Top 5 Most Watched Football Leagues in the World

Football is arguably the most popular sport in the world, drawing billions of viewers. Whether it’s club football or international football, fans tune in in record numbers from every corner of the globe, so much so that no other sport can hold a candle to its following.

More than 200 nations have their own national teams, many of whom even have their own domestic leagues. But do you know which ones are the most popular? Hint – most of them are in Europe! Below are the five most-watched football leagues in the world:

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5. Serie A

The Italian Serie A is among the most competitive leagues in the world, with Juventus, Inter Milan, AC Milan, AS Roma and Napoli among the more iconic ones in the division. The league amassed almost 25,000 fans in the stadiums and grossed over 2 million views when Cristiano Ronaldo played for the Bianconeris. Although he’s no longer at the club, Serie A continues to draw record viewerships, especially with both Milan sides resurging after struggling for almost a decade.

4. Liga MX

This may come as a real surprise, but Mexico’s Liga MX is widely followed. In fact, it’s the most-watched league in North America, raking in more viewership than the MLS. It averages 25,557 people in stadiums during matchdays, according to official figures. TV viewership has also increased to 3.7 million lately. Meanwhile, Club America are the most successful side in the league with 13 titles.

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3. Ligue 1

One can say much of the viewership in Ligue 1 comes from Paris Saint-Germain, the biggest team in the division right now that boasts several marquee names. However, with the rise of clubs like Marseille, Lyon and Lille in recent times, there’s a renewed interest in the French top division. It reached its peak following the arrival of Lionel Messi to Paris in 2021. The average viewership per game is 10.5 million viewers.

2. La Liga

For the longest time, Real Madrid and Barcelona have contested arguably the greatest club football rivalry in Europe. It’s no surprise, then, that the Spanish La Liga ranks as high as this. During the Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi years, the league probably had more following than anywhere else in the world, as the famed El Clasico was fiercely contested with these two in the lead. Los Blancos are the most successful team in La Liga with 36 titles, including one this season, followed by Barcelona on 27 top-flight trophies. The competition garners a staggering 76 million viewers on average per game.

1. Premier League

Surprise, surprise! The English Premier League leads global club football in terms of viewership, with 643 million viewers per game, while boasting a TV audience of 3.2 billion people. It’s also the richest league in the world, since there are top clubs in the division, and each of them have a massive following around the globe. Manchester United are the most successful team with 20 league titles, although Manchester City have been the dominant team in recent years, winning each of the last three seasons, and five of the last six.

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