Ever wondered which is the most valuable franchise in all of sports?  I’ll give you one guess–odds are you got it right.  Find out for sure in today’s Daily Kick Around!

Major League Soccer

Even the most ardent fans of FC Dallas winger and US international Brek Shea have to admit he seems to have hit, if not a wall, then at least a bump in the road.  The Shin Guardian featured a piece from a blogger who thinks he may have some answers.  Warning for the mathematically challenged: there are lots of stats.

The MLS All-Star game against Chelsea is almost upon us.  While there have been criticisms in the past about this particular game format, with a well-oiled machine taking on what is essentially a makeshift team pulled together from the best parts of several other teams, this article makes an argument for why this year’s All-Stars just might have a shot at beating the reigning Champions League victors.

International Soccer

In an announcement that will surprise absolutely no one, Forbes magazine revealed that Manchester United is sports’ most valuable franchise at $2.23 billion, according to their annual survey.  The Red Devils are followed on the list by Real Madrid, with the New York Yankees and the Dallas Cowboys tied for third.

Sweden’s Euro 2012 star Zlatan Ibrahimovic is the latest major signing for Ligue 1′s Paris St. Germain.  This club has been particularly active in the off-season, also signing Thiago Silva and Ezequiel Lavezzi.

FIFA

As we all know, FIFA president Sepp Blatter has had his share of foot-in-mouth moments (I mean, REALLY bad moments).  Even worse, there have been accusations of corruption levied at him from more than one quarter.  This football heavy weight, for one, does not want to see Blatter return after his fourth term ends in 2015.

Image courtesy of theshinguardian.com