The Indian Premier League (IPL) has emerged as one of the top five most valuable global sports properties in the world. The IPL, which is just two years old, has been placed fifth globally, valued at $ 1.6 billion, behind the established American giants.

The valuation, a part of a series on the top 200 sporting properties, was done by SportsPro, a UK-based magazine, that claims to be the “No. 1 international monthly publication for the sports industry” focussing on “the sponsorship and financing of sport, as well as marketing and management.”

The magazine’s July issue is centred around this top 200 list, which they say was arrived at after “months of analysis and close examination of statistics, trends and finances” puts the National Football League ($4.5 billion) at the top of the heap. The NFL is followed by Major League Baseball ($3.9 billion), the NBA ($3.35 billion) and Nascar ($1.9 billion) with the IPL in fifth place.

The study places the Ferrari F1 team (7th) at a value of $1.55 billion as the highest valued European team, followed by Manchester United Football Club (8th) at $1.495 billion.

Not surprisingly golf legend Tiger Woods ($1.25 billion) is the highest valued individual athlete property, followed by Jack Nicklaus ($1 billion). Golfers topped the list principally because they earn huge sums for designing courses, the magazine explained. The next highest athlete, in 88th place, was footballer David Beckham’s Beckham Brand Ltd at $ 375 million.