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Primeira Liga
Liga Portugal Betclic 2023.png
Organising body Liga Portuguesa de Futebol Profissional (LPFP)
Founded 1934; 90 years ago (1934)
Country  Portugal
Confederation UEFA
Number of teams 18 (since 2014–15)
Level on pyramid 1
Relegation to Liga Portugal 2
Domestic cup(s) Taça de Portugal
Supertaça
League cup(s) Taça da Liga
International cup(s) UEFA Champions League
UEFA Europa League
UEFA Conference League
Current champions Sporting CP (20th title)
(2023–24)
Most championships Benfica (38 titles)
Most appearances Manuel Fernandes (486)
Top goalscorer Fernando Peyroteo (332)
TV partners List of broadcasters

The Primeira Liga (Portuguese pronunciation: [pɾiˈmɐjɾɐ ˈliɣɐ]), officially known as Liga Portugal Betclic for sponsorship reasons, is the top level of the Portuguese football league system. Organised and supervised by the Liga Portugal, it is contested by 18 teams since the 2014–15 season, with the three lowest-placed teams relegated to the Liga Portugal 2 and replaced by the top-three non-reserve teams from this division.

Founded in 1934 as Campeonato da Liga da Primeira Divisão, it was named Campeonato Nacional da Primeira Divisão from 1938 until 1999, when it was changed to its current naming. Over 70 teams have competed in the Primeira Liga, but only five have been crowned champions. Among them, the "Big Three" teams – Benfica (38 wins), Porto (30) and Sporting CP (20) – have won all but two Primeira Liga titles; the other winners are Belenenses (1945–46) and Boavista (2000–01).

The Primeira Liga has increased its reputation in recent years, occupying the sixth place of UEFA's national league ranking, as of 2021. It broke into the top five for the first time in the 2011–12 season, passing the French Ligue 1, one of the historical "big five" European leagues, for the first time since 1990. The Primeira Liga also reached a world ranking of fourth according to IFFHS's 2011 ranking.

History

Before the Portuguese football reform of 1938, a competition on a round-basis was already being held – the Primeira Liga (Premier League) and the winners of that competition were named "League champions". Despite that, a Championship of Portugal in a knock-out cup format was the most popular and defined the Portuguese champion, although the winners of this competition no longer count as Portuguese football champions.

Then, with the reform, a round-robin basis competition was implemented as the most important of the calendar and began defining the Portuguese champion. From 1938 to 1999, the name Campeonato Nacional da Primeira Divisão (National Championship of the First Division) or just Primeira Divisão (First Division), was used.

Porto won the inaugural edition of the new league championship and successfully defended the title in the next season. In 1939–40 the tournament was expanded from eight to ten clubs, due to an administrative battle between Porto and Académico do Porto, regarding a Regional Championship game that ended with only 43 minutes after the start, and later repeated (which FC Porto won) according to Porto FA decision. FPF came out with a decision to satisfy both clubs, expanding the championship to 10 teams (one more from Porto FA and another from Setúbal FA) and annulling the result from the repetition match. With this decision, FC Porto lost the Regional title and finished in 3rd, Leixões SC became the new regional champion, while Académico was 2nd place. All 3 teams qualified for 1939–40 Primeira Divisão.

In the 1941–42 season, it was decided to expand the championship from eight to ten teams to admit Braga FA and Algarve FA champions (until this season only the top teams from Porto, Coimbra, Lisboa and Setúbal were admitted). Porto finished the regional championship in third place again, which did not grant entry into the Primeira Liga. However, a second expand (from 10 to 12) in the same season was decided, which allowed the club to participate.

After the 1945–46 season, the qualifying system based on regional championships was abandoned and adopted a pyramid system, with relegations and promotions between the 3 tiers. The clubs in Primeira Divisão, Segunda Divisão and Terceira Divisão no longer had to play their district championships on the same season as they had been doing since the first seasons of the Liga. Below is a complete record of how many teams played in each season throughout the league's history;

  • 8 clubs: 1934–1939
  • 10 clubs: 1939–1940
  • 8 clubs: 1940–1941
  • 12 clubs: 1941–1942
  • 10 clubs: 1942–1945
  • 12 clubs: 1945–1946
  • 14 clubs: 1946–1971
  • 16 clubs: 1971–1987
  • 20 clubs: 1987–1989
  • 18 clubs: 1989–1990
  • 20 clubs: 1990–1991
  • 18 clubs: 1991–2006
  • 16 clubs: 2006–2014
  • 18 clubs: 2014–present

When the Portuguese League for Professional Football took control of the two nationwide leagues in 1999, it was renamed "Primeira Liga" (Premier League).

"Big Three" performance over the last 10 seasons
Season Benfica Porto Sporting
2013–14 1 3 2
2014–15 1 2 3
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

Big Three

"The Big Three" (Portuguese: Os Três Grandes) is a nickname for the three most powerful sports clubs in Portugal. With the exception of Belenenses in 1945–46 and Boavista in 2000–01, only three clubs have won the Primeira Liga title – Benfica (38 times), Porto (30) and Sporting CP (20). These three clubs generally end up sharing the top three positions (thus, appearing more frequently in UEFA competitions) and are the only clubs to have played in every season of the competition.

