Soccer holds the title of the world’s most popular sport, drawing millions of fans who enjoy watching and playing this captivating game daily. There are many different football leagues and competitions in the world, each with its own history, culture, style, and performance. Check Top 10 Best Football Leagues in the World Right Now.
And, imagine you are a football fan who loves to watch and follow the beautiful game. You have access to hundreds of channels and streaming services that offer live and on-demand coverage of various leagues around the world.
Top 10 Best Football Leagues in the World Right Now
However, which ones deserve your valuable time and focus? Which ones offer the most quality, excitement, and drama? I have an answer to all these questions, and we’ve compiled a list to address them. It’s important to recognize that different leagues possess unique strengths and weaknesses.
HAVE YOU CHECKED: How many football leagues are there in the world?
While fans hold varied preferences and opinions. With our curated selection, we aim to shed light on the diverse landscape of football leagues. Further, it provides insights that transcend the complexities of the game.
10. Chinese Super League
The Chinese Super League (CSL) may not be the most prestigious or competitive league in the world. However, it has certainly gained a lot of attention and popularity in recent years. This is mainly because of the huge investments made by Chinese clubs to sign and offer big contracts to European players and managers.
The CSL has also improved its quality and performance in continental tournaments, with Guangzhou Evergrande winning the AFC Champions League twice. And they reached the semi-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup in 2013 and 2015. The league has also attracted a large number of viewers, with an average of around 20 million per game.
| Viewership | 2 billion |
| Founded | 2004 |
9. Major League Soccer (MLS)
It is a men’s professional soccer league in the United States and Canada, which has 29 teams as of the 2023 season. MLS is one of the most recent and fastest-growing leagues in the world, attracting some of the best players and managers such as Lionel Messi, David Beckham, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and many more. MLS also has a loyal and passionate fan base, with an average attendance of over 20,000 per game.
| Viewership | Over 2 billion |
| Founded | 1993 |
8. Brasileirão
The Brasileirão is the top division of Brazilian domestic football and one of the most vibrant and exciting leagues in South America. The league features intense competition between various clubs, with no clear dominance by any team. In fact, since 2003, when the league adopted a round-robin format, there have been 12 different champions.
The Brasileirão is also known for producing some of the best players in the world, such as Neymar Jr., Alison Becker, Roberto Firmino, and many more. The league also has a rich history of success in continental and international tournaments. With the most club world cup wins (10) and the second most Copa Libertadores titles (19) among all leagues.
| Viewership | 1.7 billion in 2020 |
| Founded | 1959 |
7. Ligue 1
Ligue 1 is the top tier of French domestic football and stands as one of the historic and esteemed leagues in Europe. The league has been dominated by Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in recent years, who have won seven of the last eight titles.
However, this season has seen a close and thrilling title race between PSG, Lille, Monaco, and Lyon. The league also has a strong record in continental tournaments. Additionally, Marseille is the only French team to win the UEFA Champions League in 1993 and PSG reached the final in 2020.
| Viewership | 5.5 million |
| Founded | 1930 |
6. Serie A
Serie A is the top division of Italian domestic football and one of the most popular and respected leagues in the world. The league has a long and glorious history of producing some of the best teams and players in football history.
Further, Serie A has an impressive record in continental tournaments, with 12 UEFA Champions League titles (the second most among all leagues) and 9 UEFA Europa League titles (the most among all leagues).
| Viewership | 1.4 billion |
| Founded | 1929 |
5. Bundesliga
The Bundesliga is the top division of German domestic football and one of the most entertaining and competitive leagues in Europe. The league has been dominated by Bayern Munich for the last nine seasons, who have won a record 30 titles overall.
However, the league also features other strong teams such as Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, Bayer Leverkusen, Wolfsburg, and Eintracht Frankfurt. Also, the league has a remarkable record in continental tournaments, with 8 UEFA Champions League titles (the third most among all leagues) and 6 UEFA Europa League titles (the second most among all leagues).
| Viewership | over 2 billion |
| Founded | 1963 |
4. Eredivisie
The Eredivisie is the top division of Dutch domestic football and one of the most underrated and exciting leagues in Europe. The league features a fierce rivalry between Ajax and PSV Eindhoven, who have won 35 and 24 titles respectively. However, other teams such as Feyenoord, AZ Alkmaar, and Vitesse have also challenged for the title in recent years.
The league also has a proud history of success in continental tournaments, with Ajax being one of the most successful clubs in Europe, with 4 UEFA Champions League titles and 2 UEFA Europa League titles.
| Viewership | 250 million |
| Founded | 1956 |
3. Primeira Liga
The Primeira Liga is another top division of Portuguese domestic football and one of the most competitive and thrilling leagues in Europe. The league features a fierce rivalry between the Big Three: Benfica, Porto, and Sporting CP, who have won 87 out of 88 titles.
It also boasts some of the best players in the world, such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, and many more. The league is also known for its tactical diversity, technical quality, and talent export.
| Viewership | 1.7 billion |
| Founded | 1934 |
2. La Liga
La Liga is the top division of Spanish domestic football, it features two of the biggest clubs in football history: Real Madrid and Barcelona, who have won 34 and 26 titles respectively. However, other teams have also challenged for the title or European spots in recent years.
Additionally, the league boasts continental dominance. Real Madrid leads with 13 UEFA Champions League titles and 2 UEFA Europa League titles. Likewise, Barcelona shines with 5 UEFA Champions League titles and 4 UEFA Europa League titles. Notably, Sevilla is a force in the UEFA Europa League with 6 titles.
| Viewership | 3.2 billion |
| Founded | 1929 |
1. Premier League
The Premier League is the top division of English domestic football and one of the most watched and followed leagues in the world. The league features some of the biggest and richest clubs in football history. Like Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, and many more.
The league also features intense competition between various clubs, with no clear dominance by any team. In fact, since its inception in 1992, there have been seven different champions.
The league also boasts a strong record in continental tournaments. Manchester United stands out as one of Europe’s most successful clubs, with 3 UEFA Champions League titles and 1 UEFA Europa League title. Similarly, Liverpool has left its mark with 6 UEFA Champions League titles and 3 UEFA Europa League titles. Notably, Chelsea has also excelled, securing 2 UEFA Champions League titles.
| Viewership | 3.2 billion |
| Founded | 1992 |
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