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10 Best Soccer Leagues in the World

A combination of a quality of play, competitiveness and big name players is what makes up the best soccer leagues in the world. You won’t see the Saudi Pro League on this list yet. Despite Cristiano Ronaldo’s move to Al-Nassr, as well as a host of other big name players, Saudi squads are far too top heavy.

Is Lionel Messi’s move to Inter Miami enough for Major League Soccer to crack the top ten? Let’s take a look at the 10 best leagues worldwide to find out.

10. Major League Soccer (United States)

Major League Soccer isn’t the Premier League just yet but there’s no doubt the MLS deserves a top ten spot. Even before Lionel Messi joined Inter Miami the MLS had better average attendances than the Dutch Eredivisie, Mexican Liga MX and the Scottish Premiership.

The MLS continues to grow from its humble beginning of just 10 teams in 1996. In 2005 the league grew to 12 teams and now has a total of 29 clubs. Even before Messi, big name MLS signings included superstars Zlatan Ibrahimovic, David Villa, Frank Lampard, Thierry Henry, Wayne Rooney and David Beckham.

Rosters in the MLS are top heavy but nowhere near the extent of the Saudi Pro League. The Homegrown Player program requires all MLS teams to have an academy which has helped to make the league stronger and also created a pathway for young American players to play in Europe. 

9. Liga MX (Mexico)

Mexico’s Liga MX features some of North America’s most successful teams including Club America, Cruz Azul, Monterrey and Tigres UANL. In terms of players Liga MX doesn’t have the pulling power of the MLS, but it’s one of the most exciting soccer leagues to watch with high scoring games and free flowing attacking play.

Liga MX fans are among the most passionate in the world and they’ve inspired soccer fan culture in North America and the MLS. Mexico’s national soccer league might not have a Messi or Ronaldo, but stars including Cuauhtémoc Blanco, Jared Borgetti, Hugo Sanchez and Andre Pierre Gignac have called Liga MX home.

8. Serie A (Brazil)

Brazil’s Serie A is one of the fastest paced and most skilled soccer leagues on the planet. Some of the most iconic clubs in the world are in Brazil including Sao Paulo, Sport Club Corinthians Paulista, Flamengo and Santos FC. The fans are loyal, and the atmospheres are vibrant.

Unlike most leagues, the season’s champions are crowned following a knockout tournament between the top four teams at the end of the league season. Many young superstars also began their careers in the Brazilian Serie A including Pele, Ronaldo, Romario, Ronaldinho, Zico and Neymar. The youth academies are impressive and is where the league’s excitement is born with a focus on technical skill and creativity over strength, speed and physicality.

7. Primeira Liga (Portugal)

Portugal’s Primeira Liga isn’t as physical as other European competitions but it’s still one of the best soccer leagues in the world. There’s an emphasis on technical skill, and teams deploy possession-heavy tactics with a focus on movement and passing. Some of Europe’s most successful clubs play in Primeira Liga including Porto, Benfica and Sporting CP. 

Primeira Liga academies are among the best in the world producing superstars such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Luis Figo and Rui Costa. Despite its financial inferiority to other European leagues, Primeira Liga teams are competitive in European competition. Benfica and Porto are regulars in the Champions League, and the latter won the competition in 1987 and 2004.

6. Eredivisie (Netherlands)

The Eredivisie is known for its free flowing attack and high scoring games, and it’s been able to do so while focusing on the development of homegrown talent. The youth academies in the Netherlands have long held a reputation for producing some of the best youngsters in the world. Ajax, PSV Eindhoven and Feyenoord have all led the way, focusing not only on technical skills and tactical awareness, but a hyperfocus on strong worth ethic and discipline.

Exports of the Eredivisie include global superstars such as Johan Cruyff, Ruud Gullit, Marco van Basten, and one of Arsenal’s greatest ever players, Dennis Bergkamp. More recently, stars such as Frenkie de Jong, Matthijs de Ligt and Virgil van Dijk have moved onto Europe’s biggest clubs after developing in the league.

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5. Ligue 1 (France)

In recent years France’s Ligue 1 has raced up the rankings of the best soccer leagues in the world mostly because of the heavy investment by PSG. Despite an emphasis on possession and well organised defences, players like Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar have torn the league to shreds.  

Zinedine Zidane and Michel Platini are two of the best players of all time and started their careers in Ligue 1. PSG’s dominance aside, Olympique de Marseille won the Champions League in 1993, AS Monaco were 2004 Champions League finalists, and AS Saint-Etienne appeared in the 1976 European Cup Final.

4. Serie A (Italy)

Italy’s Serie A features some of the most popular teams in the world including Juventus, Inter Milan and AC Milan. Superstars that have called Serie A home include Diego Maradona, Ronaldo, Francesco Totti and Cristiano Ronaldo. Italian fans are known to create electric atmospheres and the rivalries are intense. 

In European competition Italian teams have had huge success in the European Cup and Champions League, and it’s begun from the league’s youth academies who train heavily on the technical side of the game. Serie A is very strategic with a strong emphasis on defending and a lower per game goal ratio compared to other leagues.

3. La Liga (Spain)

La Liga is home to El Clasico, the biggest derby in world soccer between Real Madrid and Barcelona. Both teams are among the best and most popular teams in the world and have pushed the boundaries of technical excellence through former La Liga stars Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. 

Other superstars such as Ferenc Puskas, Johan Cruyff and Ronaldinho have also helped to elevate La Liga into one of the best soccer leagues in the world. La Liga has dominated European competition with Real Madrid winning their 14th Champions League crown in 2022. Barcelona has also won the Champions League five times, and Atletico Madrid, Valencia and Sevilla have all been finalists.

2. Bundesliga (Germany)

The Bundesliga has always had a strong focus on youth development and the league has a history of scouting and attracting the best youngsters from around the world. Bayern Munich’s youth academy in particular is lauded worldwide, with stars including Philipp Lahm, Thomas Muller, David Alaba, Toni Kroos and Bastian Schweinsteiger coming through the ranks. 

What makes the Bundesliga so great is the emphasis on attacking soccer, and a combination of tactical innovation which often leads to exciting, dynamic and high scoring games. A product of the leagues style of play has seen some of the most exciting wingers in the world develop into superstars, including Jadon Sancho, Serge Gnabry, Leroy Sane, Kingsley Coman and Jude Bellingham.

The Bundesliga has some of the most passionate fans in the world and in the past has drawn the highest average attendances of any soccer league. German teams have also done consistently well in European competition, with Bayern Munich winning the European Cup/Champions League six times.

1. Premier League (England)

When you watch other leagues and compare it to the gameplay of the Premier League, other leagues seem slow in comparison to the fast-paced and physical style of play of England’s top flight.

The enormous financial resources the league has from its £4.8 billion TV rights deal has helped Premier League clubs attract the best players in the world. Teams can afford to invest in state-of-the-art stadiums and training facilities that helps attract the best youth prospects from across the globe.

Clubs like Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City are among the most popular teams in the world and they’re all able to consistently compete in the Champions League. The passion of English supporters is felt week in and week out through high quality broadcasting coverage, and the highest level of soccer competition makes it the best soccer league in the world.

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