Primeira Liga facts for kids
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| Organising body | Liga Portuguesa de Futebol Profissional (LPFP) |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1934 |
| Country |  Portugal |
| Confederation | UEFA |
| Number of teams | 18 (since 2014–15) |
| Level on pyramid | 1 |
| Relegation to | Liga Portugal 2 (1990–present) Segunda Divisão (1934–1990) |
| Domestic cup(s) | Taça de Portugal Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira |
| League cup(s) | Taça da Liga |
| International cup(s) | UEFA Champions League UEFA Europa League UEFA Conference League |
| Current champions | Sporting CP (21st title) (2024–25) |
| Most championships | Benfica (38 titles) |
| Most appearances | Manuel Fernandes (486) |
| Top goalscorer | Fernando Peyroteo (332) |
| TV partners | List of broadcasters |
The Primeira Liga is the top professional soccer league in Portugal. It's where the best teams in the country compete to become the national champion. The league is organized by the Liga Portugal.
Since the 2014–15 season, 18 teams play in the Primeira Liga. At the end of each season, the three teams with the worst records are moved down to a lower league called Liga Portugal 2. The top three teams from that league are then promoted to take their place.
The league was started in 1934. Over the years, more than 70 different teams have played in it, but only five have ever won the championship. Three of these teams, known as the "Big Three", have won almost every single title. These teams are Benfica (38 titles), Porto (30 titles), and Sporting CP (21 titles).
The only other teams to win were Belenenses in 1946 and Boavista in 2001.
Contents
How the League Works
The Primeira Liga season runs from August to May. During the season, each of the 18 clubs plays every other club twice: once at their own home stadium and once at their opponent's stadium. This means each team plays a total of 34 games.
Teams get points based on their game results:
- Three points for a win.
- One point for a draw (a tie).
- Zero points for a loss.
At the end of the season, the team with the most points is crowned the champion. The two teams with the fewest points are relegated (sent down) to the Liga Portugal 2.
Playing in Europe
The best teams in the Primeira Liga get to play in big European competitions run by UEFA.
- The champion goes directly to the UEFA Champions League, the most important club competition in Europe.
- The second-place team gets a chance to qualify for the Champions League.
- Other top teams, and the winner of the Taça de Portugal (a separate cup tournament), can qualify for the UEFA Europa League and the UEFA Conference League.
The "Big Three" Teams
In Portugal, three clubs have dominated football for a very long time. They are called "Os Três Grandes," which means "The Big Three." These clubs are Benfica, Porto, and Sporting CP.
These three teams are the most successful and have the most fans in the country. They are the only clubs that have played in every single season of the Primeira Liga since it started. Almost every year, these three teams finish in the top three spots.
- Benfica has won the most league titles (38). They also won the European Cup (now the Champions League) two times in a row in the 1960s.
- Porto has won the second-most league titles (30). They have also won the Champions League twice, most recently in 2004.
- Sporting CP is the third most successful club, with 21 league titles. They are famous for their youth academy, which has produced world-class players like Cristiano Ronaldo.
The rivalry between these clubs is very intense. Games between them are some of the most exciting and watched events in Portuguese sports.
| Season | Benfica | Porto | Sporting |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015–16 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| 2016–17 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 2017–18 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 2018–19 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 2019–20 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| 2020–21 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 2021–22 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| 2022–23 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| 2023–24 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 2024–25 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
League History
The first version of a national football competition in Portugal started in 1934. It was an experimental league and was later replaced by a new format in 1938. This is when the league we know today really began.
Over the years, the number of teams in the league has changed many times:
- 1934–1939: 8 clubs
- 1945–1946: 12 clubs
- 1971–1987: 16 clubs
- 1989–1990: 18 clubs
- 2006–2014: 16 clubs
- 2014–present: 18 clubs
In 1999, the league was officially renamed the "Primeira Liga."