These clubs dominate Portuguese football, and it has become typical for fans to support any of these teams as a "first club", with a local team probably coming afterwards, if at all. The "Big Three" have the highest average attendance ratings every season in Portugal, while many other teams, lacking support from the locals, have suffered from poor attendance. The lack of support for local teams is considered to be one of the main reasons why Portuguese Football registers one of the worst attendance ratings in European Football's best championships, alongside the broadcast of almost all the games on television. In other sports, the rivalry between the big clubs is also considerable and it usually leads to arguments between the fans and players.

Benfica is the club with most league, cup and league cup titles, as well as the most domestic titles (81) and overall titles won (83 or 84, if the Latin Cup is taken into account), including back-to-back European Cup trophies. Porto is the club with most Portuguese Super Cups and international titles won (7).

Sporting CP holds the third place when it comes to the most league and cup titles. Benfica is the only Portuguese club to have won two consecutive European Cup/UEFA Champions League titles, reaching ten European finals: seven European Cups and three UEFA Cup/Europa League, and was runner-up in two Intercontinental Cups. Porto is the only Portuguese club since 1987 to have won any international competition (excluding the UEFA Intertoto Cup), gathering a total of two European Cup/UEFA Champions Leagues, two UEFA Cup/Europa Leagues, one European Super Cup and two Intercontinental Cups and finished runner-up in one European Cup Winner's Cup and three UEFA Super Cups. Sporting won one European Cup Winner's Cup and was runner-up in one UEFA Cup. Apart from the big three, Braga won the last UEFA Intertoto Cup and was runner-up in one UEFA Europa League.

S.C. Braga has finished runner-up once, third three times, and fourth twelve times during the last twenty seasons, not quite breaking into "The Big Three."

Galp Energia acquired the naming rights to the league in 2002, titling the division SuperLiga GalpEnergia. A four-year deal with the Austrian sports betting bwin was announced on 18 August 2005 amid questioning by the other gambling authorities in Portugal (the Santa Casa da Misericórdia and the Portuguese Casinos Association), who claimed to hold the exclusive rights to legal gambling games in Portuguese national territory. After holding the name Liga betandwin.com for the 2005–06 season, the name was changed to bwin LIGA in July 2006.

From the 2008–09 season to the 2009–10 season the league was named Liga Sagres due to sponsorship from Sagres beer. In 2010, they renewed the sponsorship from Sagres, but also got the sponsorship from ZON Multimédia. The league was named Liga ZON Sagres until 2013–14 after the sponsorship agreement between Sagres, ZON (now NOS) and the league ended. In 2015, the league was named Liga NOS until the 2020–21 season. From 2021 to 2023, it was known Liga Portugal Bwin. Since 2023, it is called Liga Portugal Betclic.

Sponsorship names for seasons
  • 2002–2005: SuperLiga GalpEnergia
  • 2005–2006: Liga betandwin.com
  • 2006–2008: bwin LIGA
  • 2008–2010: Liga Sagres
  • 2010–2014: Liga ZON Sagres
  • 2014–2021: Liga NOS
  • 2021–2023: Liga Portugal Bwin
  • 2023–: Liga Portugal Betclic

Official match ball

  • 2002–2004: Adidas Fevernova
  • 2004–2006: Adidas Roteiro
  • 2006–2007: Adidas +Teamgeist
  • 2008: Adidas Europass
  • 2008–2009: Adidas Europass Portugal
  • 2009–2010: Adidas Terrapass Liga Sagres
  • 2010–2011: Adidas Jabulani
  • 2011: Adidas Speedcell
  • 2012: Adidas Tango 12
  • 2013: Adidas Cafusa
  • 2014: Adidas Brazuca
  • 2015: Adidas Conext15
  • 2016: Adidas Errejota
  • 2016–18: Nike Ordem
  • 2018–19: Nike Merlin
  • 2019–20: Select Brillant Super TB
  • 2020–21: Select Brillant Super TB
  • 2021–22: Select Brillant Super TB
  • 2023–24: Puma Orbita

Competition

Since the 2014–15 season, there are 18 clubs in the Primeira Liga, up from 16 in the previous seasons. During the course of a season, each club plays all teams twice – once at their home stadium and once at their opponent's stadium – for a total of 34 games. At the end of each season, the two lowest placed teams are relegated to the Segunda Liga and the top two teams from Segunda Liga are promoted to the Primeira Liga.

Qualification for European competitions

The top teams in Primeira Liga qualify for the UEFA Champions League, with the top two teams entering the group stage directly. The third placed team enters the playoffs for the group stage of the UEFA Champions League; if they fail to qualify, they enter the UEFA Europa League, along with the fourth placed team and the Taça de Portugal cup winners. If the Taça de Portugal cup winners qualify for the UEFA Champions League through league placing, the berth is given to the fifth placed team.

