Primeira Liga

The Primeira Liga (Portuguese pronunciation: [pɾiˈmɐjɾɐ ˈliɣɐ]), also known as Liga Portugal, and 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.[lower-alpha 1]

For the former Brazilian regional cup with the same name, see Primeira Liga (Brazil).

Primeira Liga
Organising bodyLiga Portuguesa de Futebol Profissional (LPFP)
Founded1934 (1934)
Country Portugal
ConfederationUEFA
Number of teams18 (since 2014–15)
Level on pyramid1
Relegation toLiga 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 Europa Conference League
Current championsBenfica (38th title)
(2022–23)
Most championshipsBenfica (38 titles)
Most appearancesManuel Fernandes (486)
Top goalscorerFernando Peyroteo (332)
TV partnersList of broadcasters
Websiteligaportugal.pt
Current: 2023–24 Primeira Liga

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 (19) – have won all but two Primeira Liga titles; the other winners are Belenenses (1945–46) and Boavista (2000–01).[2]

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.[3]

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.[4]

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.[5]

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).[6] Porto finished the regional championship in third place again, which did not grant entry into the Primeira Liga.[7] However, a second expand (from 10 to 12) in the same season was decided, which allowed the club to participate.[8]

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.[6] 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
SeasonBenficaPortoSporting
2013–14132
2014–15123
2015–16132
2016–17123
2017–18213
2018–19123
2019–20214
2020–21321
2021–22312
2022–23124

Big Three
Main article: Big Three (Portugal)

"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 (19). 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.[9]

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.[10][11]

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.[12][13]

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.[14] 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

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
See also: UEFA coefficient

UEFA League Ranking as of the 2023–24 season:[17]

  1. England English Premier League
  2. Spain Spanish La Liga
  3. Germany German Bundesliga
  4. Italy Italian Serie A
  5. France French Ligue 1
  6. Netherlands Dutch Eredivisie
  7. Portugal Portuguese Primeira Liga
  8. Belgium Belgian Pro League
  9. Scotland Scottish Premiership
  10. Austria Austrian Football Bundesliga

Clubs
Location of teams in 2023–24 Primeira Liga (Mainland)
Location of teams in 2023–24 Primeira Liga (Lisbon area)
Team Location Stadium Capacity 2021–22 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 15th 2013–14 6 2021–22 2 0 -
Benfica Lisbon Estádio da Luz 64,642 3rd 1934–35 89 1934–35 89 38 2022–23
Boavista Porto Estádio do Bessa 28,263 12th 1935–36 60 2014–15 9 1 2000–01
Braga Braga Estádio Municipal de Braga 30,286 4th 1947–48 67 1975–76 48 0 -
Casa Pia Lisbon Estádio Nacional[18] 37,593 2nd (LP2) 1938–39 2 2022–23 1 0 -
Chaves Chaves Estádio Municipal Eng.º
Manuel Branco Teixeira		 8,400 3rd (LP2) 1985–86 17 2022–23 1 0 -
Estoril Estoril Estádio António Coimbra da Mota 8,015 9th 1944–45 28 2021–22 2 0 -
Famalicão Vila Nova de Famalicão Estádio Municipal 22 de Junho 5,307 8th 1946–47 9 2019–20 4 0 -
Gil Vicente Barcelos Estádio Cidade de Barcelos 12,504 5th 1990–91 21 2019–20 4 0 -
Marítimo Funchal Estádio do Marítimo 10,932 10th 1977–78 43 1985–86 38 0 -
Paços de Ferreira Paços de Ferreira Estádio Capital do Móvel 9,076 11th 1991–92 24 2019–20 4 0 -
Portimonense Portimão Estádio Municipal de Portimão 6,204 13th 1976–77 20 2017–18 6 0 -
Porto Porto Estádio do Dragão 50,033 1st 1934–35 89 1934–35 89 30 2021–22
Rio Ave Vila do Conde Estádio dos Arcos 9,065 1st (LP2) 1979–80 28 2022–23 1 0 -
Santa Clara Ponta Delgada Estádio de São Miguel 13,277 7th 1999–00 8 2018–19 5 0 -
Sporting CP Lisbon Estádio José Alvalade 50,095 2nd 1934–35 89 1934–35 89 19 2020–21
Vitória de Guimarães Guimarães Estádio D. Afonso Henriques 30,000 6th 1941–42 78 2007–08 16 0 -
Vizela Vizela Estádio do FC Vizela 6,000 14th 1984–85 3 2021–22 2 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:[19]

