The Primeira Liga (Portuguese pronunciation:[pɾiˈmɐjɾɐˈliɣɐ]), also known as Liga Portugal Betclic for sponsorship reasons, is a professional association football league in Portugal and the highest level of the Portuguese football league system. Organised and supervised by the Liga Portugal, it has been 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.

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 (31) and Sporting CP (21)—have won all but two Primeira Liga titles; the other winners are Belenenses (1945–46) and Boavista (2000–01).

The Primeira Liga reached a world ranking of fourth according to IFFHS's 2011 ranking.

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.[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.

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.

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

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. 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]

Big Three

"Big Three" performance over the last 10 seasons
SeasonBenficaPortoSporting
2016–17123
2017–18213
2018–19123
2019–20214
2020–21321
2021–22312
2022–23124
2023–24231
2024–25231
2025–26312

"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 (21). 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.

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.

Sponsored names

Galp Energia acquired the naming rights to the league in 2002, titling the division SuperLiga Galp Energia. A four-year deal with Austrian sports betting firm 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.

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. 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 Galp Energia
  • 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 winner entering the group stage directly. The second 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 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 third placed team, who otherwise enter the UEFA Europa League qualification. The number four enters the qualification stages of the UEFA Conference League.

UEFA ranking

UEFA League Ranking as of the 2026–27 season:

  1. England Premier League
  2. Italy Serie A
  3. Spain La Liga
  4. Germany Bundesliga
  5. France Ligue 1
  6. Portugal Primeira Liga
  7. Belgium Belgian Pro League
  8. Netherlands Eredivisie
  9. Turkey Süper Lig
  10. Poland Ekstraklasa

Clubs

Primeira Liga teams in Portugal
Locations of teams in the 2025–26 Primeira Liga.
Primeira Liga teams in the Lisbon area
Locations of teams in the 2025–26 Primeira Liga from the Lisbon area
Primeira Liga teams in Madeira
Locations of teams in the 2025–26 Primeira Liga from Madeira.
Primeira teams in Azores
Locations of teams in the 2025–26 Primeira Liga from Azores.
TeamLocationStadiumCapacity1st season in Primeira LigaNo. of seasons in Primeira Liga1st season of current spellNo. of seasons of current spellLeague titlesLast title
AlvercaAlverca do RibatejoComplexo Desportivo FC Alverca6,9321998–9972025–2630-
AroucaAroucaEstádio Municipal de Arouca5,6002013–1452021–2200-
AVSVila das AvesEstádio do Clube Desportivo das Aves6,2302024–2512025–2610-
BenficaLisbonEstádio da Luz68,1001934–35901934–3590382022–23
BragaBragaEstádio Municipal de Braga30,2861947–48681975–76490-
Casa PiaLisbonEstádio Municipal de Rio Maior, at Rio Maior7,0001938–3932022–2320-
Estoril PraiaEstorilEstádio António Coimbra da Mota5,0941944–45292021–2230-
Estrela da AmadoraAmadoraEstádio José Gomes9,2881988–89162023–2410-
FamalicãoVila Nova de FamalicãoEstádio Municipal de Famalicão5,1861946–47102019–2050-
Gil VicenteBarcelosEstádio Cidade de Barcelos12,0461990–91242019–2050-
MoreirenseGuimarãesEstádio Comendador Joaquim de Almeida Freitas6,1502002–03122023–2410-
NacionalFunchalEstádio da Madeira5,2001988–89212024–2510-
PortoPortoEstádio do Dragão50,0331934–35901934–3590312025-26
Rio AveVila do CondeEstadio dos Arcos5,3001979–80292022–2320-
Santa ClaraPonta DelgadaEstádio de São Miguel12,5001999–200092024–2510-
Sporting CPLisbonEstádio José Alvalade52,0951934–35901934–3590212024–25
TondelaTondelaEstádio João Cardoso5,0002015–1672025–2600-
Vitória de GuimarãesGuimarãesEstádio D. Afonso Henriques30,0291941–42792007–08170-

League attendance record

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 40 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.