UEFA ranking

UEFA League Ranking as of the 2023–24 season:

Clubs

Team Location Stadium Capacity 2022–23 1st season
in Primeira Liga
No. of seasons
in Primeira Liga
1st season of
current spell
No. of seasons
of current spell
League titles Last title
Arouca Arouca Estádio Municipal de Arouca 5,000 5th 2013–14 7 2021–22 3 0 -
Benfica Lisbon Estádio da Luz 64,642 1st 1934–35 90 1934–35 90 38 2022–23
Boavista Porto Estádio do Bessa 28,263 9th 1935–36 61 2014–15 10 1 2000–01
Braga Braga Estádio Municipal de Braga 30,286 3rd 1947–48 68 1975–76 49 0 -
Casa Pia Lisbon Estádio Nacional 37,593 10th 1938–39 3 2022–23 2 0 -
Chaves Chaves Estádio Municipal Eng.º
Manuel Branco Teixeira
8,400 7th 1985–86 18 2022–23 2 0 -
Estoril Estoril Estádio António Coimbra da Mota 8,015 14th 1944–45 29 2021–22 3 0 -
Estrela da Amadora Amadora Estádio José Gomes 7,000 3rd (LP2) 1988–89 16 2023–24 1 0 -
Famalicão Vila Nova de Famalicão Estádio Municipal 22 de Junho 5,307 8th 1946–47 10 2019–20 5 0 -
Farense Faro Estádio de São Luís 7,000 2nd (LP2) 1970–71 24 2023–24 1 0 -
Gil Vicente Barcelos Estádio Cidade de Barcelos 12,504 13th 1990–91 22 2019–20 5 0 -
Moreirense Moreira de Cónegos Parque de Jogos Comendador Joaquim de Almeida Freitas 6,153 1st (LP2) 2002–03 12 2023–24 1 0 -
Portimonense Portimão Estádio Municipal de Portimão 6,204 15th 1976–77 21 2017–18 7 0 -
Porto Porto Estádio do Dragão 50,033 2nd 1934–35 90 1934–35 90 30 2021–22
Rio Ave Vila do Conde Estádio dos Arcos 9,065 12th 1979–80 29 2022–23 2 0 -
Sporting CP Lisbon Estádio José Alvalade 50,095 4th 1934–35 90 1934–35 90 19 2020–21
Vitória de Guimarães Guimarães Estádio D. Afonso Henriques 30,000 6th 1941–42 79 2007–08 17 0 -
Vizela Vizela Estádio do FC Vizela 6,000 11th 1984–85 4 2021–22 3 0 -

Attendance

Since the beginning of the league, there are three clubs with an attendance much higher than the others: Benfica, Porto and Sporting CP. They have also the biggest stadiums in Portugal, with more than 50,000 seats. Other clubs, such as Vitória de Guimarães and Braga, also have good attendances. Académica de Coimbra, Vitória de Setúbal, Boavista, Belenenses, and Marítimo are historical clubs, with more than 30 top-flight seasons, from the biggest Portuguese cities, and have also many supporters. However, they do not have big attendances nowadays. Their stadiums have between 10,000 and 30,000 seats.

The 2017–18 season saw the following average attendance by club:

Club Average Stadium
capacity
Attendance(%) Accumulated Stadium
1 Benfica 53,209 64,642 82.93% 904,553 Estádio da Luz
2 Sporting CP 43,623 50,044 87.16% 741,599 Estádio José Alvalade
3 Porto 42,674 50,431 85.29% 725,461 Estádio do Dragão
4 Vitória de Guimarães 16,015 30,008 53.37% 272,255 Estádio D. Afonso Henriques
5 Braga 11,706 30,286 38.65% 198,998 Estádio Municipal de Braga
6 Marítimo 7,072 10,932 66.93% 120,216 Estádio dos Barreiros
7 Boavista 5,623 30,000 20.55% 95,585 Estádio do Bessa
8 Vitória de Setúbal 4,111 13,468 28.80% 69,890 Estádio do Bonfim
9 Feirense 3,907 5,600 71.69% 66,412 Estádio Marcolino de Castro
10 Rio Ave 3,889 9,065 43.42% 66,116 Estádio do Rio Ave FC
11 Chaves 3,627 9,000 40.89% 61,658 Estádio Municipal Eng. Manuel Branco Teixeira
12 Paços de Ferreira 3,507 6,404 38.63% 59,612 Estádio da Mata Real
13 Belenenses 3,344 19,856 22.27% 56,851 Estádio do Restelo
14 Portimonense 3,158 9,544 64.04% 53,693 Estádio Municipal de Portimão
15 Aves 2,635 5,441 44.69% 44,803 Estádio do CD Aves
16 Tondela 2,373 5,000 47.46% 40,344 Estádio João Cardoso
17 Estoril 2,275 8,000 28.83% 38,673 Estádio António Coimbra da Mota
18 Moreirense 2,264 6,153 36.80% 38,494 Estádio Municipal 25 de Abril