    Club Average Stadium
    capacity    		 Attendance(%) Accumulated Stadium
    1Benfica53,20964,64282.93%904,553Estádio da Luz
    2Sporting CP43,62350,04487.16%741,599Estádio José Alvalade
    3Porto42,67450,43185.29%725,461Estádio do Dragão
    4Vitória de Guimarães16,01530,00853.37%272,255Estádio D. Afonso Henriques
    5Braga11,70630,28638.65%198,998Estádio Municipal de Braga
    6Marítimo7,07210,93266.93%120,216Estádio dos Barreiros
    7Boavista5,62330,00020.55%95,585Estádio do Bessa
    8Vitória de Setúbal4,11113,46828.80%69,890Estádio do Bonfim
    9Feirense3,9075,60071.69%66,412Estádio Marcolino de Castro
    10Rio Ave3,8899,06543.42%66,116Estádio do Rio Ave FC
    11Chaves3,6279,00040.89%61,658Estádio Municipal Eng. Manuel Branco Teixeira
    12Paços de Ferreira3,5076,40438.63%59,612Estádio da Mata Real
    13Belenenses3,34419,85622.27%56,851Estádio do Restelo
    14Portimonense3,1589,54464.04%53,693Estádio Municipal de Portimão
    15Aves2,6355,44144.69%44,803Estádio do CD Aves
    16Tondela2,3735,00047.46%40,344Estádio João Cardoso
    17Estoril2,2758,00028.83%38,673Estádio António Coimbra da Mota
    18Moreirense2,2646,15336.80%38,494Estádio Municipal 25 de Abril

