The Strongest National Soccer Leagues in the World

Each year, the International Federation of Football History and Statistics uses a specific system to determine which are the strongest national soccer leagues in the world. Let's see what they are!

Each year, the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) determines the strongest national soccer leagues in the world. In this article, we’ll tell you about the ones that have historically always been at the top.

The first time that the IFFHS created an annual ranking of the strongest national soccer leagues was in 1991. But how do they create this ranking? Well, they mainly do it by looking at the number of participating teams, the international competitions that they compete in, and the points that these teams win.

The strongest national soccer leagues

If you look at the rankings each year, you’ll realize that the same leagues are almost always in the top positions. They simply switch places occasionally, although sometimes a new one appears. If we look back over history, we’ll see that the strongest national soccer leagues almost always include the following:

1. La Liga, Spain

This league has come first in the IFFHS rankings 13 times and came second on ten occasions. It’s always appeared in the top ten. La Liga’s first season was the 1928-1929 season and the league has run every year since (with interruptions between 1936 and 1939 because of the Civil War). Currently, 20 teams participate and there are 380 games in total.

The team with the most La Liga titles is Real Madrid, with 33 titles, who, along with FC Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao, have competed in every season. Normally, the top four teams qualify for the Champions League, and 5th and 6th place qualify for the Europa League.

2. Serie A, Italy: the strongest national soccer leagues

This league has been played since 1929 (interrupted between 1943 and 1945 by World War II) and is one of the strongest in the world. In the IFFHS rankings it’s taken the top spot nine times, second place five times, and third place seven times.

There are 20 teams in the Italian Serie A and the season is made up of 380 matches. The most successful club is Juventus, with 33 titles. However, the club which has appeared in the league the most times is Inter Milan, with 88 seasons. The top four teams qualify for the Champions League and 5th and 6th qualify for the Europa League.

3. The strongest national soccer leagues: Premier League, England

This is one of the most popular soccer leagues in the world has taken the top spot five times in the IFFHS ranking (it came second nine times and third four times). The Premier League was formed in 1992, although the English First Division has existed since 1888. It was known as the ‘Premiership’ between 1993 and 2007.

Prior to the formation of the Premier League, the team with the most titles was Liverpool. However, since 1992, Manchester United have dominated the trophy haul. Presently, there are 20 competing teams and each team places 38 games. The top four qualify for the UEFA Champions League and 5th and 6th place qualify for the Europa League.

4. Bundesliga, Germany

The Bundesliga has only taken the top spot in the ranking on one occasion. However, no one can deny that the German league is one of the strongest national soccer leagues in the world. Just like the English Premier League, its format and name have changed in the past.

The first German championship was played between 1948 and 1963 as the DFB Oberliga. From then, it was known as the DDR Oberliga until 1991, following the reunification of East and West Germany. It’s been known as the Bundesliga since 1963.

The team with the most championship titles is Bayern Munich with 28 titles, and Werder Bremen is the team with the most seasons in the league with 56.

5. Serie A, Brazil

The only league in the top five that isn’t from Europe and which, curiously, has never taken the top spot (it’s come second three times and third three times). The Brasileirao, as it’s popularly known, is the highest level of Brazilian football and was founded in 1959, with 62 seasons to date.

The most successful team is Palmeiras, with ten titles. The top six clubs qualify for the Copa Libertadores whilst teams from seventh to twelfth place qualify for the Copa Sudamericana.

Other leagues that feature in the present top 10 of the strongest national soccer leagues in the world include the Ligue 1 of France, the Primeira Liga of Portugal, the Primera A of Colombia, the Primera División of Argentina and the Eredivisie of the Netherlands. Which is your favorite?