# Who would you say are the top 5 most famous sports teams in the world. **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [May 5, 2011, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-say-are-the-top-5-most-famous-sports-teams-in-the-world/580804 "2011-05-05T03:42:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-say-are-the-top-5-most-famous-sports-teams-in-the-world/580804/81 "2011-05-05T15:59:44Z")
> [@Rondembo](#): > > Right, and they also say that the world cup has an “estimated” viewership of a billion viewers, when its been proven to actually be 250 million. If you seriously think 330 million watch soccer, let alone a single soccer team then you are delusional. [JM] You’re new here, but just FYI: direct insults (“you are delusional”) are not allowed in forums other than the BBQ Pit. [/JM] ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-say-are-the-top-5-most-famous-sports-teams-in-the-world/580804/82 "2011-05-05T16:06:25Z")
> [@Rondembo](#): > > First how is ferrari a sports team? Second no ways something as ridiculously named as Real Madrid (as opposed to some other team named Fake Madrid?) more famous than the Cowboys or Lakers which are both household names worldwide. May I ask how old you are? You are one ignorant poster, sometimes, Rondembo. I’m an American and I’m stunned and embarrassed by your posts. International Dopers, Rondembo does not represent America. My guess on the most famous sports teams in the world: Manchester United - I don’t have an ordered list, but this is the most famous. 🙂 New York Yankees Real Madrid LA Lakers Barcelona ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-say-are-the-top-5-most-famous-sports-teams-in-the-world/580804/83 "2011-05-05T16:07:24Z")
> [@Rondembo](#): > > Right, and they also say that the world cup has an “estimated” viewership of a billion viewers, when its been proven to actually be 250 million. If you seriously think 330 million watch soccer, let alone a single soccer team then you are delusional. Where are you getting your figures from, out of interest? The estimated viewing figures for the 2006 world cup are a cumulative 24.2 billion for the whole tournament, with estimates for people who watched the final alone set at between 400 and 700 million. See h[ere](http://www.goal.com/en/news/1863/world-cup-2010/2010/05/29/1947801/world-cup-viewing-figures-prove-that-this-really-is-the-). I’m afraid you are the delusional one, as you consistently ignore every other person in this thread. And by the way ‘REAL’ is pronounced REY-AL, so you don’t need to keep putting it in quote marks like you think it’s some joke. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-say-are-the-top-5-most-famous-sports-teams-in-the-world/580804/84 "2011-05-05T16:07:26Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > It’s a British film? My wife told me it was Indian (during her Bollywood phase). I guess she was going by the directors name, and not the actual production information. [Gurinder Chadha](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gurinder_Chadha) is British (born in Nairobi but moved to Southall). Parminder Nagra is British (born in Leicester). Much of the film is set in the UK. So lots of British Asians and very popular in India, but a British film nonetheless. > [@Rondembo](#): > > Right, and they also say that the world cup has an “estimated” viewership of a billion viewers, when its been proven to actually be 250 million. If you seriously think 330 million watch soccer, let alone a single soccer team then you are delusional. Much as we are all loving your “I’ve never heard of them therefore they’re not important” argument, Man U are huge worldwide. Here’s the [Daily Mail](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-502574/United-moving-south-fanbase-reaches-333-million.html)in 2007: > [@](#): > > They now have a staggering 333 million fans around the world, according to new research > > […] > > Leading sports marketing firm TNS Sport interviewed at least 1,000 people in each of 21 markets from Ireland to Indonesia and the results surprised even their most bullish executives. Your handwaving will not make those numbers go away. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-say-are-the-top-5-most-famous-sports-teams-in-the-world/580804/85 "2011-05-05T16:07:41Z")
> [@Rondembo](#): > > Right, and they also say that the world cup has an “estimated” viewership of a billion viewers, when its been proven to actually be 250 million. If you seriously think 330 million watch soccer, let alone a single soccer team then you are delusional. Dude, take your stuff to the Pit. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-say-are-the-top-5-most-famous-sports-teams-in-the-world/580804/86 "2011-05-05T16:16:00Z")
