Primeira_Liga
Primeira Liga
Top division men's association football league in Portugal
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.[lower-alpha 1]
| 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 | Benfica (38th title) (2022–23) |
| Most championships | Benfica (38 titles) |
| Most appearances | Manuel Fernandes (486) |
| Top goalscorer | Fernando Peyroteo (332) |
| TV partners | List of broadcasters |
| Website | ligaportugal.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]
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.[citation needed]
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).[citation needed]
| 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 |
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 (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]
Sponsored names
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
- 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[15]
- 2016: Adidas Errejota[16]
- 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
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 League Ranking as of the 2023–24 season:[17]
| 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[18] | 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 | - |
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]
- 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.
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 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Benfica | 89 | 5683 | 2534 | 1738 | 469 | 326 | 6111 | 2213 | 3898 | 38 | 29 | 17 | 4 | – | 1 | 89 | 1934–35 | 1934–35 | 1 | [A] |
| 2 | Porto | 89 | 5570 | 2534 | 1705 | 455 | 380 | 5627 | 2222 | 3405 | 30 | 29 | 13 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 87 | 1934–35 | 1934–35 | 1 | [A] |
| 3 | Sporting CP | 89 | 5255 | 2534 | 1577 | 524 | 433 | 5503 | 2395 | 3108 | 19 | 22 | 29 | 14 | 4 | – | 88 | 1934–35 | 1934–35 | 1 | [A] |
| 4 | Vitória de Guimarães | 78 | 3263 | 2324 | 904 | 551 | 869 | 3257 | 3258 | -1 | – | – | 4 | 10 | 13 | 14 | 41 | 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 | 67 | 2935 | 2058 | 818 | 481 | 759 | 2837 | 2798 | 39 | – | 1 | 3 | 16 | 6 | 3 | 29 | 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 | 60 | 2550 | 1840 | 693 | 471 | 676 | 2385 | 2536 | -151 | 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 | 28 | 1091 | 908 | 278 | 257 | 373 | 951 | 1191 | -240 | – | – | – | – | 3 | 2 | 5 | 1979–80 | 2022–23 | 5 | |
| 12 | Estoril | 28 | 986 | 840 | 258 | 212 | 370 | 1113 | 1323 | -210 | – | – | – | 2 | 3 | – | 5 | 1944–45 | 2021–22 | 4 | |
| 13 | Paços de Ferreira | 24 | 923 | 784 | 234 | 221 | 329 | 839 | 1106 | -267 | – | – | 1 | – | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1990–91 | 2022–23 | 3 | |
| 14 | Beira-Mar | 27 | 896 | 858 | 218 | 242 | 398 | 883 | 1340 | -457 | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | 1 | 1961–62 | 2012–13 | 6 | |
| 15 | Farense | 24 | 888 | 788 | 229 | 201 | 358 | 827 | 1141 | -314 | – | – | – | – | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1970–71 | 2023–24 | 5 | |
| 16 | Gil Vicente | 22 | 832 | 740 | 214 | 190 | 336 | 752 | 1007 | -255 | – | – | – | – | 2 | – | 2 | 1990–91 | 2019–20 | 5 | |
| 17 | Nacional | 20 | 802 | 656 | 210 | 172 | 274 | 773 | 917 | -144 | – | – | – | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 1988–89 | 2020–21 | 4 | |
| 18 | Salgueiros | 24 | 774 | 740 | 197 | 183 | 360 | 804 | 1377 | -573 | – | – | – | – | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1943–44 | 2001–02 | 5 | |
| 19 | CUF Barreiro | 23 | 769 | 610 | 207 | 148 | 255 | 828 | 1003 | -175 | – | – | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 1942–43 | 1975–76 | 3 | [B] |
| 20 | Portimonense | 20 | 744 | 644 | 197 | 154 | 295 | 676 | 874 | -198 | – | – | – | – | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1976–77 | 2017–18 | 5 | |
| 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 | Varzim | 21 | 683 | 618 | 169 | 176 | 273 | 638 | 913 | -275 | – | – | – | – | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1963–64 | 2002–03 | 5 | |
| 25 | Chaves | 17 | 679 | 582 | 172 | 163 | 247 | 643 | 813 | -170 | – | – | – | – | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1985–86 | 2022–23 | 5 | |