In the 2023–24 season, Liga Portugal broke the record for stadium attendance in the last 12 years of Liga records, with an increase of more than 10% compared to the previous season. The total accumulated audience figures were 3,707,290 and 556,267 people, giving an average attendance of 12,115 and 1,818 spectators in the Primeira and Segunda Liga, respectively. It's also the highest in the last 34 years and the only one to pass the 12,000 barrier since the 1989–90 season.

This is due to the League's joint initiative with Continente "É Para Cartão" to bring families back to the stadiums. The slogan "Football is You" was a success, as this season many historic clubs in lower leagues managed to have much higher averages than several clubs in the Primeira Liga.

In the following season, 2024-25, the league once again set a new record for stadium attendance, with a 1.5% increase on the previous season. The total accumulated audience totalled 3,761,888 people, giving an average attendance of 12,294 spectators. This is the highest this season and the second time since the 1989/90 season that the 12,000 barrier has been surpassed. This is mainly due to the rise in the averages of Benfica, Sporting, Porto, Vitória de Guimarães, Farense and Gil Vicente, who are the only clubs to have improved their averages, while the rest of the clubs have fallen considerably.

The record season of 2024–25 saw the following statistics per club:

#ClubGamesAverageAttendanceAccumulatedStadium capacityStadium
1stSL Benfica1758.74691.4%998.68065.592Estádio da Luz
2ndSporting CP1742.52984.95%722.98750.095Estádio José Alvalade
3rdFC Porto1740.60981.16%690.35650.033Estádio do Dragão
4thVitória SC1718.44762.61%313.60530.029Estádio D. Afonso Henriques
5thSC Braga1713.86849.18%235.75530.286Estádio Municipal de Braga
6thBoavista FC177.21226.35%122.59628.263Estádio do Bessa
7thSC Farense177.16567.96%121.8127.000Estádio de São Luís
22.000Estádio Algarve
8thGil Vicente FC175.49645.69%93.43712.046Estádio Cidade de Barcelos
9thFC Famalicão173.78172.4%64.2855.186Estádio Municipal 22 de Junho
10thEstrela Amadora173.70455.74%62.9729.288Estádio José Gomes
11thSanta Clara173.07430.74%52.26412.500Estádio de São Miguel
12thEstoril Praia172.72353.45%46.2905.094Estádio António Coimbra da Mota
13thRio Ave FC172.59142.32%44.0435.300Estádio do Rio Ave FC
14thAVS SAD172.40741.74%40.9196.230Estádio do CD Aves
15thCD Nacional172.39646.54%40.7245.200Estádio da Madeira
16thMoreirense FC172.38738.79%40.5756.150Parque Comendador Joaquim de Almeida Freitas
17thFC Arouca172.11142.76%35.8895.600Estádio Municipal de Arouca
18thCasa Pia AC172.04329.26%34.7297.000Estádio Municipal de Rio Maior
Total Estimate30612.29453.50%3.761,888340.898

