The 1998 season in the Latvian Higher League, named Virslīga, was the 8th domestic competition since the Baltic nation gained independence from the Soviet Union on 6 September 1991. Eight teams competed in this edition, with Skonto FC claiming the title.
Final table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|
| 1 | Skonto (C) | 28 | 21 | 4 | 3 | 98 | 27 | +71 | 67 | Qualification for Champions League first qualifying round |
| 2 | Liepājas Metalurgs | 28 | 17 | 6 | 5 | 62 | 25 | +37 | 57 | Qualification for UEFA Cup qualifying round |
| 3 | Ventspils | 28 | 16 | 6 | 6 | 56 | 23 | +33 | 54 |
| 4 | Dinaburg | 28 | 11 | 10 | 7 | 49 | 31 | +18 | 43 | Qualification for Intertoto Cup first round |
| 5 | Valmiera | 28 | 10 | 7 | 11 | 39 | 59 | −20 | 37 | |
| 6 | LU-Daugava (R) | 28 | 7 | 9 | 12 | 42 | 42 | 0 | 30 | Relegation to Latvian First League |
| 7 | Rēzekne | 28 | 2 | 5 | 21 | 22 | 80 | −58 | 11 | |
| 8 | Ranto-Miks (R) | 28 | 2 | 5 | 21 | 25 | 106 | −81 | 11 | Relegation to Latvian First League |
Match table
First half of the season| Home \ Away | DIN | MET | DAU | RAN | RĒZ | SKO | VAL | VEN |
|---|
| First half of the season Home \ Away DIN MET DAU RAN RĒZ SKO VAL VEN Dinaburg 0–1 0–0 6–1 0–0 0–1 6–1 1–1 Liepājas Metalurgs 1–2 3–2 7–0 4–0 0–0 4–1 0–0 LU-Daugava 2–2 0–0 3–0 8–2 3–5 4–2 1–1 Ranto-Miks 0–6 3–4 2–1 1–3 3–3 0–0 0–1 Rēzekne 0–1 2–3 1–2 2–2 0–2 1–2 1–4 Skonto 0–2 1–0 2–3 9–0 7–0 4–0 1–0 Valmiera 0–2 2–1 2–2 4–0 3–0 1–4 0–0 Ventspils 0–0 0–1 1–0 9–0 4–1 2–1 0–3 Source: [citation needed] Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win. | Second half of the season Home \ Away DIN MET DAU RAN RĒZ SKO VAL VEN Dinaburg 1–1 0–2 5–1 2–1 1–4 0–0 0–3 Liepājas Metalurgs 3–0 2–1 5–1 7–0 1–1 2–1 1–0 LU-Daugava 0–0 0–1 2–0 1–1 1–2 0–0 1–2 Ranto-Miks 2–5 1–6 1–1 0–0 2–7 0–3 1–5 Rēzekne 2–4 1–2 2–1 1–2 1–6 0–5 0–3 Skonto 2–1 1–1 3–0 4–0 1–0 15–2 4–0 Valmiera 1–1 2–1 2–1 1–0 0–0 1–5 0–3 Ventspils 1–1 2–0 3–0 3–2 3–0 2–3 3–0 Source: [citation needed] Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win. |
| Dinaburg | | 0–1 | 0–0 | 6–1 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 6–1 | 1–1 |
| Liepājas Metalurgs | 1–2 | | 3–2 | 7–0 | 4–0 | 0–0 | 4–1 | 0–0 |
| LU-Daugava | 2–2 | 0–0 | | 3–0 | 8–2 | 3–5 | 4–2 | 1–1 |
| Ranto-Miks | 0–6 | 3–4 | 2–1 | | 1–3 | 3–3 | 0–0 | 0–1 |
| Rēzekne | 0–1 | 2–3 | 1–2 | 2–2 | | 0–2 | 1–2 | 1–4 |
| Skonto | 0–2 | 1–0 | 2–3 | 9–0 | 7–0 | | 4–0 | 1–0 |
| Valmiera | 0–2 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 3–0 | 1–4 | | 0–0 |
| Ventspils | 0–0 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 9–0 | 4–1 | 2–1 | 0–3 | |
| Home \ Away | DIN | MET | DAU | RAN | RĒZ | SKO | VAL | VEN |
| Dinaburg | | 1–1 | 0–2 | 5–1 | 2–1 | 1–4 | 0–0 | 0–3 |
| Liepājas Metalurgs | 3–0 | | 2–1 | 5–1 | 7–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 |
| LU-Daugava | 0–0 | 0–1 | | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 1–2 |
| Ranto-Miks | 2–5 | 1–6 | 1–1 | | 0–0 | 2–7 | 0–3 | 1–5 |
| Rēzekne | 2–4 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 1–2 | | 1–6 | 0–5 | 0–3 |
| Skonto | 2–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 4–0 | 1–0 | | 15–2 | 4–0 |
| Valmiera | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–5 | | 0–3 |
| Ventspils | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 3–2 | 3–0 | 2–3 | 3–0 | |
Top scorers
Awards
Skonto FC 1998