    List of champions and top scorers
    Main article: List of Portuguese football champions
    ClubsPlayers
    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 Porto22Sporting CP20Benfica19814Portugal Manuel SoeiroSporting CP14
      1935–36 Benfica21Porto20Sporting CP18814Portugal PingaPorto21
      1936–37 Benfica (2)24Belenenses23Sporting CP19814Portugal Manuel SoeiroSporting CP24
      1937–38 Benfica (3)23Porto23Sporting CP22814Portugal Fernando PeyroteoSporting CP34
    Campeonato Nacional da Primeira Divisão
      1938–39 Porto (2)23Sporting CP22Benfica21814Portugal CosturasPorto18
      1939–40 Porto (3)34Sporting CP32Belenenses251018Portugal F. Peyroteo / Kingdom of Yugoslavia S. KodrnjaSporting CP / Porto29
      1940–41 Sporting CP23Porto20Belenenses19814Portugal Fernando PeyroteoSporting CP29
      1941–42 Benfica (4)38Sporting CP34Belenenses301222Portugal Correia DiasPorto36
      1942–43 Benfica (5)30Sporting CP29Belenenses281018Portugal JulinhoBenfica24
      1943–44 Sporting CP (2)31Benfica26Atlético CP241018Portugal Francisco RodriguesVitória de Setúbal28
      1944–45 Benfica (6)30Sporting CP27Belenenses271018Portugal Francisco RodriguesVitória de Setúbal21
      1945–46 Belenenses38Benfica37Sporting CP321222Portugal Fernando PeyroteoSporting CP37
      1946–47 Sporting CP (3)47Benfica41Porto331426Portugal Fernando PeyroteoSporting CP43
      1947–48 Sporting CP (4)41Benfica41Belenenses371426Portugal António AraújoPorto36
      1948–49 Sporting CP (5)42Benfica37Belenenses351426Portugal Fernando PeyroteoSporting CP40
      1949–50 Benfica (7)45Sporting CP39Atlético CP301426Portugal JulinhoBenfica29
      1950–51 Sporting CP (6)45Porto34Benfica301426Portugal Manuel VasquesSporting CP29
      1951–52 Sporting CP (7)41Benfica40Porto361426Portugal José ÁguasBenfica28
      1952–53 Sporting CP (8)43Benfica39Belenenses361426Portugal MatateuBelenenses29
      1953–54 Sporting CP (9)43Porto36Benfica321426Portugal João MartinsSporting CP31
      1954–55 Benfica (8)39Belenenses39Sporting CP371426Portugal MatateuBelenenses32
      1955–56 Porto (4)43Benfica43Belenenses371426Portugal José ÁguasBenfica28
      1956–57 Benfica (9)41Porto40Belenenses331426Portugal José ÁguasBenfica30
      1957–58 Sporting CP (10)43Porto43Benfica361426Portugal Arsénio DuarteCUF do Barreiro23
      1958–59 Porto (5)41Benfica41Belenenses381426Portugal José ÁguasBenfica26
      1959–60 Benfica (10)45Sporting CP43Belenenses361426Brazil Edmur RibeiroVitória de Guimarães25
      1960–61 Benfica (11)46Sporting CP42Porto331426Portugal José ÁguasBenfica27
      1961–62 Sporting CP (11)43Porto41Benfica361426Brazil VeríssimoPorto23
      1962–63 Benfica (12)48Porto42Sporting CP381426Portugal José Augusto TorresBenfica26
      1963–64 Benfica (13)46Porto40Sporting CP341426Portugal EusébioBenfica28
      1964–65 Benfica (14)43Porto37CUF do Barreiro351426Portugal EusébioBenfica28
      1965–66 Sporting CP (12)42Benfica41Porto341426Portugal Eusébio / Portugal E. FigueiredoBenfica / Sporting CP25
      1966–67 Benfica (15)43Académica40Porto391426Portugal EusébioBenfica31
      1967–68 Benfica (16)41Sporting CP37Porto361426Portugal EusébioBenfica42
      1968–69 Benfica (17)39Porto37Vitória de Guimarães361426Portugal Manuel AntónioAcadémica19
      1969–70 Sporting CP (13)46Benfica38Vitória de Setúbal361426Portugal EusébioBenfica20
      1970–71 Benfica (18)41Sporting CP38Porto371426Portugal Artur JorgeBenfica23
      1971–72 Benfica (19)55Vitória de Setúbal45Sporting CP431630Portugal Artur JorgeBenfica27
      1972–73 Benfica (20)58Belenenses40Vitória de Setúbal381630Portugal EusébioBenfica40
      1973–74 Sporting CP (14)49Benfica47Vitória de Setúbal451630Argentina Héctor YazaldeSporting CP46
      1974–75 Benfica (21)49Porto44Sporting CP431630Argentina Héctor YazaldeSporting CP30
      1975–76 Benfica (22)50Boavista48Belenenses401630Portugal Rui JordãoBenfica30
      1976–77 Benfica (23)51Sporting CP42Porto411630Portugal Fernando GomesPorto26