List of champions and top scorers

ClubsPlayers
SeasonChampionsPointsRunners-upPointsThird placePointsTeamsRoundsBola de Prata (top scorer)ClubGoals
Campeonato da Liga da Primeira Divisão
1934–35Porto22Sporting CP20Benfica19814Portugal Manuel SoeiroSporting CP14
1935–36Benfica21Porto20Sporting CP18814Portugal PingaPorto21
1936–37Benfica (2)24Belenenses23Sporting CP19814Portugal Manuel SoeiroSporting CP24
1937–38Benfica (3)23Porto23Sporting CP22814Portugal Fernando PeyroteoSporting CP34
Campeonato Nacional da Primeira Divisão
1938–39Porto (2)23Sporting CP22Benfica21814Portugal CosturasPorto18
1939–40Porto (3)34Sporting CP32Belenenses251018Portugal F. Peyroteo / Kingdom of Yugoslavia S. KodrnjaSporting CP / Porto29
1940–41Sporting CP23Porto20Belenenses19814Portugal Fernando PeyroteoSporting CP29
1941–42Benfica (4)38Sporting CP34Belenenses301222Portugal Correia DiasPorto36
1942–43Benfica (5)30Sporting CP29Belenenses281018Portugal JulinhoBenfica24
1943–44Sporting CP (2)31Benfica26Atlético CP241018Portugal Francisco RodriguesVitória de Setúbal28
1944–45Benfica (6)30Belenenses27Sporting CP271018Portugal Francisco RodriguesVitória de Setúbal21
1945–46Belenenses38Benfica37Sporting CP321222Portugal Fernando PeyroteoSporting CP37
1946–47Sporting CP (3)47Benfica41Porto331426Portugal Fernando PeyroteoSporting CP43
1947–48Sporting CP (4)41Benfica41Belenenses371426Portugal António AraújoPorto36
1948–49Sporting CP (5)42Benfica37Belenenses351426Portugal Fernando PeyroteoSporting CP40
1949–50Benfica (7)45Sporting CP39Atlético CP301426Portugal JulinhoBenfica29
1950–51Sporting CP (6)45Porto34Benfica301426Portugal Manuel VasquesSporting CP29
1951–52Sporting CP (7)41Benfica40Porto361426Portugal José ÁguasBenfica28
1952–53Sporting CP (8)43Benfica39Belenenses361426Portugal MatateuBelenenses29
1953–54Sporting CP (9)43Porto36Benfica321426Portugal João MartinsSporting CP31
1954–55Benfica (8)39Belenenses39Sporting CP371426Portugal MatateuBelenenses32
1955–56Porto (4)43Benfica43Belenenses371426Portugal José ÁguasBenfica28
1956–57Benfica (9)41Porto40Belenenses331426Portugal José ÁguasBenfica30
1957–58Sporting CP (10)43Porto43Benfica361426Portugal Arsénio DuarteCUF do Barreiro23
1958–59Porto (5)41Benfica41Belenenses381426Portugal José ÁguasBenfica26
1959–60Benfica (10)45Sporting CP43Belenenses361426Brazil Edmur RibeiroVitória de Guimarães25
1960–61Benfica (11)46Sporting CP42Porto331426Portugal José ÁguasBenfica27
1961–62Sporting CP (11)43Porto41Benfica361426Brazil VeríssimoPorto23
1962–63Benfica (12)48Porto42Sporting CP381426Portugal José Augusto TorresBenfica26
1963–64Benfica (13)46Porto40Sporting CP341426Portugal EusébioBenfica28
1964–65Benfica (14)43Porto37CUF do Barreiro351426Portugal EusébioBenfica28
1965–66Sporting CP (12)42Benfica41Porto341426Portugal Eusébio / Portugal E. FigueiredoBenfica / Sporting CP25
1966–67Benfica (15)43Académica40Porto391426Portugal EusébioBenfica31
1967–68Benfica (16)41Sporting CP37Porto361426Portugal EusébioBenfica42
1968–69Benfica (17)39Porto37Vitória de Guimarães361426Portugal Manuel AntónioAcadémica19
1969–70Sporting CP (13)46Benfica38Vitória de Setúbal361426Portugal EusébioBenfica20
1970–71Benfica (18)41Sporting CP38Porto371426Portugal Artur JorgeBenfica23
1971–72Benfica (19)55Vitória de Setúbal45Sporting CP431630Portugal Artur JorgeBenfica27
1972–73Benfica (20)58Belenenses40Vitória de Setúbal381630Portugal EusébioBenfica40
1973–74Sporting CP (14)49Benfica47Vitória de Setúbal451630Argentina Héctor YazaldeSporting CP46
1974–75Benfica (21)49Porto44Sporting CP431630Argentina Héctor YazaldeSporting CP30
1975–76Benfica (22)50Boavista48Belenenses401630Portugal Rui JordãoBenfica30
1976–77Benfica (23)51Sporting CP42Porto411630Portugal Fernando GomesPorto26
1977–78Porto (6)51Benfica51Sporting CP421630Portugal Fernando GomesPorto25
