Best League in the World: Top 10 Football Leagues Ranked (2025)

Football is arguably the most popular sport in the world. Europe has become the global center of world football. According to the International governing body for association football (FIFA), there are 210 professional men’s football leagues in the world. Countries that are widely considered to have the best football leagues are England, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Portugal, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico. These leagues are not just for entertainment but also for the development of football at grassroots level.

Be it La Liga, Premier League, Serie A or any other league, these leagues have continued to shape the future of world football by delivering thrilling derby matches, showcasing passionate fan bases, and entertainment. Football leagues have also provided the world with stars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and many more. We have ranked the top 10 leagues in the world based on their quality, popularity, financial prowess and more. Let’s take a look at the eminent list of the top 10 football leagues in the world in 2025, and let’s see which one is the best league in the world.

How We Ranked the World’s Best Leagues

Quality: This refers to the overall metric of the league’s quality, including attributes like stadium infrastructure, training facilities, the league’s efforts in maximizing the potential of viewer experience and the teams present in the league, ensuring no teams are lagging behind severely.

Competitiveness: Unpredictability, player quality, squad depth & competitiveness between the teams for the title, making it easier to rank. Competitiveness is essential for ranking the best football leagues because it determines the excitement and quality of the competition, keeping fans engaged throughout the season. A league where multiple teams can realistically challenge for the title creates unpredictability, making every match significant and thrilling for Example, you may predict the winner of Ligue 1, but you may fail to predict the winner of the Premier League.

Financial Metrics (Revenue): Broadcasting deals like TV rights, and commercial partnerships, i.e., merchandise sales and ticket sales. Revenue is a vital factor in ranking the best football leagues as it indicates financial stability and the ability to sustain growth, attract talent, and expand global influence. At last these leagues need money to run it daily operations and give wages to people involved in the smooth functioning. For that league must have some revenue source. The more revenue a club earns the more exciting it will be.

Global Reach: This metric refers to the audience numbers amassed by the league all across the globe, except for their loyal local followers. This directly quantifies the popularity of the league in different areas, affecting revenue and quality of the specified leagues positively.

Top 10 Football Leagues in the World (2025):

Rank	League	Country	Total Revenue	Opta Power Rating (Based on the above-mentioned ranking factors)
10	English Championship	England	€1.23 bn	81.0-81.5
9	MLS (Major League Soccer)	USA	€1.18 bn	81.5
8	Belgian Pro League	Belgium	€907 million	79.2
7	Primeira Liga	Portugal	€1.3 bn	80.1
6	Serie A Brazil	Brazil	€1.41 bn	80.8
5	Ligue 1	France	€2.37bn	88.4
4	La Liga	Spain	€3.65bn	88.5
3	Bundesliga	Germany	€3.62bn	89.2
2	Serie A Italy	Italy	€2.88bn	90.0
1	Premier League	England	€7.15bn	91.8

Best Soccer Leagues in the World

Football has been labelled as a spectator’s sport wherein the atmosphere around the stadium dictates the tempo of the match to a certain extent. Now, this involvement and reaction of the fans depends largely on the watchability and intensity of the game. These factors need to be looked after by the resident league of the clubs as it is their responsibility to ensure competitiveness within the league which further leads to more broadcasting and stadium attendance. A league also manages the usage of the revenues of a club in footballing aspects to ensure that popular clubs cannot take undue advantage of their rich reserves to outclass other humbly run clubs.

All these issues need to be addressed by league authorities to ensure that the teams playing within it and the fans watching it are satiated. Therefore, below we analyze the meritorious performances of various leagues around the world in propagating the beautiful game through their medium. The leagues have been ranked according to the various ranking factors mentioned, giving an accurate depiction of the current top Leagues in world football.

10. Skybet Championship (England)

The Skybet Championship, or more popularly known as the second division in English football, is organized by the English Football League (EFL). The structure of the league involves 24 clubs competing against each other in a 46-match (per team) long tussle. It was founded in 1892 as the Football League Second Division. Post 1992, when the Premier League broke away due to its increasing popularity, it was rebranded as the Football League Championship. It finds its place in this list before other first-tier leagues around the world due to the popularity of English football. So much so that it is one of the most watched second-tier leagues around the world in terms of stadium attendance and broadcasting data.