| 26 | Barreirense | 24 | 617 | 592 | 166 | 119 | 307 | 758 | 1195 | -437 | – | – | – | 1 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 1937–38 | 1978–79 | 4 | |
| 27 | Estrela da Amadora | 16 | 608 | 540 | 144 | 176 | 220 | 521 | 680 | -159 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1988–89 | 2023–24 | 7 | |
| 28 | Olhanense | 20 | 565 | 516 | 147 | 124 | 245 | 800 | 1057 | -257 | – | – | – | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 1941–42 | 2013–14 | 4 | |
| 29 | Sporting da Covilhã | 15 | 457 | 406 | 126 | 79 | 201 | 585 | 834 | -249 | – | – | – | – | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1947–48 | 1987–88 | 5 | |
| 30 | Moreirense | 12 | 454 | 404 | 112 | 118 | 174 | 419 | 559 | -140 | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | 1 | 2002–03 | 2023–24 | 6 | |
| 31 | Penafiel | 14 | 435 | 434 | 106 | 117 | 211 | 351 | 625 | -274 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1980–81 | 2014–15 | 10 | |
| 32 | Lusitano de Évora | 14 | 412 | 364 | 116 | 64 | 184 | 494 | 722 | -228 | – | – | – | – | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1952–53 | 1965–66 | 5 | |
| 33 | Famalicão | 10 | 384 | 272 | 99 | 87 | 146 | 382 | 543 | -161 | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | 1 | 1946–47 | 2019–20 | 6 | |
| 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 | 2022–23 | 6 | |
| 36 | Tirsense | 8 | 268 | 256 | 65 | 73 | 118 | 219 | 370 | -151 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1967–68 | 1995–96 | 8 | |
| 37 | Tondela | 7 | 235 | 238 | 61 | 52 | 125 | 251 | 378 | -127 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 2015–16 | 2021–22 | 10 | |
| 38 | Arouca | 6 | 230 | 200 | 59 | 53 | 88 | 200 | 278 | -78 | – | – | – | – | 2 | – | 2 | 2013–14 | 2021–22 | 5 | |
| 39 | União da Madeira | 6 | 206 | 208 | 48 | 62 | 98 | 177 | 300 | -123 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1989–90 | 2015–16 | 10 | [C] |
| 40 | Naval 1º de Maio | 6 | 193 | 184 | 49 | 46 | 89 | 160 | 255 | -95 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 2005–06 | 2010–11 | 8 | [D] |
| 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 | [E] |
| 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 | Académico de Viseu | 4 | 105 | 128 | 27 | 24 | 77 | 81 | 237 | -156 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1978–79 | 1988–89 | 13 | |
| 52 | Caldas | 4 | 103 | 104 | 26 | 25 | 53 | 124 | 235 | -111 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1955–56 | 1958–59 | 10 | |
| 53 | Vizela | 3 | 92 | 98 | 22 | 26 | 50 | 102 | 167 | -65 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1984–85 | 2021–22 | 11 | |
| 54 | Montijo | 3 | 89 | 90 | 23 | 20 | 47 | 91 | 155 | -64 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1972–73 | 1976–77 | 13 | [F] |
| 55 | Amora | 3 | 89 | 90 | 22 | 23 | 45 | 90 | 143 | -53 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1980–81 | 1982–83 | 12 | |
| 56 | Lusitano VRSA | 3 | 72 | 78 | 21 | 9 | 48 | 94 | 210 | -116 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1947–48 | 1949–50 | 12 | |
| 57 | Sanjoanense | 4 | 70 | 104 | 16 | 22 | 66 | 86 | 249 | -163 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1946–47 | 1968–69 | 10 | |
| 58 | Carcavelinhos | 5 | 69 | 82 | 19 | 12 | 51 | 103 | 223 | -120 | – | – | – | 1 | – | 1 | 2 | 1935–36 | 1941–42 | 4 | [G] |
| 59 | Unidos de Lisboa | 3 | 62 | 54 | 18 | 8 | 28 | 151 | 145 | 6 | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | 1 | 1940–41 | 1942–43 | 4 | [H] |
| 60 | Académico do Porto | 5 | 60 | 82 | 18 | 6 | 58 | 137 | 300 | -163 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1934–35 | 1941–42 | 7 | [I] |
| 61 | Elvas | 2 | 54 | 48 | 17 | 3 | 28 | 108 | 167 | -59 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1945–46 | 1946–47 | 9 | [J] |
| 62 | Casa Pia | 2 | 44 | 48 | 12 | 8 | 28 | 43 | 96 | -53 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1938–39 | 2022–23 | 8 | |
| 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 | [K] |
| 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 | [L] |
| 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 | [G] |
| 72 | Oliveirense | 1 | 11 | 22 | 3 | 2 | 17 | 22 | 73 | -51 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1945–46 | 1945–46 | 12 |
- 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.