List of champions and top scorers

Clubs Players
Season Champions Points Runners-up Points Third place Points Teams Rounds Bola de Prata
(Top Scorer)
Club Goals
Campeonato da Liga da Primeira Divisão
  1934–35 Porto 22 Sporting CP 20 Benfica 19 8 14 Portugal Manuel Soeiro Sporting CP 14
  1935–36 Benfica 21 Porto 20 Sporting CP 18 8 14 Portugal Pinga Porto 21
  1936–37 Benfica (2) 24 Belenenses 23 Sporting CP 19 8 14 Portugal Manuel Soeiro Sporting CP 24
  1937–38 Benfica (3) 23 Porto 23 Sporting CP 22 8 14 Portugal Fernando Peyroteo Sporting CP 34
Campeonato Nacional da Primeira Divisão
  1938–39 Porto (2) 23 Sporting CP 22 Benfica 21 8 14 Portugal Costuras Porto 18
  1939–40 Porto (3) 34 Sporting CP 32 Belenenses 25 10 18 Portugal F. Peyroteo / Kingdom of Yugoslavia S. Kodrnja Sporting CP / Porto 29
  1940–41 Sporting CP 23 Porto 20 Belenenses 19 8 14 Portugal Fernando Peyroteo Sporting CP 29
  1941–42 Benfica (4) 38 Sporting CP 34 Belenenses 30 12 22 Portugal Correia Dias Porto 36
  1942–43 Benfica (5) 30 Sporting CP 29 Belenenses 28 10 18 Portugal Julinho Benfica 24
  1943–44 Sporting CP (2) 31 Benfica 26 Atlético CP 24 10 18 Portugal Francisco Rodrigues Vitória de Setúbal 28
  1944–45 Benfica (6) 30 Sporting CP 27 Belenenses 27 10 18 Portugal Francisco Rodrigues Vitória de Setúbal 21
  1945–46 Belenenses 38 Benfica 37 Sporting CP 32 12 22 Portugal Fernando Peyroteo Sporting CP 37
  1946–47 Sporting CP (3) 47 Benfica 41 Porto 33 14 26 Portugal Fernando Peyroteo Sporting CP 43
  1947–48 Sporting CP (4) 41 Benfica 41 Belenenses 37 14 26 Portugal António Araújo Porto 36
  1948–49 Sporting CP (5) 42 Benfica 37 Belenenses 35 14 26 Portugal Fernando Peyroteo Sporting CP 40
  1949–50 Benfica (7) 45 Sporting CP 39 Atlético CP 30 14 26 Portugal Julinho Benfica 29
  1950–51 Sporting CP (6) 45 Porto 34 Benfica 30 14 26 Portugal Manuel Vasques Sporting CP 29
  1951–52 Sporting CP (7) 41 Benfica 40 Porto 36 14 26 Portugal José Águas Benfica 28
  1952–53 Sporting CP (8) 43 Benfica 39 Belenenses 36 14 26 Portugal Matateu Belenenses 29
  1953–54 Sporting CP (9) 43 Porto 36 Benfica 32 14 26 Portugal João Martins Sporting CP 31
  1954–55 Benfica (8) 39 Belenenses 39 Sporting CP 37 14 26 Portugal Matateu Belenenses 32
  1955–56 Porto (4) 43 Benfica 43 Belenenses 37 14 26 Portugal José Águas Benfica 28
  1956–57 Benfica (9) 41 Porto 40 Belenenses 33 14 26 Portugal José Águas Benfica 30
  1957–58 Sporting CP (10) 43 Porto 43 Benfica 36 14 26 Portugal Arsénio Duarte CUF do Barreiro 23
  1958–59 Porto (5) 41 Benfica 41 Belenenses 38 14 26 Portugal José Águas Benfica 26
  1959–60 Benfica (10) 45 Sporting CP 43 Belenenses 36 14 26 Brazil Edmur Ribeiro Vitória de Guimarães 25
  1960–61 Benfica (11) 46 Sporting CP 42 Porto 33 14 26 Portugal José Águas Benfica 27
  1961–62 Sporting CP (11) 43 Porto 41 Benfica 36 14 26 Brazil Veríssimo Porto 23
  1962–63 Benfica (12) 48 Porto 42 Sporting CP 38 14 26 Portugal José Augusto Torres Benfica 26
  1963–64 Benfica (13) 46 Porto 40 Sporting CP 34 14 26 Portugal Eusébio Benfica 28
  1964–65 Benfica (14) 43 Porto 37 CUF do Barreiro 35 14 26 Portugal Eusébio Benfica 28
  1965–66 Sporting CP (12) 42 Benfica 41 Porto 34 14 26 Portugal Eusébio / Portugal E. Figueiredo Benfica / Sporting CP 25
  1966–67 Benfica (15) 43 Académica 40 Porto 39 14 26 Portugal Eusébio Benfica 31
  1967–68 Benfica (16) 41 Sporting CP 37 Porto 36 14 26 Portugal Eusébio Benfica 42
  1968–69 Benfica (17) 39 Porto 37 Vitória de Guimarães 36 14 26 Portugal Manuel António Académica 19
  1969–70 Sporting CP (13) 46 Benfica 38 Vitória de Setúbal 36 14 26 Portugal Eusébio Benfica 20
  1970–71 Benfica (18) 41 Sporting CP 38 Porto 37 14 26 Portugal Artur Jorge Benfica 23
  1971–72 Benfica (19) 55 Vitória de Setúbal 45 Sporting CP 43 16 30 Portugal Artur Jorge Benfica 27
  1972–73 Benfica (20) 58 Belenenses 40 Vitória de Setúbal 38 16 30 Portugal Eusébio Benfica 40
  1973–74 Sporting CP (14) 49 Benfica 47 Vitória de Setúbal 45 16 30 Argentina Héctor Yazalde Sporting CP 46
  1974–75 Benfica (21) 49 Porto 44 Sporting CP 43 16 30 Argentina Héctor Yazalde Sporting CP 30
  1975–76 Benfica (22) 50 Boavista 48 Belenenses 40 16 30 Portugal Rui Jordão Benfica 30
  1976–77 Benfica (23) 51 Sporting CP 42 Porto 41 16 30 Portugal Fernando Gomes Porto 26
  1977–78 Porto (6) 51 Benfica 51 Sporting CP 42 16 30 Portugal Fernando Gomes Porto 25
