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

Football league

The Primeira Liga (Portuguese pronunciation: [pɾiˈmɐjɾɐ 4️⃣ ˈliɣɐ]), also known as Liga Portugal, and officially known as Liga Portugal Betclic for sponsorship reasons, is the top level 4️⃣ of the Portuguese football league system. Organised and supervised by the Liga Portugal, it is contested by 18 teams since 4️⃣ the 2014–15 season, with the three lowest-placed teams relegated to the Liga Portugal 2 and replaced by the top-three non-reserve 4️⃣ teams from this division.[a]

Founded in 1934 as Campeonato da Liga da Primeira Divisão, it was named Campeonato Nacional da Primeira 4️⃣ Divisão from 1938 until 1999, when it was changed to its current naming. Over 70 teams have competed in the 4️⃣ Primeira Liga, but only five have been crowned champions. Among them, the "Big Three" teams – Benfica (38 wins), Porto 4️⃣ (30) and Sporting CP (19) – have won all but two Primeira Liga titles; the other winners are Belenenses (1945–46) 4️⃣ and Boavista (2000–01).[2]

The Primeira Liga has increased its reputation in recent years, occupying the sixth place of UEFA's national league 4️⃣ ranking, as of 2024. It broke into the top five for the first time in the 2011–12 season, passing the 4️⃣ French Ligue 1, one of the historical "big five" European leagues, for the first time since 1990. The Primeira Liga 4️⃣ also reached a world ranking of fourth according to IFFHS's 2011 ranking.[3]