There are a lot of different factors as to what makes a good footballing league. Is it the competition that makes the most money? Is it the most competitive division? Is it the one with the best players or the one that is more inclined to make a splash in continental tournaments? With so many different variables at play, it is almost impossible to give a definitive answer as to who deserves to be number one.
The key word there is almost, as the experts at Opta have managed to do just that. Using their unique Power Rankings formula, the analysts have been able to whittle all the leagues in the world down to the top 20. They make their calculations by taking the average power ranking for every team in the respective division, which helps inform them about the relative strength of the competition.
Because their rankings are based on averages, that sees several leagues fall out of the top 20, including the Saudi Pro League. Despite adding Cristiano Ronaldo and a host of other stars, who earn a fortune, the division is ranked as the 33rd best league in the world.
| Best 20 Leagues in the World | ||
|---|---|---|
| # | League | Rankings |
| 1. | English Premier League | 87.9 |
| 2. | Italian Serie A | 86.2 |
| 3. | German Bundesliga | 86.2 |
| 4. | Spanish La Liga | 85.1 |
| 5. | French Ligue 1 | 85.1 |
| 6. | Brazilian Serie A | 80.8 |
| 7. | Portuguese Primeira Liga | 80.1 |
| 8. | Belgian Pro League | 79.2 |
| 9. | US MLS | 78.2 |
| 10. | English Championship | 77.6 |
| 11. | Liga Professional Argentina | 77.5 |
| 12. | Danish Superligaen | 77.4 |
| 13. | Dutch Eredivisie | 77.3 |
| 14. | Liga MX | 77.6 |
| 15. | Czech First League | 76.5 |
| 16. | Polish Ekstraklasa | 76.4 |
| 17. | German Bundesliga Zwei | 76.3 |
| 18. | Turkish Super Lig | 76 |
| 19. | Italian Serie B | 76 |
| 20. | Swiss Super League | 75.9 |
Top League image gallery
World’s Best Leagues: 20th-16th
Including Serie B and Turkish Super Lig
Making it into the top 20 by the skin of their teeth is the Swiss Super League, which hosts teams familiar to avid watchers of European football such as FC Basel and BSC Young Boys, who currently sit bottom despite competing in this season’s Champions League. They are followed by the first of three divisions that aren’t the top flight on this list in the form of the Italian Serie B.
Jose Mourinho has made an impact on the Turkish Super Lig since joining Fenerbahce, even if he has found himself being ridiculed at times by the national press. They sit in 18th in these rankings, while the second division in Germany, commonly known to English fans as Bundesliga 2, finds itself in 17th. That leaves 16th to the Polish Ekstraklasa, which has shown some miraculous progress in recent months. In the same rankings at the start of the season, the home of sides such as Lech Poznan and Legia Warszaw was as far back as 30th.
World’s Best Leagues: 15th-11th
Including Liga MX & the Eredivisie
Three quarters of the way down the top 20 sits the Czech First League, which is currently witnessing Slavia Prague and Sparta Prague battling it out for the top spot. Following that is the first non-European league to appear in the form of Liga MX. While still maintaining an impressive standing, it is a slight drop from the pre-season position of 11th for Mexico’s top flight, showcasing the remarkable improvements that have taken place elsewhere around the globe.
The Eredivisie can be found in 13th, which only emphasises its unfortunate fall from grace. Once the home of teams that used to dominate European football, such as Ajax in the 1980s, the league has dramatically declined in recent years. This is particularly heartbreaking for football historians, as the financial riches elsewhere make a return to the very top of the game unlikely for Dutch sides in the foreseeable future. The Danish Superligaen and the Argentine top flight just miss out on the top half of the table with 0.2 and 0.1 power ranking points respectively
World’s Best Leagues: 10th-6th
Includes the Championship & the MLS
The highest second division in world football makes its presence felt at number ten, with the Championship performing remarkably well to secure such a high standing. This achievement has been significantly bolstered by English giants like Leicester City and Leeds United competing in England’s second tier over the past 12 months. Meanwhile, the Lionel Messi effect has undeniably taken hold in the United States, as the league’s highest-paid player has seen his reputation elevate MLS into the top 10.
The Belgian Pro League occupies the eighth position, while the Portuguese Primeira Liga is a surprising inclusion at seventh, especially considering its potential to break into the top five. With clubs boasting incredible histories, such as Porto, Benfica, and Sporting Lisbon, alongside some of the most exciting young managerial talent like Ruben Amorim, this once-great league is on the cusp of knocking on the door of prominence once again.
Finally, the Brazilian Serie A finds its way into sixth place, becoming the highest-ranked league outside of Europe. A recent influx of young talent, including players like Endrick and Estevao Willian, has revitalised the Samba country’s status as a hotspot for club football, with Memphis Depay being one of the most significant recent arrivals to the league.
World’s Best Leagues: 5th-1st
Includes the English Premier League, Serie A and La Liga
As we enter the top five, we meet the best of the best. France’s Ligue 1 comes in at fifth, with some of the best footballers in the world playing in the division. This might take a hit as Kylian Mbappe begins his new life at Real Madrid, but there are still plenty of big names on display. A Champions League title might have eluded them so far, but they’re still a very good team and with the likes of OGC Nice, Lille and Marseille all also competing in the league, it’s an impressive division. They are followed by La Liga, who drop to fourth despite seeing Real Madrid win the 2023/24 Champions League.
Ranked third, earning a spot on the podium, but not quite reaching the top two, is Germany’s Bundesliga, which has been largely helped by the fact that Borussia Dortmund made the Champions League final and that Xabi Alonso created history with Bayer Leverkusen. While this has strengthened the division as a whole, it will not be a happy sight for Bayern Munich fans who are used to a stranglehold on domestic competitions.
Second place lies with Serie A. The league comes in third place despite Juventus falling away from being one of the best sides on the continent. Instead, Napoli, AC Milan and Inter Milan – who reached the 22/23 Champions League final – have lead the way in the division in recent years. AS Roma and Fiorentina were also losers in the Europa League and Europa Conference League finals that same campaign, respectively. So, the league has had some success in Europe.
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To the surprise of no one, the English Premier League comes in as the best league in the world and for good reason. The most valuable players and clubs are all in the division. The likes of Erling Haaland, Mohamed Salah and Kevin De Bruyne all ply their trade in England and walk into any team in the world. Clubs in England have dominated Europe recently too, with three of the last seven Champions League winners being English. The league is incredibly deep too, with quality players found in some of the lower-ranked teams as well as the best ones.