This is however, not merely a case of deferred Premier League audience; the standalone popularity of the Championship is aroused through intense promotion battles, with a high level of teams competing, as some of them are relegated from the Premier League recently, along with strong squads.

The stakes for promotion are quite high, with an estimated bonus of 170 million Euros awaiting the winner of the Championship play-off final, rightly dubbed as “the richest game in football”. This incentive ensures a rich competition for the top two spots for direct Premier League induction, as well as for the 3rd to 6th positions for a chance through Championship playoffs. In recent history, the story of Leeds United winning the championship in 2020 under Marco Bielsa and arriving with a thump in the Premier League, is one of the great narratives provided by this raw and organic league.

Statistic	Numbers
Total clubs	24
All-time top scorer	Arthur Rowley (434)
Total Revenue	€1.23 billion

9. Major League Soccer (USA)

The MLS was founded in the year 1993, It was created to support USA’s bid to host the 1994 FIFA World Cup. This league includes a total of 29 teams divided into two parts, Eastern and Western conferences. Major League Soccer secures a whopping $1.6 billion in revenue. Its average stadium attendance of 21,310 reflects its growing popularity, outpacing regional rival Liga MX in attendance, which is a significant achievement. Sighting the arrival of Lionel Messi in the summer of 2023 to play for Inter Miami, many other star players like Luis Suarez and Jordi Alba moved to the MLS.

Subsequently, the MLS has garnered an immense amount of viewership and ratings this season. The American league ranks higher than Eredivisie and Primera Liga in terms of viewership and that is the reason for this league being ranked this high in the list of top 10 football leagues in the world in 2025. The league is divided into the Eastern and Western conferences due to the size of the country. It has been watched by an average of 2 million fans per match and the marketing of MLS is astonishing, luring global brands and media rights to increase their reach around the world.

Statistic	Numbers
Total Clubs	29
All-time Top Scorer	Chris Wondolowski (171)
Total Revenue	€1.18 billion

8. Belgian Pro League (Belgium)

The Belgian Pro League, officially known as the Jupiler Pro League, is the first-tier league in the Belgian Professional football system. The league involves a total of 16 teams, playing for promotion and relegation with the Challenger Pro League (2nd division). Each team plays a total of 30 games in the regular season, post which the playoff battle begins. Three playoffs of varied importance take place further; the Championship playoff involves the top 6 teams competing for the league title, as well as top-level European competitions. The Europe playoff pits the mid-table teams in the league against each other for an outside chance at a European competition.

Finally, the relegation playoff decides the teams that will be demoted to the second tier of the Belgian League. Some popular clubs playing in the Jupiler Pro League are RSC Anderlecht, Club Brugge, Royal Antwerp FC, etc. Despite being a relatively less popular league, the Jupiler Pro League is a great place for the development of young players as the League predominantly focuses on player technique, vision, and cohesion within the team, which are all great attributes for young players to practice and subsequently gain. The league was founded in 1895, thus making it one of the oldest leagues in Europe.

Statistic	Numbers
Total Clubs	16
All-time top scorer	Joseph Mermans (339)
Total Revenue	€907 million

7. Primeira Liga (Portugal)

The Primeira Liga was established in the year 1934 and features 17 team with each team playing 34 matches per season. The league is actually dominated by the Big-3 teams Sporting, Benfica and Porto. With $1.3 billion in revenue, it is one of the major competitive leagues in Europe. The league’s revenue, driven by TV rights and sponsorships, supports its growth, while its 350 million viewers highlight its global appeal.