1978–79Porto (7)50Benfica49Sporting CP421630Portugal Fernando GomesPorto27
1979–80Sporting CP (15)52Porto50Benfica451630Portugal Rui JordãoSporting CP31
1980–81Benfica (24)50Porto48Sporting CP371630Portugal NenéBenfica20
1981–82Sporting CP (16)46Benfica44Porto431630Portugal Jacques PereiraPorto27
1982–83Benfica (25)51Porto47Sporting CP421630Portugal Fernando GomesPorto36
1983–84Benfica (26)52Porto49Sporting CP421630Portugal Fernando Gomes / NenéPorto / Benfica21
1984–85Porto (8)55Sporting CP47Benfica431630Portugal Fernando GomesPorto39
1985–86Porto (9)49Benfica47Sporting CP461630Portugal Manuel FernandesSporting CP30
1986–87Benfica (27)48Porto46Vitória de Guimarães411630Brazil Paulinho CascavelVitória de Guimarães22
1987–88Porto (10)66Benfica51Belenenses482038BrazilPaulinho CascavelSporting CP23
1988–89Benfica (28)63Porto56Boavista492038Angola VataBenfica16
1989–90Porto (11)59Benfica55Sporting CP461834Sweden Mats MagnussonBenfica33
1990–91Benfica (29)69Porto67Sporting CP572038Portugal Rui ÁguasBenfica25
1991–92Porto (12)56Benfica46Boavista441834Nigeria RickyBoavista30
1992–93Porto (13)54Benfica52Sporting CP451834Portugal Jorge CadeteSporting CP18
1993–94Benfica (30)54Porto52Sporting CP511834Nigeria Rashidi YekiniVitória de Setúbal21
1994–95Porto (14)62Sporting CP53Benfica491834Morocco Hassan NaderFarense21
1995–96Porto (15)84Benfica73Sporting CP671834Portugal Domingos PaciênciaPorto25
1996–97Porto (16)85Sporting CP72Benfica581834Brazil Mário JardelPorto30
1997–98Porto (17)77Benfica68Vitória de Guimarães591834Brazil Mário JardelPorto26
1998–99Porto (18)79Boavista71Benfica651834Brazil Mário JardelPorto36
Primeira Liga
1999–2000Sporting CP (17)77Porto73Benfica691834Brazil Mário JardelPorto37
2000–01Boavista77Porto76Sporting CP621834Brazil PenaPorto22
2001–02Sporting CP (18)75Boavista70Porto681834Brazil Mário JardelSporting CP42
2002–03Porto (19)86Benfica75Sporting CP591834Senegal Fary Faye / Portugal SimãoBeira-Mar / Benfica18
2003–04Porto (20)82Benfica74Sporting CP731834South Africa Benni McCarthyPorto20
2004–05Benfica (31)65Porto62Sporting CP611834Brazil LiédsonSporting CP25
2005–06Porto (21)79Sporting CP72Benfica671834Cameroon Albert MeyongBelenenses17
2006–07Porto (22)69Sporting CP68Benfica671630Brazil LiédsonSporting CP15
2007–08Porto (23)75(1)Sporting CP55Vitória de Guimarães531630Argentina Lisandro LópezPorto24
2008–09Porto (24)70Sporting CP66Benfica591630Brazil NenêNacional20
2009–10Benfica (32)76Braga71Porto681630Paraguay Óscar CardozoBenfica26
2010–11Porto (25)84Benfica63Sporting CP481630Brazil HulkPorto23
2011–12Porto (26)75Benfica69Braga621630Paraguay Óscar Cardozo / Brazil LimaBenfica / Braga20
2012–13Porto (27)78Benfica77Paços de Ferreira541630Colombia Jackson MartínezPorto26
2013–14Benfica (33)74Sporting CP67Porto611630Colombia Jackson MartínezPorto20
2014–15Benfica (34)85Porto82Sporting CP761834Colombia Jackson MartínezPorto21
2015–16Benfica (35)88Sporting CP86Porto731834Brazil JonasBenfica32
2016–17Benfica (36)82Porto76Sporting CP701834Netherlands Bas DostSporting CP34
2017–18Porto (28)88Benfica81Sporting CP781834Brazil JonasBenfica34
2018–19Benfica (37)87Porto85Sporting CP741834Switzerland Haris SeferovicBenfica23
2019–20Porto (29)82Benfica77Braga601834Brazil Carlos ViníciusBenfica18
2020–21Sporting CP (19)85Porto80Benfica761834Portugal Pedro GonçalvesSporting CP23
2021–22Porto (30)91Sporting CP85Benfica741834Uruguay Darwin NúñezBenfica26
2022–23Benfica (38)87Porto85Braga781834Iran Mehdi TaremiPorto22
2023–24Sporting CP (20)90Benfica80Porto721834Sweden Viktor GyökeresSporting CP29
2024–25Sporting CP (21)82Benfica80Porto711834Sweden Viktor GyökeresSporting CP39
2025–26Porto (31)88Sporting CP82Benfica801834Colombia Luis SuárezSporting CP28
  • 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, but they recovered those points in July 2017.