Sponsorship
Like many sports leagues, the Primeira Liga has had different names because of sponsorship deals. For example, it has been called "Liga NOS" and "Liga Portugal Bwin." Since 2023, it is known as Liga Portugal Betclic.
Clubs in the 2024-25 Season
Here are the 18 teams competing in the league. The table shows their home city, stadium, and how many fans their stadium can hold.
| Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arouca | Arouca | Estádio Municipal de Arouca | 5,600 |
| AVS | Vila das Aves | Estádio do CD Aves | 6,230 |
| Benfica | Lisbon | Estádio da Luz | 68,100 |
| Boavista | Porto | Estádio do Bessa | 28,263 |
| Braga | Braga | Estádio Municipal de Braga | 30,286 |
| Estoril | Estoril | Estádio António Coimbra da Mota | 5,094 |
| Famalicão | Vila Nova de Famalicão | Estádio Municipal 22 de Junho | 5,186 |
| Farense | Faro | Estádio de São Luís | 7,000 |
| Gil Vicente | Barcelos | Estádio Cidade de Barcelos | 12,046 |
| Moreirense | Moreira de Cónegos | Parque de Jogos Comendador Joaquim de Almeida Freitas | 6,150 |
| Nacional | Funchal | Estádio da Madeira | 5,200 |
| Porto | Porto | Estádio do Dragão | 50,033 |
| Rio Ave | Vila do Conde | Estádio dos Arcos | 5,300 |
| Santa Clara | Ponta Delgada | Estádio de São Miguel | 12,500 |
| Sporting CP | Lisbon | Estádio José Alvalade | 50,095 |
| Vitória de Guimarães | Guimarães | Estádio D. Afonso Henriques | 30,029 |
Champions by Club
Only five clubs have ever won the Primeira Liga. The "Big Three" have won 89 of the 91 championships.
| Club | Winners | Runners-up | Winning Seasons (Most Recent) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benfica | 38 | 31 | 1935–36, 1936–37, 1937–38, 1941–42, 1942–43, 1944–45, 1949–50, 1954–55, 1956–57, 1959–60, 1960–61, 1962–63, 1963–64, 1964–65, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1974–75, 1975–76, 1976–77, 1980–81, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1986–87, 1988–89, 1990–91, 1993–94, 2004–05, 2009–10, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2018–19, 2022–23 |
| Porto | 30 | 29 | 1934–35, 1938–39, 1939–40, 1955–56, 1958–59, 1977–78, 1978–79, 1984–85, 1985–86, 1987–88, 1989–90, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2017–18, 2019–20, 2021–22 |
| Sporting CP | 21 | 21 | 1940–41, 1943–44, 1946–47, 1947–48, 1948–49, 1950–51, 1951–52, 1952–53, 1953–54, 1957–58, 1961–62, 1965–66, 1969–70, 1973–74, 1979–80, 1981–82, 1999–2000, 2001–02, 2020–21, 2023–24, 2024–25 |
| Belenenses | 1 | 4 | 1945–46 |
| Boavista | 1 | 3 | 2000–01 |
Amazing League Records
Team Records
- First Undefeated Champion: In the 1972–73 season, Benfica won the league without losing a single game. They won 28 games and drew 2.
- Most Wins in a Row: Benfica also holds the record for the most consecutive wins in the league, with 29 victories in a row between 1972 and 1973.
- Five Titles in a Row: Porto is the only team to win the league five times in a row, from 1995 to 1999.
- Longest Unbeaten Streak: Porto holds the record for the longest time without losing a league game. They went 58 matches unbeaten from November 2020 to April 2022.
- Most Points in a Season: In the 2021–22 season, Porto set a record by earning 91 points.
Player Records
Here are some of the all-time greatest players in the league's history.
Most Games Played
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Top Goal Scorers
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See also
In Spanish: Primeira Liga para niños
- LPFP Primeira Liga Player of the Year
- Portuguese Golden Ball
- Bola de Prata (award for the top scorer)
- Campeonato Nacional Feminino (Portugal's top women's league)
- List of association football competitions in Portugal