> [@Rondembo](#): > > For example, Tom Cruise may wear a Yankees hat in the War of the Worlds movie which will be seen by millions around the world, but he’d never wear a soccer jersey. . I think it only appropriate at this moment to post a pic of [Tom Cruise watching a Real Madrid football match.](http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/bizarre/2526317/David-Beckham-named-his-son-Cruz-after-Tom-Cruise.html) ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-say-are-the-top-5-most-famous-sports-teams-in-the-world/580804/87 "2011-05-05T16:26:58Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > You are one ignorant poster, sometimes, **Rondembo**. Sometimes? Try “all the time.” ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-say-are-the-top-5-most-famous-sports-teams-in-the-world/580804/88 "2011-05-05T16:34:51Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Sometimes? Try “all the time.” Can I just check. Have we all crossed into “bored and annoyed” territory or are we all still enjoying the OP’s Shtick? I fear I crossed the line about half-an-hour ago but I don’t want to stand there all by myself. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-say-are-the-top-5-most-famous-sports-teams-in-the-world/580804/89 "2011-05-05T17:01:46Z")
> [@Rondembo](#): > > I think the #1 spot is obviously the Yankees, and Id say Lakers are second. What do you think of this top 5: Not a lot. I’ll suggest Manchester United (soccer), Ferrari (motorsports), and Red Bull (motorsports and air sports) as three. ---
**Author:** ![Capitaine\_Zombie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@Capitaine\_Zombie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capitaine_Zombie)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-say-are-the-top-5-most-famous-sports-teams-in-the-world/580804/90 "2011-05-05T17:03:03Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > Can I just check. Have we all crossed into “bored and annoyed” territory or are we all still enjoying the OP’s Shtick? > > I fear I crossed the line about half-an-hour ago but I don’t want to stand there all by myself. Nah, I’m waiting for his next thread for that. Cause there’s gonna be one. With more or less the same subject. ---
**Author:** ![Fake\_Tales\_of\_San\_Francisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8491ac/32.png) [@Fake\_Tales\_of\_San\_Francisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fake_Tales_of_San_Francisco)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-say-are-the-top-5-most-famous-sports-teams-in-the-world/580804/91 "2011-05-05T17:19:15Z")
> [@Rondembo](#): > > Tom Cruise may wear a Yankees hat in the War of the Worlds movie which will be seen by millions around the world, but he’d never wear a soccer jersey. Nobody is disputing the fact that the Yankees are well known, and belong in a top 5 list. Though to be fair, for the longest time, I only really knew their name, and that they played some sort of sport. They’re not really famous to me as a sports team, more as a brand. I’ve travelled to many different countries, and only in the US and Canada (not actually been to Mexico) have I heard any reference to American Football. Every other country it’s football. I don’t know why there is a dispute here, I don’t kn ow why someone would think American Football teams are famous around the world. They’re clearly not. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-say-are-the-top-5-most-famous-sports-teams-in-the-world/580804/92 "2011-05-05T17:28:27Z")
> [@Rondembo](#): > > I went into a sporting goods store in Canada and Mexico … Wow, that must be a BIG store! ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-say-are-the-top-5-most-famous-sports-teams-in-the-world/580804/93 "2011-05-05T17:30:45Z")
> [@Capitaine\_Zombie](#): > > Nah, I’m waiting for his next thread for that. Cause there’s gonna be one. With more or less the same subject. OK, I’ll wait then. Pink Floyd themed responses for that one? or something more obscure? ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-say-are-the-top-5-most-famous-sports-teams-in-the-world/580804/94 "2011-05-05T17:49:51Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > OK, I’ll wait then. > > Pink Floyd themed responses for that one? or something more obscure? I’m thinking football chants. ---
**Author:** ![Wash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9dc877/32.png) [@Wash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wash)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-say-are-the-top-5-most-famous-sports-teams-in-the-world/580804/95 "2011-05-05T17:51:11Z")
> [@Rondembo](#): > > I don’t think that’s true at all, I went into a sporting goods store in Canada and **Mexico** and saw no soccer teams other than national team jerseys (mostly Brazil and Italy), but there were plenty of NFL, MLB and NBA jerseys. The Lakers and Yankees jerseys were prominently displayed, but no soccer jerseys except those at the back mostly in small sizes. I don’t think any soccer team sells as much merchandise and jerseys as the Yankees, most people can instantly tell you what the Yankees logo or the Lakers logo looks like while very few can tell you a single soccer team logo other than the world cup logo. Apparently, just like in these threads, you were only looking for the things that fit your preconceived prejudices, because I can guarantee that any sporting goods store in Mexico would have a wealth of Chivas de Guadalajara, Club America, Tigres, Monterrey, Cruz Azul, Pumas and other FMF jerseys. They may have the American sports stuff too, but there’s no doubt that Futbol is the number 1 sport in Mexico by a long, long, long shot. The sports store I went to in Toronto had a very large section of Toronto FC gear. Obviously it was smaller than the Maple Leafs stuff, but there was just as much for TFC as there was for the Raptors and it was right across the street from the Air Canada Center. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-say-are-the-top-5-most-famous-sports-teams-in-the-world/580804/96 "2011-05-05T17:56:40Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > OK, I’ll wait then. > > Pink Floyd themed responses for that one? or something more obscure? > [@SanVito](#): > > I’m thinking football chants. Well, we can [have both](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9M23zjNrG9M). ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-say-are-the-top-5-most-famous-sports-teams-in-the-world/580804/97 "2011-05-05T18:02:09Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Sometimes? Try “all the time.” I was being too nice. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-say-are-the-top-5-most-famous-sports-teams-in-the-world/580804/98 "2011-05-05T18:37:37Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > OK, I’ll wait then. > > Pink Floyd themed responses for that one? or something more obscure? It’ll get moved to The Games Room, so perhaps Mornington Crescent? ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-say-are-the-top-5-most-famous-sports-teams-in-the-world/580804/99 "2011-05-05T19:11:16Z")
> [@Rondembo](#): > > Do you really think Manchester united are more famous than the freaking Yankees :rolleyes: I had to google them to fin out who they are and I bet 99% of Americans couldn’t name you 1 player on that team. So are you asking what the most popular teams in the USA are? Or in the world? You can argue the Yankees are more famous than Manchester United. It is preposterous to think they’re less popular than the Cowboys or Steelers, who play a sport played effectively nowhere outside the USA and Canada. The top two, absolutely beyond any doubt or question, are the Yankees and Manchester United. There’s no top five; there are those two and then a lot of arguing as to who comes next. [QUOTE=Rondembo] I went into a sporting goods store in Canada and Mexico and saw no soccer teams other than national team jerseys [/QUOTE] So which country was this store in? If you went into a sporting goods store in Canada, the most popular jerseys and hats there are those of whatever NHL team dominates the local market. If I walk into any sporting goods store around here the Maple Leafs gear will outnumber of Cowboys gear by a margin of fifty to one. You also would not have seen Canadian national soccer team gear because our national team is a joke and nobody cares about it. You might have seen some TFC gear aorund Toronto. In Mexico, might I suggest you probably don’t even know Mexican club team jerseys to see them. ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-say-are-the-top-5-most-famous-sports-teams-in-the-world/580804/100 "2011-05-05T19:44:55Z")
> [@bucketybuck](#): > > Ice Hockey - Nobody outside the US/Canada knows the name of a single ice hockey team. I shit you not. No ice hockey team has the brand of the Yankees or the Cowboys. If you think your favourite ice hockey team is known worldwide, then I am sorry but you are wrong. Sadly, this is kind of true in some areas of the US too (possibly also remote pockets of Canada, but I’d say that’s less likely). _If_ someone knows a team, though, it’s either their local one or an Original Six: Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs or Boston Bruins. FWIW, when [Tommy Hilfiger](http://slumz.boxden.com/f16/tommy-hilfiger-redesigns-yankees-lakers-cowboys-canadiens-uniforms-1509891/) decided to do some terrible uniform remakes (IMHO) he chose the Canadiens as the “iconic” hockey team. Lakers, Cowboys and Yankees were the other teams. > [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](#): > > Probably not in Ireland, but perhaps in Switzerland or Russia. Then again, Russians and people from neighbouring countries may be most familiar with Russian hockey teams (Moscow Dynamo perhaps? Does that still exist?) Dyanmo Moscow is one of the teams in the West in the [KHL](http://en.khl.ru/clubs/). > [@Rondembo](#): > > I don’t think that’s true at all, I went into a sporting goods store in Canada and Mexico and saw no soccer teams other than national team jerseys (mostly Brazil and Italy), but there were plenty of NFL, MLB and NBA jerseys. Well, I live in Canada and the sporting goods stores here have fairly large areas dedicated to soccer. I see a lot of Real Madrid jerseys, as well as Barcelona - many more than for the local Montreal Impact team - as well as national ones, particularly Brazil and Portugal, given the make-up of this city. My husband has an old Barcelona shirt from about 15 years ago. My brother owns a Madrid one. BTW, _Real_ is Spanish for “royal”, so the jokes about “fake” Madrid just make you look even more ignorant than the Top 5 list you chose. > [@RickJay](#): > > You can argue the Yankees are more famous than Manchester United. It is preposterous to think they’re less popular than the Cowboys or Steelers, who play a sport played effectively nowhere outside the USA and Canada. Heck, at the club level, other than an occasional visit by the Bills, it isn’t even a sport played in Canada! 😉 [Montreal-centric silly statement]Why aren’t the Alouettes on the list\*?[/MCSS] \*Yes, I know, the Riders have the largest following…at least more than 13 people… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-say-are-the-top-5-most-famous-sports-teams-in-the-world/580804.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-say-are-the-top-5-most-famous-sports-teams-in-the-world/580804.md?page=6)