Performance by club

All Primeira Liga champions have come from either Lisbon or Porto.

ClubWinnersRunners-upWinning seasonsRunners-up seasons
Benfica38311935–36, 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, 2022–231943–44, 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, 2023–24, 2024–25
Porto31291934–35, 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, 2025–261935–36, 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 CP21221940–41, 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, 2023–24, 2024–251934–35, 1938–39, 1939–40, 1941–42, 1942–43, 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, 2025–26
Belenenses01041945–461936–37, 1944–45, 1954–55, 1972–73
Boavista01032000–011975–76, 1998–99, 2001–02
Braga00012009–10
Vitória de Setúbal00011971–72
Académica00011966–67

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 2025–26 season. For comparison, older seasons have been calculated according to the three-points-per-win rule.

PosTeamSPtsGPWDLGFGAGD1st2nd3rd4th5th6thTDebutSince/ Last AppBestNotes
1Benfica9259232636181149033463462294404238311841921934–351934–351[A]
2Porto925801263617774703955821229735243129141231901934–351934–351[A]
3Sporting CP92550926361656541439577624753301212230144911934–351934–351[A]
4Vitória de Guimarães813422242694957590233953384114101217431941–422007–083
5Belenenses7731582146877527742335227456071414897431934–352017–181
6Braga703128216087450678030272914113131962311947–481975–762
7Boavista622606190870648871424482657-2091321045251935–362024–251[B]
8Vitória de Setúbal722590207269450887027943119-32513297221934–352019–202
9Académica641935170451638780123463003-6571268171934–352015–162
10Marítimo431760141447238355915731805-23265111977–782026–275
11Rio Ave311202101030129941010631346-2833251979–802022–235
12Estoril31110594228923741612641491-22723161944–452021–224
13Gil Vicente259528422442203788751144-2692131990–912019–205
14Farense269528562452173948981238-3401231970–712024–255
15Paços de Ferreira249237842342213298391106-26711241990–912022–233
16Beira-Mar278968582182423988831340-457111961–622012–136
17Nacional228707242281863108421012-17022151988–892024–254
18Portimonense21776678205162313715946-2311121976–772023–245
19Salgueiros247747401971833608041377-5731121943–442001–025
20CUF Barreiro237696102071482558281003-175121261942–431975–763[C]
21Leixões257136701831643237501186-4361121936–372009–105
22União de Leiria18711584184159241620771-1512241979–802011–125
23Atlético CP247106321921343069761285-309211371943–441976–773
24Chaves18702616177171268674885-2112241985–862023–245
25Estrela da Amadora19700642164208270616839-2231988–892023–247
26Varzim21683618169176273638913-2751121963–642002–035
27Barreirense246175921661193077581195-43712471937–381978–794
28Moreirense15592506150142214534693-159222002–032023–246
29Olhanense205655161471242458001057-25712141941–422013–144
30Famalicão13529374136121177505652-1471121946–472019–205
31Sporting da Covilhã1545740612679201585834-2491341947–481987–885
32Penafiel13435434106117211351625-2741980–812014–1510
33Lusitano de Évora1441236411664184494722-2281121952–531965–665
35Santa Clara103893409992139361457-961121999–20002024–255
34Sporting de Espinho113793549691167336523-1871974–751996–977
36Arouca93563029377132336441-105222013–142021–225
37Tirsense82682566573118219370-1511967–681995–968
38Tondela82632726762143278433-1552015–162025–2610
39Alverca62202045846100227318-911998–992025–2611
40União da Madeira6206208486298177300-1231989–902015–1610[D]
41Naval 1º de Maio6193184494689160255-952005–062010–118[E]
42Oriental71871905037103224438-214111950–511974–755
43Campomaiorense5178170483488186287-1011995–962000–0111[F]
44Feirense71752224443135187403-2161962–632018–198
45Torreense6163164443189183316-1331955–561991–927
46União de Tomar6162172433396178331-1531968–691975–7610
47Desportivo das Aves61601964040116173320-1471985–862019–2013[G]
48Casa Pia5157150403773151247-961938–392022–238
49O Elvas5148146373772211283-721947–481987–888
50B-SAD4144136334558117195-782018–192021–229[H]
51Leça4124124332566120231-1111941–421997–9812
52Vizela4118132273768138243-951984–852023–2411
53Académico de Viseu410512827247781237-1561978–792026–2713
54Caldas4103104262553124235-1111955–561958–5910
55Montijo3899023204791155-641972–731976–7713[I]
56Amora3899022234590143-531980–811982–8312
57Lusitano VRSA372782194894210-1161947–481949–5012
58Sanjoanense47010416226686249-1631946–471968–6910
59Carcavelinhos56982191251103223-1201121935–361941–424[J]
60Unidos de Lisboa36254188281511456111940–411942–434[K]
61Académico do Porto5608218658137300-1631934–351941–427[L]
62SL Elvas2544817328108167-591945–461946–479[M]
63AVS Futebol SAD248688243652127-752024–252025–2616
64Fafe14138914152947-181988–891988–8916
65Felgueiras1333489172947-181995–961995–9616[N]
66Seixal22952783744150-1061963–641964–6512
67Riopele1273069152351-281977–781977–7815[O]
68Águeda1263075182555-301983–841983–8415
69Trofense1233058172542-172008–092008–0916
70União de Coimbra1223057182254-321972–731972–7315
71Ginásio de Alcobaça1193047192056-361982–831982–8316
72União de Lisboa111143293049-19111934–351934–356[J]
73Oliveirense1112232172273-511945–461945–4612