      1977–78 Porto (6)51Benfica51Sporting CP421630Portugal Fernando GomesPorto25
      1978–79 Porto (7)50Benfica49Sporting CP421630Portugal Fernando GomesPorto27
      1979–80 Sporting CP (15)52Porto50Benfica451630Portugal Rui JordãoSporting CP31
      1980–81 Benfica (24)50Porto48Sporting CP371630Portugal NenéBenfica20
      1981–82 Sporting CP (16)46Benfica44Porto431630Portugal Jacques PereiraPorto27
      1982–83 Benfica (25)51Porto47Sporting CP421630Portugal Fernando GomesPorto36
      1983–84 Benfica (26)52Porto49Sporting CP421630Portugal Fernando Gomes / NenéPorto / Benfica21
      1984–85 Porto (8)55Sporting CP47Benfica431630Portugal Fernando GomesPorto39
      1985–86 Porto (9)49Benfica47Sporting CP461630Portugal Manuel FernandesSporting CP30
      1986–87 Benfica (27)48Porto46Vitória de Guimarães411630Brazil Paulinho CascavelVitória de Guimarães22
      1987–88 Porto (10)66Benfica51Belenenses482038BrazilPaulinho CascavelSporting CP23
      1988–89 Benfica (28)63Porto56Boavista492038Angola VataBenfica16
      1989–90 Porto (11)59Benfica55Sporting CP461834Sweden Mats MagnussonBenfica33
      1990–91 Benfica (29)69Porto67Sporting CP572038Portugal Rui ÁguasBenfica25
      1991–92 Porto (12)56Benfica46Boavista441834Nigeria RickyBoavista30
      1992–93 Porto (13)54Benfica52Sporting CP451834Portugal Jorge CadeteSporting CP18
      1993–94 Benfica (30)54Porto52Sporting CP511834Nigeria Rashidi YekiniVitória de Setúbal21
      1994–95 Porto (14)62Sporting CP53Benfica491834Morocco Hassan NaderFarense21
      1995–96 Porto (15)84Benfica73Sporting CP671834Portugal Domingos PaciênciaPorto25
      1996–97 Porto (16)85Sporting CP72Benfica581834Brazil Mário JardelPorto30
      1997–98 Porto (17)77Benfica68Vitória de Guimarães591834Brazil Mário JardelPorto26
      1998–99 Porto (18)79Boavista71Benfica651834Brazil Mário JardelPorto36
    Primeira Liga
      1999–2000 Sporting CP (17)77Porto73Benfica691834Brazil Mário JardelPorto37
      2000–01 Boavista77Porto76Sporting CP621834Brazil PenaPorto22
      2001–02 Sporting CP (18)75Boavista70Porto681834Brazil Mário JardelSporting CP42
      2002–03 Porto (19)86Benfica75Sporting CP591834Senegal Fary FayeBeira-Mar18
      2003–04 Porto (20)82Benfica74Sporting CP731834South Africa Benni McCarthyPorto20
      2004–05 Benfica (31)65Porto62Sporting CP611834Brazil LiédsonSporting CP25
      2005–06 Porto (21)79Sporting CP72Benfica671834Cameroon Albert MeyongBelenenses17
      2006–07 Porto (22)69Sporting CP68Benfica671630Brazil LiédsonSporting CP15
      2007–08 Porto (23)75(1)Sporting CP55Vitória de Guimarães531630Argentina Lisandro LópezPorto24
      2008–09 Porto (24)70Sporting CP66Benfica591630Brazil NenêNacional20
      2009–10 Benfica (32)76Braga71Porto681630Paraguay Óscar CardozoBenfica26
      2010–11 Porto (25)84Benfica63Sporting CP481630Brazil HulkPorto23
      2011–12 Porto (26)75Benfica69Braga621630Paraguay Óscar CardozoBenfica20
      2012–13 Porto (27)78Benfica77Paços de Ferreira541630Colombia Jackson MartínezPorto26
      2013–14 Benfica (33)74Sporting CP67Porto611630Colombia Jackson MartínezPorto20
      2014–15 Benfica (34)85Porto82Sporting CP761834Colombia Jackson MartínezPorto21
      2015–16 Benfica (35)88Sporting CP86Porto731834Brazil JonasBenfica32
      2016–17 Benfica (36)82Porto76Sporting CP701834Netherlands Bas DostSporting CP34
      2017–18 Porto (28)88Benfica81Sporting CP781834Brazil JonasBenfica34
      2018–19 Benfica (37)87Porto85Sporting CP741834Switzerland Haris SeferovicBenfica23
      2019–20 Porto (29)82Benfica77Braga601834Brazil Carlos ViníciusBenfica18
      2020–21 Sporting CP (19)85Porto80Benfica761834Portugal Pedro GonçalvesSporting CP23
      2021–22 Porto (30)91Sporting CP85Benfica741834Uruguay Darwin NúñezBenfica26
      2022–23 Benfica (38)87Porto85Braga781834Iran Mehdi TaremiPorto22
    • 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,[20] 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 29 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
