report earlier this year.

The Red Devils, who have an estimated 333 million fans around the world, topped the list with a worth of $1.86 billion, just ahead of the Dallas Cowboys.

The 10 most valuable NFL teams for 2011:

1. Dallas Cowboys, $1.850 billion; 2. Washington Redskins, $1.555b; 3. New England Patriots, $1.400b; 4. New York Giants, $1.300b; 5. New York Jets, $1.223b; 6. Houston Texans, $1.202b; 7. Philadelphia Eagles, $1.164b; 8. Chicago Bears, $1.093b; 9. Green Bay Packers, $1.089b; 10. Baltimore Ravens, $1.088b

Reuters