A year ago, the Red Bulls weren’t even among the five most valuable teams in MLS according to Forbes. Now, Forbes Mexico ranks them among the top five soccer teams in all of the Americas and No. 1 in MLS at more than a quarter of a billion dollars.

The Red Bulls – who lost to New England in the Eastern Conference final last Saturday then lost star Thierry Henry on Tuesday – were listed by Forbes Mexico at $250.5 million. That was fifth-highest in all of North, Central and South America, behind three Brazilian clubs and one Mexican side.

“In 2006, there was a decisive turning the franchise: the arrival of Red Bull and renaming,’’ Forbes Mexico wrote, according to a Google translation. “The team was born in 1996 in the MLS as MetroStars; 10 years after he bought energy drinks company, invested and in 2010 opened the Red Bull Arena at a cost of 216 million dollars; to this is added the arrival of players like the French star Thierry Henry and Rafael Marquez.’’

Last year, Forbes valued the Red Bulls at just $114 million, sixth in MLS behind leaders Seattle ($175 million), the LA Galaxy, Portland Timbers, Houston Dynamo and Toronto FC. Now, Forbes Mexico – which it should be noted is not identical to Forbes – tabbed them first in the league, second in CONCACAF behind Mexican side Guadalajara ($279.3 million).

Corinthians lead three Brazilian clubs atop the list at $579.9 million. According to Forbes Mexico, the valuations were based on cost of the stadium (if the club owned it), the price of the roster and the value of the brand.

Sporting Kansas City (eighth at $229.1 million) and the LA Galaxy (ninth at $207.6 million) also cracked the top 10.