  1978–79 Porto (7) 50 Benfica 49 Sporting CP 42 16 30 Portugal Fernando Gomes Porto 27
  1979–80 Sporting CP (15) 52 Porto 50 Benfica 45 16 30 Portugal Rui Jordão Sporting CP 31
  1980–81 Benfica (24) 50 Porto 48 Sporting CP 37 16 30 Portugal Nené Benfica 20
  1981–82 Sporting CP (16) 46 Benfica 44 Porto 43 16 30 Portugal Jacques Pereira Porto 27
  1982–83 Benfica (25) 51 Porto 47 Sporting CP 42 16 30 Portugal Fernando Gomes Porto 36
  1983–84 Benfica (26) 52 Porto 49 Sporting CP 42 16 30 Portugal Fernando Gomes / Nené Porto / Benfica 21
  1984–85 Porto (8) 55 Sporting CP 47 Benfica 43 16 30 Portugal Fernando Gomes Porto 39
  1985–86 Porto (9) 49 Benfica 47 Sporting CP 46 16 30 Portugal Manuel Fernandes Sporting CP 30
  1986–87 Benfica (27) 48 Porto 46 Vitória de Guimarães 41 16 30 Brazil Paulinho Cascavel Vitória de Guimarães 22
  1987–88 Porto (10) 66 Benfica 51 Belenenses 48 20 38 BrazilPaulinho Cascavel Sporting CP 23
  1988–89 Benfica (28) 63 Porto 56 Boavista 49 20 38 Angola Vata Benfica 16
  1989–90 Porto (11) 59 Benfica 55 Sporting CP 46 18 34 Sweden Mats Magnusson Benfica 33
  1990–91 Benfica (29) 69 Porto 67 Sporting CP 57 20 38 Portugal Rui Águas Benfica 25
  1991–92 Porto (12) 56 Benfica 46 Boavista 44 18 34 Nigeria Ricky Boavista 30
  1992–93 Porto (13) 54 Benfica 52 Sporting CP 45 18 34 Portugal Jorge Cadete Sporting CP 18
  1993–94 Benfica (30) 54 Porto 52 Sporting CP 51 18 34 Nigeria Rashidi Yekini Vitória de Setúbal 21
  1994–95 Porto (14) 62 Sporting CP 53 Benfica 49 18 34 Morocco Hassan Nader Farense 21
  1995–96 Porto (15) 84 Benfica 73 Sporting CP 67 18 34 Portugal Domingos Paciência Porto 25
  1996–97 Porto (16) 85 Sporting CP 72 Benfica 58 18 34 Brazil Mário Jardel Porto 30
  1997–98 Porto (17) 77 Benfica 68 Vitória de Guimarães 59 18 34 Brazil Mário Jardel Porto 26
  1998–99 Porto (18) 79 Boavista 71 Benfica 65 18 34 Brazil Mário Jardel Porto 36
Primeira Liga
  1999–2000 Sporting CP (17) 77 Porto 73 Benfica 69 18 34 Brazil Mário Jardel Porto 37
  2000–01 Boavista 77 Porto 76 Sporting CP 62 18 34 Brazil Pena Porto 22
  2001–02 Sporting CP (18) 75 Boavista 70 Porto 68 18 34 Brazil Mário Jardel Sporting CP 42
  2002–03 Porto (19) 86 Benfica 75 Sporting CP 59 18 34 Senegal Fary Faye Beira-Mar 18
  2003–04 Porto (20) 82 Benfica 74 Sporting CP 73 18 34 South Africa Benni McCarthy Porto 20
  2004–05 Benfica (31) 65 Porto 62 Sporting CP 61 18 34 Brazil Liédson Sporting CP 25
  2005–06 Porto (21) 79 Sporting CP 72 Benfica 67 18 34 Cameroon Albert Meyong Belenenses 17
  2006–07 Porto (22) 69 Sporting CP 68 Benfica 67 16 30 Brazil Liédson Sporting CP 15
  2007–08 Porto (23) 75(1) Sporting CP 55 Vitória de Guimarães 53 16 30 Argentina Lisandro López Porto 24
  2008–09 Porto (24) 70 Sporting CP 66 Benfica 59 16 30 Brazil Nenê Nacional 20
  2009–10 Benfica (32) 76 Braga 71 Porto 68 16 30 Paraguay Óscar Cardozo Benfica 26
  2010–11 Porto (25) 84 Benfica 63 Sporting CP 48 16 30 Brazil Hulk Porto 23
  2011–12 Porto (26) 75 Benfica 69 Braga 62 16 30 Paraguay Óscar Cardozo Benfica 20
  2012–13 Porto (27) 78 Benfica 77 Paços de Ferreira 54 16 30 Colombia Jackson Martínez Porto 26
  2013–14 Benfica (33) 74 Sporting CP 67 Porto 61 16 30 Colombia Jackson Martínez Porto 20
  2014–15 Benfica (34) 85 Porto 82 Sporting CP 76 18 34 Colombia Jackson Martínez Porto 21
  2015–16 Benfica (35) 88 Sporting CP 86 Porto 73 18 34 Brazil Jonas Benfica 32
  2016–17 Benfica (36) 82 Porto 76 Sporting CP 70 18 34 Netherlands Bas Dost Sporting CP 34
  2017–18 Porto (28) 88 Benfica 81 Sporting CP 78 18 34 Brazil Jonas Benfica 34
  2018–19 Benfica (37) 87 Porto 85 Sporting CP 74 18 34 Switzerland Haris Seferovic Benfica 23
  2019–20 Porto (29) 82 Benfica 77 Braga 60 18 34 Brazil Carlos Vinícius Benfica 18
  2020–21 Sporting CP (19) 85 Porto 80 Benfica 76 18 34 Portugal Pedro Gonçalves Sporting CP 23
  2021–22 Porto (30) 91 Sporting CP 85 Benfica 74 18 34 Uruguay Darwin Núñez Benfica 26
  2022–23 Benfica (38) 87 Porto 85 Braga 78 18 34 Iran Mehdi Taremi Porto 22
  2023–24 Sporting CP (20) 90 Benfica 80 Porto 72 18 34 Sweden Viktor Gyökeres Sporting CP 29
  • Before 1995–96, the points were awarded in a format of two points for a win. In that season, Primeira Liga switched to the now standard three points for a win system.
  • (1) Porto saw six points subtracted for corruption allegations in the Apito Dourado, but they recovered those points in July 2017.