The Primeira Liga, also known as Liga Portugal, is considered one of the best leagues in Europe. The most successful clubs in Portugal’s history are Benfica (37 titles) followed by Porto (29 titles) and Sporting CP (18 titles). Over the years, the league has seamlessly developed an endless cycle of talented young players who have made it to some of the biggest European clubs in the world. The Portuguese topflight has produced legendary players such as Pepe, Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Ruben Dias, and João Félix. Its standards, huge fanbase, club-rich legacy, top-class footballers, and global following make it one of the top football leagues in the world by all means.

Statistic	Numbers
Total Clubs	17
All-time Top Scorer	Jardel (177)
Total Revenue	$1.0 billion

Also Read: Top 5 best soccer leagues in the world

6. Serie A (Brazil)

Brazil’s Campeonato Brasileiro Série A was founded in the year 1959 and is run by the Brazilian Football Federation (CBF). Features 20 teams with each team playing 38 matches per season, playing twice with the same opponent, one away game and one home game. Palmeiras are the most successful team in this league. This league is also famous for producing stars like Neymar Jr., Endrick, Rodrygo, Coutinho and many more. This league has become a scouting spot for big clubs. Every year recognized clubs target youngsters who perform and sign them. You want to see players dancing with the ball? Start watching Brazil’s Campeonato Brasileiro Série A.

Some of the most iconic clubs in the South American football league are Flamengo, Palmeiras, Corinthians, and Sao Paulo, and act as the supply chain for producing talent for the European clubs. This league has a rich history, a dedicated fan base, tradition, and a high level of competition in the league. Brazilian clubs from Serie A mostly dominate and play the continental competitions like Copa Libertadores (equivalent to UEFA Champions League) and qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup. With the return of Neymar back to the league, many fans around the globe have started following this league once again.

Factors	Numbers
Total Clubs	20
All-time Top Scorer	Fred (158)
Total Revenue	€1.41 billion

5. Ligue 1 – France

The league was founded in 1932 and is operated by the Ligue de Football Professional (LFP). There’s a vast difference between PSG, the league’s most dominant force in recent years, and the rest of the clubs in the league. This league is ranked in 5th position among the top 10 best football leagues in the world in 2025. With $2.37 billion in revenue. The French first-tier league has produced world-class players, the likes of Zinedine Zidane, Karim Benzema, Kylian Mbappe, and Raphael Varane, but only a few names.

After the exit of players like Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Sergio Ramos, viewership of this league has fallen. A few years back, Ligue 1 was one of the best leagues in the world. The viewership of Ligue 1 had spiked in recent years with the arrivals of Lionel Messi, Neymar, Kylian Mbappe, and Sergio Ramos. However, since the departure of these superstar players, the French league has struggled to attract major sponsors and sell its broadcasting rights worldwide, regardless, it still maintains its place in the top five league.

Statistic	Numbers
Total Clubs	20
All-time Top Scorer	Delio Onnis (299)
Total Revenue	€2.37bn

4. La Liga – Spain

Ranking fourth and just fell short of securing the top 3 position in the list of best leagues in the world, La Liga, whose clubs prominently Atletico Madrid, FC Barcelona, and Real Madrid CF have continued to be threatening on the European and world stage over the last few decades. It’s currently home to some of the best players and managers in the world such as Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr, Jude Bellingham, Luka Modric, Lamine Yamal, and coaches like Carlo Ancelloti and Hansi Flick.

Many expect La Liga to be the natural runner-up to the Premier League among the best leagues in the world, but the Spanish first-tier league has seen a significant decline in its viewership and popularity since the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. In South Asia, they have failed to attract any major television broadcast deal.

Statistic	Numbers
Total Clubs	20
All-time Top Scorer	Lionel Messi (474)
Total Revenue	€3.65bn

Also Read: Top 5 Most Watched Football Leagues in the World

3. Bundesliga (Germany)

Unsurprisingly, the Bundesliga is the second most popular football league in the world in 2025, with Bayern Munich being the most successful club in the German top flight and they have enjoyed some serious success in Europe as well. It attracts one of the highest numbers of attendees in world football. They are gaining attention again with young talents loud, passionate fanbase and more competition than ever. Some of the top football clubs, such as Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen, RB Leipzig, and flaunting the most passionate fanbase, play in the German top division.