| Primeira Liga | |
| Liga Portugal 2 | |
| Liga 3 | |
| Campeonato de Portugal | |
| Portuguese District Championships | |
| Clubs no longer in competition |
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
Appearances
|
Top scorersMain article: List of Primeira Liga top scorers
|
Player transfer fees
| Rank | Player | Fee (min.) | Date | Transfer | Reference(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Orkun Kökçü |
€25M[lower-alpha 2] | 10 June 2023 |  Feyenoord |
Benfica | [24] |
| 2 |  Darwin Núñez |
€24M | 4 September 2020 |  Almería |
Benfica | [25] |
| 3 |  Raúl Jiménez |
€21.8M | 21 July 2016 | Atlético Madrid |
Benfica | [26] |
| 4 |  Giannelli Imbula |
€20M | 1 July 2015 |  Marseille |
Porto | [27] |
| Óliver Torres |
9 February 2017 | Atlético Madrid |
Porto | [28] | ||
| Raúl de Tomás |
3 July 2019 | Real Madrid |
Benfica | [29] | ||
 Julian Weigl |
2 January 2020 | Borussia Dortmund |
Benfica | [30] | ||
 Everton Soares |
14 August 2020 | Grêmio |
Benfica | [31] | ||
 Viktor Gyökeres |
1 July 2023 |  Coventry City |
Sporting CP | [32] | ||
| Arthur Cabral |
10 August 2023 |  Fiorentina |
Benfica | [33] | ||
| 10 | Hulk |
€19M | 14 May 2011 |  Tokyo Verdy |
Porto | [34] |
| Rank | Player | Fee (min.) | Date | Transfer | Reference(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | João Félix |
€126M | 3 July 2019 | Benfica | Atlético Madrid |
[35] |
| 2 |  Enzo Fernández |
€121M | 31 January 2023 | Benfica | Chelsea |
[36] |
| 3 | Darwin Nuñez |
€75M[lower-alpha 3] | 13 June 2022 | Benfica | Liverpool |
[37] |
| 4 | Rúben Dias |
€68M | 29 September 2020 | Benfica | Manchester City |
[38][39] |
| 5 | Gonçalo Ramos |
€65M | 22 November 2023 | Benfica | Paris Saint-Germain |
[40] |
| 6 | Manuel Ugarte |
€60M | 7 July 2023 | Sporting CP | Paris Saint-Germain |
[41] |
| Otávio |
22 August 2023 | Porto |  Al Nassr |
[42] | ||
| 7 | Bruno Fernandes |
€55M[lower-alpha 4] | 29 January 2020 | Sporting CP | Manchester United |
[43] |
| 8 | Éder Militão |
€50M | 14 March 2019 | Porto | Real Madrid |
[44] |
| 9 |  Luis Díaz |
€45M[lower-alpha 5] | 30 January 2022 | Porto | Liverpool |
[45] |
| James Rodríguez |
€45M | 24 May 2013 | Porto | Monaco |
[46] | |
| Matheus Nunes |
€45M | 17 August 2022 | Sporting CP | Wolverhampton Wanderers |
[47] | |
- 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
- 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]
- "FPF não se vincula a "memorando de entendimento" entre Belenenses e Gil Vicente". Record (in Portuguese). 13 December 2017. Archived from the original on 16 December 2017. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
- "BENFICA CAMPEÃO: todos os vencedores da Liga" [BENFICA CHAMPIONS: all the league winners]. Maisfutebol.iol.pt (in Portuguese). 17 May 2015. Archived from the original on 26 May 2015. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
- "Current Ranking – IFFHS". Iffhs.de. Archived from the original on 5 November 2018. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
- "aHighlight". ahighlight.com. 6 October 2023. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
- Stadium Newspaper, 10 January 1940
- "Pesquisa". Record.xl.pt. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
- Tovar 2011, p. 191.