Performance by club

All Primeira Liga champions have come from either Lisbon or Porto.

Club Winners Runners-up Winning seasons Runner-up seasons
Benfica 38 30 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 1943–44, 1945–46, 1946–47, 1947–48, 1948–49, 1951–52, 1952–53, 1955–56, 1958–59, 1965–66, 1969–70, 1973–74, 1977–78, 1978–79, 1981–82, 1985–86, 1987–88, 1989–90, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1995–96, 1997–98, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2017–18, 2019–20, 2023–24
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 1935–36, 1937–38, 1940–41, 1950–51, 1953–54, 1956–57, 1957–58, 1961–62, 1962–63, 1963–64, 1964–65, 1968–69, 1974–75, 1979–80, 1980–81, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1986–87, 1988–89, 1990–91, 1993–94, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2004–05, 2014–15, 2016–17, 2018–19, 2020–21, 2022–23
Sporting CP 20 22 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 1934–35, 1938–39, 1939–40, 1941–42, 1942–43, 1944–45, 1949–50, 1959–60, 1960–61, 1967–68, 1970–71, 1976–77, 1984–85, 1994–95, 1996–97, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2013–14, 2015–16, 2021–22
Boavista 01 03 2000–01 1975–76, 1998–99, 2001–02
Belenenses 01 03 1945–46 1936–37, 1954–55, 1972–73
Braga 00 01 2009–10
Vitória de Setúbal 00 01 1971–72
Académica 00 01 1966–67

All-time Primeira Liga table

The all-time Primeira Liga table is an overall record of all match results, points, and goals of every team that has played in Primeira Liga since its inception in 1934. The table is accurate as of the end of the 2023–24 season. For comparison, older seasons have been calculated according to the three-points-per-win rule.