A.^ Never relegated.

B.^ Club folded in 2026.

C.^ Renamed Fabril in 2000.

D.^ Club folded in 2021. Successor club União da Bola was founded in 2022.

E.^ Club folded in 2017. Successor club Naval 1893 was founded in 2017.

F.^ Club ended football team in 2013.

G.^ Club ended football team in 2020. Successor club AVS was founded in 2023.

H.^ Merged with Portalegrense in 2024.

I.^ Club folded in 2007. Successor club Olímpico Montijo was founded in 2007.

J.^ Merged to form Atlético CP in 1942.

K.^ Club ended football team in 2009.

L.^ Club ended football team in 1964.

M.^ Merged to form O Elvas in 1947.

N.^ Club folded in 2005. Successor club Felgueiras (2006) was founded in 2006.

O.^ Club folded in 1984.

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), despite not having won the league in this season.
  • 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).
  • 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).
  • In 2025–26, Benfica finished the league without defeat for a third time (23 wins and 11 draws), becoming the first team to do so in an edition with 34 matches and setting the record for the longest unbeaten run in a single season.

Individual records

RankPlayerAppearances
Appearances As of 20 February 2021[citation needed] Rank Player Appearances 1 Portugal Manuel Fernandes 486 2 Portugal António Sousa 484 3 Portugal João Vieira Pinto 476 4 Portugal Dinis Vital 442 5 Portugal António Veloso 437 6 Portugal Nené 422 Portugal Manuel Bento 8 Portugal Vítor Damas 416 9 Portugal João Pinto 408 10 Portugal Vítor Baía 406Top scorers As of 20 February 2021[citation needed] Rank Player Goals 1 Portugal Fernando Peyroteo 332 2 Portugal Eusébio 320 3 Portugal Fernando Gomes 319 4 Portugal José Águas 291 5 Portugal Nené 262 6 Portugal Manuel Fernandes 243 7 Portugal Matateu 219 8 Portugal José Torres 218 9 Portugal Arsénio Duarte 215 10 Portugal Rui Jordão 213
1Portugal Manuel Fernandes486
2Portugal António Sousa484
3Portugal João Vieira Pinto476
4Portugal Dinis Vital442
5Portugal António Veloso437
6Portugal Nené422
Portugal Manuel Bento
8Portugal Vítor Damas416
9Portugal João Pinto408
10Portugal Vítor Baía406
RankPlayerGoals
1Portugal Fernando Peyroteo332
2Portugal Eusébio320
3Portugal Fernando Gomes319
4Portugal José Águas291
5Portugal Nené262
6Portugal Manuel Fernandes243
7Portugal Matateu219
8Portugal José Torres218
9Portugal Arsénio Duarte215
10Portugal Rui Jordão213