- Tovar, p. 136
- "aHighlight". ahighlight.com. 6 October 2023. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
- Lee Scott (20 February 2020). "Rangers Beware – Braga are One of European Football's Form Teams". footballcritic.com. Archived from the original on 19 September 2020. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
- "Portugal's European debacle – what's gone wrong?". portugoal.net. 28 February 2020. Archived from the original on 2 December 2020. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
- "Liga Portugal". Lpfp.pt. Archived from the original on 27 December 2008. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
- "Liga Portugal". Lpfp.pt. Archived from the original on 25 June 2007. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
- "Liga Nos mantém-se por três anos e meio". Jornaldenegocios.pt. Archived from the original on 25 July 2015. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
- "Bola oficial da Liga Portugal" [Liga Portugal's official ball]. Ligaportugal.pt (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 6 February 2015. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
- "Errejota, a nova bola oficial da Liga" [Errejota, the new Portugal's official ball]. Desporto.sapo.mz (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 26 April 2017. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
- UEFA.com (5 July 2023). "Country coefficients | UEFA Coefficients". Archived from the original on 2 November 2021. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
- "Casa Pia will start next season in Estádio (Nacional) do Jamor". O Jogo. Archived from the original on 19 May 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
- "Painel de espectadores por clube". Ligaportugal.pt. Archived from the original on 25 July 2018. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
- FC Porto perde seis pontos Archived 19 June 2018 at the Wayback Machine UEFA (in Portuguese)
- "Primeira Liga numbers". www.thefinalball.com. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
- "Primeira Liga Usage stats". playmakerstats. Archived from the original on 3 December 2022. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
- "Primeira Liga Goals Scored stats". playmakerstats. Archived from the original on 25 August 2022. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
- "Comunicado" [Announcement] (PDF). CMVM (in Portuguese). S.L. Benfica. 10 June 2023. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 May 2021. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
- "Comunicado" [Announcement] (PDF). CMVM (in Portuguese). S.L. Benfica. 4 September 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 May 2021. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
- Pritchett, David (21 July 2016). "Raúl becomes Benfica's record signing". Planet Benfica. Archived from the original on 24 July 2016. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
- "Official: Porto sign Imbula for €20m". Goal.com. 1 July 2015. Archived from the original on 4 July 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
- "FC Porto anuncia compra do passe de Óliver" [FC Porto announces purchase of Óliver's pass]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). Global Media Group. 9 February 2017. Archived from the original on 9 February 2017. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
- "Welcome, Raúl de Tomás!". S.L. Benfica. 3 July 2019. Archived from the original on 4 July 2019. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
- "Weigl is already a Benfica player!". S.L. Benfica. 2 January 2020. Archived from the original on 2 January 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
- "Comunicado" [Announcement] (PDF). CMVM (in Portuguese). S.L. Benfica. 14 August 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 May 2021. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
- "Gyökeres é reforço do Sporting até 2028". Mais Futebol. 13 July 2023. Archived from the original on 13 July 2023. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
- "Arthur Cabral reforça o Benfica!" [Arthur Cabral reinforces Benfica!]. slbenfica.pt (in Portuguese). 10 August 2023. Archived from the original on 11 August 2023. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
- "Hulk é o mais caro da história: Porto gasta 19 milhões". Maisfutebol (in Portuguese). 14 May 2011. Archived from the original on 19 October 2017. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
- "Comunicado à CMVM" [Announcement to CMVM]. S.L. Benfica (in Portuguese). 3 July 2019. Archived from the original on 3 July 2019. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
- "Enzo transferido" [Enzo transferred]. S.L. Benfica (in Portuguese). 1 February 2023. Archived from the original on 1 February 2023. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
- "Oficial: transferência de Darwin comunicada à CMVM" [Darwin's transfer announced to CMVM]. S.L. Benfica (in Portuguese). 13 June 2022. Archived from the original on 22 June 2022. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
- "Comunicado" [Announcement] (PDF). CMVM (in Portuguese). S.L. Benfica. 27 September 2020. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 April 2021. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
- Edwards, John (29 September 2020). "City Complete Ruben Dias Signing". Manchester City F.C. Archived from the original on 30 September 2020. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
- "Le PSG lève déjà l'option d'achat de Gonçalo Ramos". L'Équipe. 22 November 2023. Archived from the original on 25 November 2023. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
- "PSG sign midfielder Ugarte from Sporting for 60 million euros". Reuters. 7 July 2023. Archived from the original on 7 July 2023. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
- "Sporting oficializa venda de Bruno Fernandes ao Man. United: todos os detalhes do negócio". Record (in European Portuguese). Lisbon. 29 January 2020. Archived from the original on 2 February 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
- "Real Madrid confirma Militão até 2025 por 50 milhões de euros" [Real Madrid confirms Militão until 2025 for 50 million euros] (in Portuguese). zerozero. 14 March 2019. Archived from the original on 19 December 2019. Retrieved 14 March 2019.
- "Diaz joins Liverpool from Porto for £37.5m". BBC Sport. 30 January 2022. Archived from the original on 31 January 2022. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
- "Monaco sign João Moutinho and James Rodríguez from Porto for £60m". The Guardian. 24 May 2013. Archived from the original on 25 October 2013. Retrieved 26 August 2013.
- "Matheus Nunes: Wolves sign Portugal midfielder for club record £38m fee". BBC Sport. 18 August 2022. Archived from the original on 5 February 2023. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
- Tovar, Rui (2011). Almanaque do FC Porto 1893–2011 (in Portuguese). Alfragide: Caderno. ISBN 9789892315430.
- Official website
(in Portuguese) - Portugal – List of Champions, RSSSF.com