Players like Jamal Musiala, Joshua Kimmich, Thomas Muller, Harry Kane, and Florian Wirtz are prominent names playing in the Bundesliga. Generating $3.62 billion in revenue, the Bundesliga secures third place. Its high annual revenue comes from lucrative broadcasting deals with networks like Sky Germany and sponsorships from Adidas and Deutsche Telekom, while its global telecast reaches nearly every country

Statistic	Numbers
Total Clubs	18
All-time Top Scorer	Gerd Müller (365)
Total Revenue	€3.62bn

2. Serie A (Italy)

Founded in 1898, the Serie A is one of the oldest football leagues in the world and was once regarded as the undisputed superior league. The Italian first division boasts some heavy European giants such as AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus, and Napoli. It is one of the most competitive and defensive leagues in the world. Despite financial challenges in the past, Serie A’s resurgence, driven by competitive title races and deep runs in European competitions, has reaffirmed its status as a footballing powerhouse. Serie A accounts for about $2.88 billion in revenue.

Its financial model relies heavily on broadcasting rights and sponsorships. Serie A has had four different winners in the last four years: Napoli, AC Milan, Inter Milan, and Juventus. The average stadium attendance is 24.7 thousand per game. The league has been among the top 10 football leagues in the world since the late 20th century. Serie A was so popular back then (2000s era) that all the famous players wanted to play there, especially in teams like AC Milan & Inter Milan.

Statistic	Numbers
Total Clubs	20
All-time Top Scorer	Silvio Piola (274)
Total Revenue	€2.88bn

1. Premier League (England)

Still wondering which is the best league in the world. Undoubtedly, the most-watched football league in the world is the English Premier League and it comes as no surprise that some of the most valued clubs in the world as well as players are part of this division. Therefore, it occupies the first spot in the list of top 10 football leagues in the world. The likes of Erling Haaland, Mohamed Salah, and Kevin De Bruyne all ply their trade in England. The English top flight is regarded as one of the most difficult leagues in the world due to the top-quality teams such as Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea, and Tottenham Hotspur.

And world-class players like Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne, and Mo Salah and elite managers, namely Pep Guardiola, Mikel Arteta, Arne Slot and Ange Postecoglou all compete in this league. As per breaking the line, the league boasts 38,181 people average stadium attendance per game- astronomically high compared to any other league in this list. With that huge viewership Premier League retains the position of being the best league in the world.

Statistic	Numbers
Total Clubs	20
All-time Top Scorer	Alan Shearer (260 Goals)
Total Revenue	€7.15bn

Also Read: Top 10 players leading the Ballon d’Or race

Emerging Leagues To Watch in 2025

Now, except for all the other popular leagues, there are many budding leagues in the world showing significant promise in terms of the level of competition, spectators amassed, and revenue generated through local and international viewers. These leagues are slowly growing in terms of their influence and could soon become a part of our elite top 10 leagues. Below are listed some such leagues in no particular ranking order.

Liga MX (Mexico)

Liga MX is a professional association football league that is the highest division in Mexican football. Due to North and South American viewers, it attracts a large audience both for its regular season games as well as through the game’s live broadcast. The passion for football in Mexico drives the league and helps promote and develop future stars for the Mexican National team. The league is played between 18 teams, divided into two short tournaments, i.e., Apertura from July to December and Clausura from January to May. Following this, the champions are decided through the final phase of liguilla.

The liguilla is made up of 10 teams that qualify for the tournament based on regular-season point totals — the six highest-placed advance to the quarterfinals, while teams seven through ten compete in the play-in round. Some of the most popular and decorated teams of the league include Club América, Guadalajara, Cruz Azul, and Pumas UNAM. 