    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 19 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 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 2022–23 season.[21] 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
    1Benfica895683253417384693266111221338983829174–1891934–351934–351[A]
    2Porto895570253417054553805627222234053029131131871934–351934–351[A]
    3Sporting CP89525525341577524433550323953108192229144–881934–351934–351[A]
    4Vitória de Guimarães783263232490455186932573258-1––4101314411941–422007–083
    5Belenenses7731582146877527742335227456071314988431934–352017–181
    6Braga67293520588184817592837279839–131663291947–481975–762
    7Vitória de Setúbal722590207269450887027943119-325–13296211934–352019–202
    8Boavista 602550184069347167623852536-1511321045251935–362014–151
    9Académica641935170451638780123463003-657–1–268171934–352015–162
    10Marítimo431760141447238355915731805-232––––65111977–782022–235
    11Rio Ave2810919082782573739511191-240––––3251979–802022–235
    12Estoril2898684025821237011131323-210–––23–51944–452021–224
    13Paços de Ferreira249237842342213298391106-267––1–1241990–912022–233
    14Beira-Mar278968582182423988831340-457–––––111961–622012–136
    15Farense248887882292013588271141-314––––1231970–712023–245
    16Gil Vicente228327402141903367521007-255––––2–21990–912019–205
    17Nacional20802656210172274773917-144–––22151988–892020–214
    18Salgueiros247747401971833608041377-573––––1121943–442001–025
    19CUF Barreiro237696102071482558281003-175––122161942–431975–763[B]
    20Portimonense20744644197154295676874-198––––1121976–772017–185
    21Leixões257136701831643237501186-436––––1121936–372009–105
    22União de Leiria18711584184159241620771-151––––2241979–802011–125
    23Atlético CP247106321921343069761285-309––211371943–441976–773
    24Varzim21683618169176273638913-275––––1121963–642002–035
    25Chaves17679582172163247643813-170––––2241985–862022–235
    26Barreirense246175921661193077581195-437–––12471937–381978–794
    27Estrela da Amadora16608540144176220521680-159–––––––1988–892023–247
    28Olhanense205655161471242458001057-257–––12251941–422013–144
    29Sporting da Covilhã1545740612679201585834-249––––1341947–481987–885
    30Moreirense12454404112118174419559-140–––––112002–032023–246
    31Penafiel14435434106117211351625-274–––––––1980–812014–1510
    32Lusitano de Évora1441236411664184494722-228––––1121952–531965–665
    33Famalicão103842729987146382543-161–––––111946–472019–206
    34Sporting de Espinho113793549691167336523-187–––––––1974–751996–977
    35Santa Clara82962727377112293384-91–––––111999–20002022–236
    36Tirsense82682566573118219370-151–––––––1967–681995–968
    37Tondela72352386152125251378-127–––––––2015–162021–2210
    38Arouca6230200595388200278-78––––2–22013–142021–225
    39União da Madeira6206208486298177300-123–––––––1989–902015–1610[C]
    40Naval 1º de Maio6193184494689160255-95–––––––2005–062010–118[D]
    41Oriental71871905037103224438-214––––1–11950–511974–755
    42Alverca5181170483785192266-74–––––––1998–992003–0411
    43Campomaiorense5178170483488186287-101–––––––1995–962000–0111[E]
    44Feirense71752224443135187403-216–––––––1962–632018–198
    45Torreense6163164443189183316-133–––––––1955–561991–927
    46União de Tomar6162172433396178331-153–––––––1968–691975–7610
    47Desportivo das Aves61601964040116173320-147–––––––1985–862019–2013
    48O Elvas5148146373772211283-72–––––––1947–481987–888
    49B-SAD4144136334558117195-78–––––––2018–192021–229
    50Leça4124124332566120231-111–––––––1941–421997–9812
    51Académico de Viseu410512827247781237-156–––––––1978–791988–8913
    52Caldas4103104262553124235-111–––––––1955–561958–5910
    53Vizela39298222650102167-65–––––––1984–852021–2211
    54Montijo3899023204791155-64–––––––1972–731976–7713[F]
    55Amora3899022234590143-53–––––––1980–811982–8312
    56Lusitano VRSA372782194894210-116–––––––1947–481949–5012
    57Sanjoanense47010416226686249-163–––––––1946–471968–6910
    58Carcavelinhos56982191251103223-120–––1–121935–361941–424[G]
