Let’s start this article with all about La Liga with a question: did you know that the Spanish league is considered by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHF) as the best soccer league in the world?
This information is certainly an excellent welcome for those who are just getting to know the tournament.
After all, if you’re passionate about soccer, there’s nothing like following the best national club competition, right?
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All about La Liga: what is it?
La Liga, also known as the Spanish Championship, is the main soccer competition in Spain. Officially called Primera División, it is organized by the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional (LFP). Considered one of the most prestigious leagues in the world, the league attracts millions of spectators worldwide and features some of the best players and soccer clubs on the planet.
As well as being considered the best men’s soccer league in the world, according to theIFFHF‘s annual ranking , La Liga is also the second strongest league in Europe over the last decade, surpassed only by the English Premier League.
There are some figures that can help prove the quality of the Spanish teams, for example, when we look at information such as the list of major champions of the Champions League, Europe’s biggest continental competition. The biggest winner of all is Real Madrid. The Spanish team has won no fewer than 14 titles and is the current winner (2023/24 season).
The giants, Barcelona, have won five UEFA Champions League titles, making Spain the only country to have two representatives in the TOP 5 winners of the competition.
How does La Liga work?
To understand how La Liga works, let’s start with the beginning of the season, which usually starts in August and ends in May of the following year. Each club plays 38 matches, facing each opponent twice in a round-robin format. The league uses a straight points system to determine the champion.
In addition to the competition for the title, there are intense battles for qualification for European competitions such as the UEFA Champions League and the Europa League.
The top four finishers in La Liga qualify for the Champions League, while fifth and sixth place guarantee a place in the Europa League.
In a guide to all things La Liga, it’s important to note that, depending onthe results of the Copa del Rey, the seventh-placed team in La Liga could qualify for the UEFA Conference League.
Not familiar with the “new” European championship? Then read on: “All about the UEFA Conference League: the most democratic of European leagues” .
La Liga rules
La Liga rules include:
- each team plays the other 19 at home and away;
- a win is worth three points, a draw one point and a defeat no points;
- at the end of the season, the team with the most points is crowned champion;
- the three teams with the fewest points are relegated and the three best teams in the Segunda División are promoted to La Liga.
In addition to the basic rules, La Liga also has general rules, for example regarding the use of the video assistant referee (VAR).
This is used to review crucial decisions such as goals, penalties, direct red cards and cases of mistaken identity.
Transfer window
There are two transfer windows during the season:
- Summer: From July 1st to August 31st
- Winter: January 1st to 31st
| Transfer windows are specific periods in the soccer calendar when clubs are allowed to register new players from other clubs. These windows are regulated by the soccer associations in each country and by FIFA, with the aim of organizing and controlling the flow of players between teams. |
Player limit
Each team can register a maximum of 25 players for the season. In addition, there are restrictions on the number of foreign players who can be registered, generally limited to three per team.
Breaches of the rules can result in fines, loss of points, disqualification of players or even administrative relegation, depending on the seriousness of the breach.
Okay, in a guide all about La Liga, it’s important to know its rules, but what everyone wants to know when it comes to soccer is who the greatest champions of the Spanish league are, isn’t it?
So let’s get to them!
La Liga’s greatest champions
The list of La Liga’s greatest champions includes:
- Real Madrid: 36 titles (1931–32, 1932–33, 1953–54, 1954–55, 1956–57, 1957–58, 1960–61, 1961–62, 1962–63, 1963–64, 1964–65, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1971–72, 1974–75, 1975–76, 1977–78, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89, 1989–90, 1994–95, 1996–97, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2011–12, 2016–17, 2019–20, 2021–22, 2023–24)
- Barcelona: 27 titles (1928–29, 1944–45, 1947–48, 1948–49, 1951–52, 1952–53, 1958–59, 1959–60, 1973–74, 1984–85, 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1997–98, 1998–99, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2022–23)
- Atlético Madrid: 11 titles (1939–40, 1940–41, 1949–50, 1950–51, 1965–66, 1969–70,1972–73, 1976–77, 1995–96, 2013–14, 2020–21).
The hegemony of the top two teams means that La Liga isn’t exactly a highly competitive tournament, but we’re talking about exciting performers who are both national and international classics.
Curiosities: all about La Liga
What is the history of La Liga?
La Liga was founded in 1929, with just ten teams competing in the inaugural season.
The league has grown significantly over the decades, both in terms of popularity and the number of clubs taking part.
Real Madrid and Barcelona are the two most iconic clubs in the competition, with numerous historical rivalries and notable achievements.
The league has expanded to include 20 teams and has become one of the top five leagues in Europe, alongside the Premier League, Bundesliga, Serie A and Ligue 1.
What is the La Liga prize money?
The La Liga prize money varies every year, but in 2024 the total prize money was around 1.5 billion euros (around R$8.3 billion). All 20 clubs received a fixed amount of around 37.5 million euros. In addition, a bonus is added to the teams, depending on their position at the end of the tournament.
The La Liga champion also receives a trophy and qualification for European competitions such as the UEFA Champions League.
La Liga records
Check out some La Liga records:
- Top scorer: Lionel Messi, with 474 goals, is the top scorer in the history of La Liga, all scored by Barcelona.
- Most appearances: Andoni Zubizarreta, with 622 games, is the player with the most La Liga appearances.
- Most wins: Real Madrid hold the record for the most wins in the history of the competition.
Now that you know all about La Liga, it’s clear that the championship is more than just a soccer competition; it’s a spectacle of talent, passion and history.
With its legendary clubs, iconic players and intense rivalries, La Liga continues to captivate fans around the world. And what’s your guess for the next champion?
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