Pos Team S Pts GP W D L GF GA GD 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th T Debut Since/
Last App
Best Notes
1 Benfica 90 5763 2568 1763 474 330 6188 2241 3947 38 30 17 4 1 90 1934–35 1934–35 1
2 Porto 90 5642 2568 1727 461 386 5690 2249 3441 30 29 14 11 3 1 88 1934–35 1934–35 1
3 Sporting CP 90 5345 2568 1606 527 435 5599 2424 3175 20 22 29 14 4 89 1934–35 1934–35 1
4 Vitória de Guimarães 79 3326 2358 923 557 878 3309 3296 13 4 10 12 16 42 1941–42 2007–08 3
5 Belenenses 77 3158 2146 877 527 742 3352 2745 607 1 3 14 9 8 8 43 1934–35 2017–18 1
6 Braga 68 3003 2092 839 486 767 2908 2848 60 1 3 17 6 3 30 1947–48 1975–76 2
7 Vitória de Setúbal 72 2590 2072 694 508 870 2794 3119 -325 1 3 2 9 6 21 1934–35 2019–20 2
8 Boavista 61 2582 1874 700 482 692 2424 2598 -174 1 3 2 10 4 5 25 1935–36 2014–15 1
9 Académica 64 1935 1704 516 387 801 2346 3003 -657 1 2 6 8 17 1934–35 2015–16 2
10 Marítimo 43 1760 1414 472 383 559 1573 1805 -232 6 5 11 1977–78 2022–23 5
11 Rio Ave 29 1128 942 284 276 382 989 1234 -245 3 2 5 1979–80 2022–23 5
12 Estoril 29 1019 874 267 218 389 1162 1381 -219 2 3 5 1944–45 2021–22 4
13 Farense 25 925 822 239 208 375 873 1192 -319 1 2 3 1970–71 2023–24 5
14 Paços de Ferreira 24 923 784 234 221 329 839 1106 -267 1 1 2 4 1990–91 2022–23 3
15 Beira-Mar 27 896 858 218 242 398 883 1340 -457 1 1 1961–62 2012–13 6
16 Gil Vicente 23 868 774 223 199 352 794 1059 -265 2 2 1990–91 2019–20 5
17 Nacional 20 802 656 210 172 274 773 917 -144 2 2 1 5 1988–89 2024–25 4
18 Portimonense 21 776 678 205 162 313 715 946 -231 1 1 2 1976–77 2023–24 5
19 Salgueiros 24 774 740 197 183 360 804 1377 -573 1 1 2 1943–44 2001–02 5
20 CUF Barreiro 23 769 610 207 148 255 828 1003 -175 1 2 2 1 6 1942–43 1975–76 3
21 Leixões 25 713 670 183 164 323 750 1186 -436 1 1 2 1936–37 2009–10 5
22 União de Leiria 18 711 584 184 159 241 620 771 -151 2 2 4 1979–80 2011–12 5
23 Atlético CP 24 710 632 192 134 306 976 1285 -309 2 1 1 3 7 1943–44 1976–77 3
24 Chaves 18 702 616 177 171 268 674 885 -211 2 2 4 1985–86 2023–24 5
25 Varzim 21 683 618 169 176 273 638 913 -275 1 1 2 1963–64 2002–03 5
26 Estrela da Amadora 17 641 574 151 188 235 554 733 -179 1988–89 2023–24 7
27 Barreirense 24 617 592 166 119 307 758 1195 -437 1 2 4 7 1937–38 1978–79 4
28 Olhanense 20 565 516 147 124 245 800 1057 -257 1 2 2 5 1941–42 2013–14 4
29 Moreirense 13 509 438 128 125 185 455 594 -139 2 2 2002–03 2023–24 6
30 Sporting da Covilhã 15 457 406 126 79 201 585 834 -249 1 3 4 1947–48 1987–88 5
31 Penafiel 14 435 434 106 117 211 351 625 -274 1980–81 2014–15 10
32 Famalicão 11 426 306 109 99 158 419 584 -165 1 1 1946–47 2019–20 6
33 Lusitano de Évora 14 412 364 116 64 184 494 722 -228 1 1 2 1952–53 1965–66 5
34 Sporting de Espinho 11 379 354 96 91 167 336 523 -187 1974–75 1996–97 7
35 Santa Clara 8 296 272 73 77 112 293 384 -91 1 1 1999–2000 2024–25 6
36 Arouca 7 276 234 72 60 102 254 328 -74 2 2 2013–14 2021–22 5
37 Tirsense 8 268 256 65 73 118 219 370 -151 1967–68 1995–96 8
38 Tondela 7 235 238 61 52 125 251 378 -127 2015–16 2021–22 10
39 União da Madeira 6 206 208 48 62 98 177 300 -123 1989–90 2015–16 10
40 Naval 1º de Maio 6 193 184 49 46 89 160 255 -95 2005–06 2010–11 8
41 Oriental 7 187 190 50 37 103 224 438 -214 1 1 1950–51 1974–75 5
42 Alverca 5 181 170 48 37 85 192 266 -74 1998–99 2003–04 11
43 Campomaiorense 5 178 170 48 34 88 186 287 -101 1995–96 2000–01 11
44 Feirense 7 175 222 44 43 135 187 403 -216 1962–63 2018–19 8
45 Torreense 6 163 164 44 31 89 183 316 -133 1955–56 1991–92 7
46 União de Tomar 6 162 172 43 33 96 178 331 -153 1968–69 1975–76 10
47 Desportivo das Aves 6 160 196 40 40 116 173 320 -147 1985–86 2019–20 13
48 O Elvas 5 148 146 37 37 72 211 283 -72 1947–48 1987–88 8
49 B-SAD 4 144 136 33 45 58 117 195 -78 2018–19 2021–22 9
50 Leça 4 124 124 33 25 66 120 231 -111 1941–42 1997–98 12
51 Vizela 4 118 132 27 37 68 138 243 -95 1984–85 2023–24 11
52 Académico de Viseu 4 105 128 27 24 77 81 237 -156 1978–79 1988–89 13
53 Caldas 4 103 104 26 25 53 124 235 -111 1955–56 1958–59 10
54 Montijo 3 89 90 23 20 47 91 155 -64 1972–73 1976–77 13
55 Amora 3 89 90 22 23 45 90 143 -53 1980–81 1982–83 12
56 Casa Pia 3 82 82 22 16 44 81 146 -65 1938–39 2022–23 8
57 Lusitano VRSA 3 72 78 21 9 48 94 210 -116 1947–48 1949–50 12
58 Sanjoanense 4 70 104 16 22 66 86 249 -163 1946–47 1968–69 10
59 Carcavelinhos 5 69 82 19 12 51 103 223 -120 1 1 2 1935–36 1941–42 4
60 Unidos de Lisboa 3 62 54 18 8 28 151 145 6 1 1 1940–41 1942–43 4
61 Académico do Porto 5 60 82 18 6 58 137 300 -163 1934–35 1941–42 7
62 Elvas 2 54 48 17 3 28 108 167 -59 1945–46 1946–47 9
63 Fafe 1 41 38 9 14 15 29 47 -18 1988–89 1988–89 16
64 Felgueiras 1 33 34 8 9 17 29 47 -18 1995–96 1995–96 16
65 Seixal 2 29 52 7 8 37 44 150 -106 1963–64 1964–65 12
66 Riopele 1 27 30 6 9 15 23 51 -28 1977–78 1977–78 15
67 Águeda 1 26 30 7 5 18 25 55 -30 1983–84 1983–84 15
68 Trofense 1 23 30 5 8 17 25 42 -17 2008–09 2008–09 16
69 União de Coimbra 1 22 30 5 7 18 22 54 -32 1972–73 1972–73 15
70 Ginásio de Alcobaça 1 19 30 4 7 19 20 56 -36 1982–83 1982–83 16
71 União de Lisboa 1 11 14 3 2 9 30 49 -19 1 1 1934–35 1934–35 6
72 Oliveirense 1 11 22 3 2 17 22 73 -51 1945–46 1945–46 12
73 AVS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2024–25 2024–25 TBD
A.  Never relegated.
B.  Renamed Fabril in 2000.
C.  Club ended football team in 2023. Successor club Olhanense 1912 was founded in 2023.
D.  Club folded in 2021.
E.  Club folded in 2017. Successor club Naval 1893 was founded in 2017.
F.  Club ended football team in 2013.
G.  Club ended football team in 2020. Successor club AVS was founded in 2023.
H.  Club folded in 2007. Successor club Olímpico Montijo was founded in 2007.
I.  Merged to form Atlético CP in 1942.
J.  Club ended football team in 2009.
K.  Club ended football team in 1964.
L.  Merged to form O Elvas in 1947.
M.  Club folded in 2005. Successor club Felgueiras 1932 was founded in 2006.
N.  Club folded in 1984.