    59Unidos de Lisboa36254188281511456–––1––11940–411942–434[H]
    60Académico do Porto5608218658137300-163–––––––1934–351941–427[I]
    61Elvas2544817328108167-59–––––––1945–461946–479[J]
    62Casa Pia24448128284396-53–––––––1938–392022–238
    63Fafe14138914152947-18–––––––1988–891988–8916
    64Felgueiras1333489172947-18–––––––1995–961995–9616[K]
    65Seixal22952783744150-106–––––––1963–641964–6512
    66Riopele1273069152351-28–––––––1977–781977–7815[L]
    67Águeda1263075182555-30–––––––1983–841983–8415
    68Trofense1233058172542-17–––––––2008–092008–0916
    69União de Coimbra1223057182254-32–––––––1972–731972–7315
    70Ginásio de Alcobaça1193047192056-36–––––––1982–831982–8316
    71União de Lisboa111143293049-19–––––111934–351934–356[G]
    72Oliveirense1112232172273-51–––––––1945–461945–4612
    A. ^ Never relegated.
    B. ^ Renamed Fabril in 2000.
    C. ^ Club folded in 2021.
    D. ^ Club folded in 2017. Successor club Naval 1893 was founded in 2017.
    E. ^ Club ended football team in 2013.
    F. ^ Club folded in 2007. Successor club Olímpico Montijo was founded in 2007.
    G. ^ Merged to form Atlético CP in 1942.
    H. ^ Club ended football team in 2009.
    I. ^ Club ended football team in 1964.
    J. ^ Merged to form O Elvas in 1947.
    K. ^ Club folded in 2005. Successor club Felgueiras 1932 was founded in 2006.
    L. ^ Club folded in 1984.
    Last updated: 30 May 2021
    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[lower-alpha 2] 10 June 2023 Netherlands Feyenoord Benfica [24]
    2 Uruguay Darwin Núñez €24M 4 September 2020 Spain Almería Benfica [25]
    3 Mexico Raúl Jiménez €21.8M 21 July 2016 Spain Atlético Madrid Benfica [26]
    4 Democratic Republic of the Congo Giannelli Imbula €20M 1 July 2015 France Marseille Porto [27]
    Spain Óliver Torres 9 February 2017 Spain Atlético Madrid Porto [28]
    Spain Raúl de Tomás 3 July 2019 Spain Real Madrid Benfica [29]
    Germany Julian Weigl 2 January 2020 Germany Borussia Dortmund Benfica [30]
    Brazil Everton Soares 14 August 2020 Brazil Grêmio Benfica [31]
    9 Brazil Hulk €19M 14 May 2011 Japan Tokyo Verdy Porto [32]
    10 Brazil Pedrinho €18M 11 March 2020 Brazil Corinthians Benfica [33]
    Argentina Enzo Fernández 14 July 2022 Argentina River Plate Benfica [34]
    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 [35]
    2 Argentina Enzo Fernández €121M 31 January 2023 Benfica England Chelsea [36]
    3 Uruguay Darwin Nuñez €75M[lower-alpha 3] 13 June 2022 Benfica England Liverpool [37]
    4 Portugal Rúben Dias €68M 29 September 2020 Benfica England Manchester City [38][39]
    5 Portugal Bruno Fernandes €55M[lower-alpha 4] 29 January 2020 Sporting CP England Manchester United [40]
    6 Brazil Éder Militão €50M 14 March 2019 Porto Spain Real Madrid [41]
    7 Colombia Luis Díaz €45M[lower-alpha 5] 30 January 2022 Porto England Liverpool [42]
    Colombia James Rodríguez €45M 24 May 2013 Porto France Monaco [43]
    Portugal Matheus Nunes €45M 17 August 2022 Sporting CP England Wolverhampton Wanderers [44]

    Television

    2023–24 until 2025–26

    The league is currently distributed internationally by IMG.

    Portugal

    Within Portugal, Sport TV broadcasts all live Primeira Liga matches except Benfica's home matches, which are broadcast live on Benfica TV.

    International broadcasters

    See also

    Notes
    1. In the 2018–19 season, the three lowest placed teams were relegated to the LigaPro due to the integration of Gil Vicente in the Primeira Liga in the following season. The Portuguese Football Federation appealed to proceed with this integration as soon as possible.[1]
    2. plus €5 million in bonuses
    3. plus €25 million in bonuses
    4. plus €25 million in bonuses
    5. plus €15 million in bonuses

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    Sources
    • Tovar, Rui (2011). Almanaque do FC Porto 1893–2011 (in Portuguese). Alfragide: Caderno. ISBN 9789892315430.
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