Statistic	Number
Total Clubs	18
All-time top scorer	Evanivaldo Castro “Cabinho” (312 goals)
Total Revenue	€801 million
League Opta Power rating	76.7

Argentine Primera Division or Superliga (Argentina)

Argentina’s Primera Division is the top-tier league in the Argentine professional football circle. Thirty teams compete in the league, wherein twenty-eight teams are returning from the 2024 season as well as two promoted teams from the 2024 Primera Nacional, also feature in the Argentine top-flight football. The Argentine championship was ranked as one of the top ten strongest leagues worldwide for the 2015 calendar year by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics. Independiente, River Plate, Racing Club, Boca Juniors, Vélez Sarsfield are some of the top teams in Argentine football, with River Plate being the most successful club, historically (38 titles).

Statistic	Numbers
Total Clubs	30 (in 2025, previously 28)
All-time top scorer	Ángel Labruna (297 goals)
Total Revenue	€825 million
League Opta Power rating	77.5

Eredivisie (Netherlands)

Eredivisie is a professional football league in the Netherlands, which is the highest level of the Dutch league system. The league was founded in 1956, two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It has a system of 18 clubs which play each other twice, once at home and once away, following which the two bottom clubs are relegated to the Eerste Divisie (2nd division), subsequently replaced by the top two teams from the said 2nd division league.

Another round is held where the third last club from Eredivisie enters into a playoff along with 6 other high-placed teams in the Eerste Divisie. Ajax Amsterdam, PSV Eindhoven, Feyenoord Rotterdam, HVV Den Haag are some of the most influential and historical teams that have played in the Eredivisie, with Ajax being the most successful by collecting a whopping 36 league titles to cement their legacy.

Statistic	Numbers
Total Clubs	18
All-time top scorer	Willy van der Kuijlen (311 goals)
Total Revenue	€1.12 billion
League Opta Power rating	77.3

Turkish Super Lig (Turkey)

The Turkish Super Lig or Trendyol SuperLig for sponsorship reasons, is the top flight of professional football in Turkey. A total of 18 teams take part in this competition, wherein each team plays a total of 36 matches. At the end of each season, 4 teams are relegated from the SuperLig and fall to the second division, whereas 3 clubs are promoted from the lower tier based on the league standings. The “Intercontinental Derby” between Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe is a major attraction for footballing fans in Turkey and around the world.

Turkish fans are really passionate and highly enthusiastic to support their favorite clubs, thus matches with popular teams like Beşiktaş, Trabzonspor, and Bursaspor are definite crowd pullers. This Turkish League system has worked wonders in revamping their national team, making them competitive even against top teams all over the world. Some of the very talented players in the Turkey squad that have been developed through this very league are Arda Guler (Real Madrid), Hakan Calhanoglu (Inter Milan), Arda Turan (formerly, Barcelona), etc.

Statistic	Numbers
Total Clubs	18
All-time top scorer	Hakan Şükür (249)
Total Revenue	€952 million
League Opta Power rating	75.0

Saudi Pro League (Saudi Arabia)

The Saudi Pro League or Roshn Saudi League is the highest level of football competition in Saudi Arabia. It is even considered as the premier football league in Asia by virtue of having the highest ranking among AFC club competitions. Although the Saudi Pro League came about after many iterations of various Leagues by the formulators, it is still considered as a separate entity from the rest of them since its final formulation in 2008, as even its records are kept separate. Al-Hilal is the most successful club in Saudi football history, amassing a record 19 titles, with their latest triumph in the 2024–25 season.

Some of the other important clubs that have contributed significantly to the league’s growth are Al-Ahli, Al-Ittihad, Al-Hilal, and Al-Shabab. The league has also benefited from the rich investments made in the League by the Saudi owners, as this allows the clubs to offer players extremely lucrative salary packages. Owing to these surplus wages, many superstars of European football like Karim Benzema, Sadio Mane, Franck Kessie, Neymar Jr, etc. have settled here for their inevitable retirement. This has helped create strong club rosters where the experienced veterans help the Saudi youth footballers to train and become more competent at the European level.

Statistic	Numbers
Total Clubs	18
All-time top scorer	Majed Abdullah (260 goals)
Total Revenue	€321 million
League Opta Power rating	73.6

Also Read: An Overview of the English Football Pyramid

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