Player transfer fees

Top transfer fees paid by Primeira Liga clubs
RankPlayerFee (min.)DateTransferReference(s)
1Spain Samu Aghehowa€32M23 August 2024Royal Spanish Football Federation Atlético MadridPorto
2Colombia Richard Ríos€27M22 July 2025Brazilian Football Confederation PalmeirasBenfica
3Turkey Orkun Kökçü€25M10 June 2023Royal Dutch Football Association FeyenoordBenfica
4Uruguay Darwin Núñez€24M4 September 2020Royal Spanish Football Federation AlmeríaBenfica
5Croatia Franjo Ivanović€22.8M31 July 2025Royal Belgian Football Association Union Saint-GilloiseBenfica
6Colombia Luis Suárez€22.2M28 July 2025Royal Spanish Football Federation AlmeríaSporting CP
7Greece Fotis Ioannidis€22M1 September 2025Hellenic Football Federation PanathinaikosSporting CP
8Mexico Raúl Jiménez€21.8M21 July 2016Royal Spanish Football Federation Atlético MadridBenfica
9Democratic Republic of the Congo Giannelli Imbula€20M1 July 2015French Football Federation MarseillePorto
Spain Óliver Torres9 February 2017Royal Spanish Football Federation Atlético MadridPorto
Spain Raúl de Tomás3 July 2019Royal Spanish Football Federation Real MadridBenfica
Germany Julian Weigl2 January 2020German Football Association Borussia DortmundBenfica
Brazil Everton Soares14 August 2020Brazilian Football Confederation GrêmioBenfica
Portugal David Carmo€20M5 July 2022Portuguese Football Federation BragaPorto
Sweden Viktor Gyökeres€20M1 July 2023England Coventry CitySporting CP
Brazil Arthur Cabral€20M10 August 2023Italy FiorentinaBenfica
Denmark Victor Froholdt€20M23 July 2025Danish Football Association CopenhagenPorto
Royal Belgian Football Association Dodi Lukébakio€20M1 September 2025Royal Spanish Football Federation SevillaBenfica
Top transfer fees received by Primeira Liga clubs
RankPlayerFee (min.)DateTransferReference(s)
1Portugal João Félix€126M3 July 2019BenficaRoyal Spanish Football Federation Atlético Madrid
2Argentina Enzo Fernández€121M31 January 2023BenficaThe Football Association Chelsea
3Uruguay Darwin Nuñez€75M13 June 2022BenficaThe Football Association Liverpool
4Portugal Rúben Dias€68M29 September 2020BenficaThe Football Association Manchester City
5Portugal Gonçalo Ramos€65M22 November 2023BenficaFrench Football Federation Paris Saint-Germain
6Sweden Viktor Gyökeres€63.5M26 July 2025Sporting CPThe Football Association Arsenal
7Uruguay Manuel Ugarte€60M7 July 2023Sporting CPFrench Football Federation Paris Saint-Germain
Portugal Otávio22 August 2023PortoSaudi Arabian Football Federation Al-Nassr
Spain Nico González3 February 2025PortoThe Football Association Manchester City
10Portugal João Neves€59.9M5 August 2024BenficaFrench Football Federation Paris Saint-Germain

Media coverage

Portugal

  • TVI (Moreirense home matches)
  • BTV (SL Benfica home matches)
  • Sport TV (every match, excluding Moreirense and Benfica home matches)

See also

Notes

Sources

  • Tovar, Rui (2011). Almanaque do FC Porto 1893–2011 (in Portuguese). Alfragide: Caderno. ISBN9789892315430.

External links