Last updated: 2 June 2024

Primeira Liga
Liga Portugal 2
Liga 3
Campeonato de Portugal
Portuguese District Championships
Clubs no longer in competition

Records

Team records

  • In 1972–73, Benfica became the first team to win the Portuguese league without defeat, with 58 points in 30 games (28 wins and 2 draws), the best efficiency ever obtained (96.7%) where 2 points were awarded for a victory. In that season, Benfica set the Portuguese league and European leagues record for most consecutive victories (23) – 29 wins overall, between 1971–72 and 1972–73. Benfica also set the league record for the greatest margin of victory in points over the second-placed team (18 points) in a 2 points per win championship.
  • In 1977–78, Benfica completed the Portuguese league unbeaten for the second time (21 wins and 9 draws).
  • In 1990–91, Benfica achieved the highest number of wins in a single season – 32 (out of 38 matches).
  • In 1998–99, Porto became the only team to win five consecutive titles.
  • In 2010–11, Porto won the Portuguese league without defeat, with 84 points in 30 games (27 wins and 3 draws), the best efficiency ever obtained (93.3%) where 3 points were awarded for a victory. That season, Porto also set the league record for the greatest margin of victory in points over the second-placed team (21 points) in a 3 points per win championship.
  • In 2012–13, Porto won the Portuguese league unbeaten for the second time (24 wins and 6 draws).
  • In 2020–21, Sporting CP set the record for the longest unbeaten run in a single season with 32 matches (25 wins and 7 draws) out of 34.
  • From 8 November 2020 to 21 April 2022, Porto set the record for the longest unbeaten run in the league: 58 matches (47 wins and 11 draws).
  • In 2021–22, Porto achieved a record 91 points in the Portuguese league (29 wins and 4 draws in 34 games).

Individual records

Player transfer fees

Top transfer fees paid by Primeira Liga clubs
Rank Player Fee (min.) Date Transfer Reference(s)
1 Turkey Orkun Kökçü €25M 10 June 2023 Netherlands Feyenoord Benfica
2 Uruguay Darwin Núñez €24M 4 September 2020 Spain Almería Benfica
3 Mexico Raúl Jiménez €21.8M 21 July 2016 Spain Atlético Madrid Benfica
4 Democratic Republic of the Congo Giannelli Imbula €20M 1 July 2015 France Marseille Porto
Spain Óliver Torres 9 February 2017 Spain Atlético Madrid Porto
Spain Raúl de Tomás 3 July 2019 Spain Real Madrid Benfica
Germany Julian Weigl 2 January 2020 Germany Borussia Dortmund Benfica
Brazil Everton Soares 14 August 2020 Brazil Grêmio Benfica
Sweden Viktor Gyökeres 1 July 2023 England Coventry City Sporting CP
Brazil Arthur Cabral 10 August 2023 Italy Fiorentina Benfica
10 Brazil Hulk €19M 14 May 2011 Japan Tokyo Verdy Porto
Top transfer fees received by Primeira Liga clubs
Rank Player Fee (min.) Date Transfer Reference(s)
1 Portugal João Félix €126M 3 July 2019 Benfica Spain Atlético Madrid
2 Argentina Enzo Fernández €121M 31 January 2023 Benfica England Chelsea
3 Uruguay Darwin Nuñez €75M 13 June 2022 Benfica England Liverpool
4 Portugal Rúben Dias €68M 29 September 2020 Benfica England Manchester City
5 Portugal Gonçalo Ramos €65M 22 November 2023 Benfica France Paris Saint-Germain
6 Uruguay Manuel Ugarte €60M 7 July 2023 Sporting CP France Paris Saint-Germain
Portugal Otávio 22 August 2023 Porto Saudi Arabia Al Nassr
7 Portugal Bruno Fernandes €55M 29 January 2020 Sporting CP England Manchester United
8 Brazil Éder Militão €50M 14 March 2019 Porto Spain Real Madrid
9 Colombia Luis Díaz €45M 30 January 2022 Porto England Liverpool
Colombia James Rodríguez €45M 24 May 2013 Porto France Monaco
Portugal Matheus Nunes €45M 17 August 2022 Sporting CP England Wolverhampton Wanderers

Media coverage

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Primeira Liga para niños

  • LPFP Primeira Liga Player of the Year
  • Portuguese Golden Ball
  • SJPF Player of the Month
  • SJPF Young Player of the Month
  • CNID Footballer of the Year
  • Bola de Prata
  • Campeonato Nacional Feminino
  • List of sports attendance figures
  • List of association football competitions in Portugal
  • List of foreign Primeira Liga players
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