What is La Liga? A Look at Spain’s Top League
There’s no doubt about the fact that Football is the greatest game on the planet. And it’s mainly because of the fascinating league systems around the world. Among many, there are few football leagues that stand out. Or should we say the top 5 leagues in the world? The concept we’re all familiar with. And La Liga is among the top names that come to mind!
La Liga, the Spanish football league is considered the best of the best leagues in entire Europe and the world, as over the years its fierce competition, impeccable teams, and amazing players have kept football fans entertained. Today is the day when we discuss La Liga in detail and cover every bit about it.
So, here’s all you need to know about Spanish football’s top tier; Wrapped up in a single article! Keep reading till the end.
What Is Spanish Football League; La Liga?
The Spanish Football League, also known as La Liga, is the top professional football division in Spain. It has been around since 1929 and is one of the most prestigious leagues in the world.
It currently consists of 20 teams from across the country who compete for the championship title. The season runs from August to May with each team playing a total of 38 matches.
The reigning champions are Real Madrid, who have won the league a record 33 times. La Liga also provides some of the best players to Europe’s biggest clubs; Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are just two examples of La Liga stars that have made their mark on the international stage.
With its competitive nature and traditional rivalry, it’s no surprise that La Liga remains one of the most popular football leagues on earth.
A Brief History Of La Liga
La Liga is one of the most popular soccer leagues in the world. It dates back to 1929 when the Royal Spanish Football Federation was founded. The first official season of La Liga was played in 1929-30, with 10 teams competing for the title.
Since then, Spain’s top football league has grown in popularity and now features 20 teams from all over Spain, including some of the biggest clubs in world football such as Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Atlético Madrid.
La Liga also produces some of the best players in world football, namely, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Over its long history, this league has produced many great moments and memorable championships. It continues to be one of the most-watched soccer leagues around the world and is a major part of Spanish culture.
Who Was The Founder Of La Liga?
The idea for a single top-flight Spanish league was proposed in April 1928 by an investor/businessman at Getxo named; Jose Maria Acha.
After a series of debates about the magnitude and rules of the league, La Liga was finally founded in 1929. The credit for initiating the discussion, and thus being the founder figure of the league goes to Maria Acha.
Where The Name La Liga Came From?
The La Liga is the top Spanish football league, and its name has been around for a while. It was originally named “Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional” (National Professional Football League) in 1928 when it was first founded.
The name stuck until 1929 when it was renamed ‘La Liga’, which translates to ‘The League’ in English.
The decision to switch the name came from members of the governing body who thought that ‘Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional’ sounded too long and unwieldy.
They opted for something simpler and more direct instead – hence why the current title is simply ‘La Liga’.
Why La Liga Is Among The Best Leagues In The World
La Liga is regarded as one of the best leagues in the world, and for good reason. The Spanish league has consistently been ranked among the top 5 leagues in Europe, and it’s not hard to see why.
It has some of the best players in the world, with superstars like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo playing for teams like Barcelona and Real Madrid respectively in the past.
Additionally, Spain in generally, also offers some of the most passionate and exciting atmospheres in football, with passionate fans turning up every week to support their teams.
Furthermore, La Liga games are broadcasted all over the world and generate millions of viewers each week, further boosting its reputation as one of the greatest leagues in existence.
All these factors make La Liga one of the most exciting and highly competitive leagues on planet earth.
Most Notable Clubs In La Liga
If there is one thing that makes La Liga great, its the clubs on its table. Spanish football is lucky enough to have some of the most legendary football clubs in its whole history, which are still flying high in terms of achievement and culture, despite being there for the last whole century.
We have extracted 5 most legendary clubs from La Liga, here they are:
- FC Barcelona
- Real Madrid
- Atletico Madrid
- Sevilla
- Athletic Bilbao
Which Club Has Won The Most La Liga Titles?
Real Madrid is the club that has won the most La Liga titles, the Royal Whites have 35 league titles since the inception of the league in 1929.
The club won its first title in 1932 and has since gone on to win the title a record 35 times, including a streak of 5 consecutive wins from 1961 to 1965.
Name Of Clubs | Number Of Titles |
Real Madrid | 35 |
FC Barcelona | 26 |
Atletico Madrid | 11 |
Athletic Bilbao | 8 |
Valencia | 6 |
Which Club from Spain has Won The Most champions league & European trophies?
NAME OF CLUBS | CHAMPIONS LEAGUE | UEFA CUP/EUROPA LEAGUE | TOTAL |
Real Madrid CF | 14 | 2 | 16 |
FC Barcelona | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Sevilla | 0 | 6 | 6 |
Atletico De Madrid | 0 | 3 | 3 |
Valencia | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Top Teams That Have Never Been Relegated From La Liga
La Liga is one of the most popular football leagues in the world and it has some top teams that have never been relegated from it.
The first team that comes to mind is Real Madrid.
This team has won a total of 35 titles, making it one of the most successful clubs in Spain. Another team that has never been relegated from La Liga is Barcelona, which has also won a total of 26 titles.
Both teams are considered to be among the best football clubs in the world and have dominated Spanish football for many years.
Athletic Bilbao is another team that has remained in Spain’s top tier since its inception, winning 8 titles so far.
What Is the Pichichi Award?
The Pichichi Award is an accolade presented to the top goal scorer in La Liga, the top division of Spanish football.
The award was created by journalist and sports writer Rafael Sánchez Guerra in honor of the legendary striker Rafael “Pichichi” Moreno, who played for Athletic Bilbao during the early 20th century.
To win the Pichichi Award, a player must finish the season as La Liga’s top goal scorer, with points awarded for each goal scored throughout the season.
The winner is decided based on goals scored during league matches only; cup competitions are not taken into consideration.
Which Player Has The Most Pichichi Awards?
When it comes to records in La Liga, one man has dominated them all! Lionel Messi is the crazy name we’re talking about here.
The Argentine who remained with FC Barcelona for the last 2 decades has won the Pichichi record 8 times, a stunning accomplishment!
NAME OF PLAYERS | PICHICHI WINS |
Lionel Messi | 8 |
Telmo Zarra | 6 |
Alfredo Di Stefano | 5 |
Quini | 5 |
Hugo Sanchez | 5 |
Who Is The All-Time Top Scorer Of La Liga?
Seeing the nature of this question, I believe we all know the answer! The all-time top scorer in the history of La Liga is no one else but Lionel Messi.
He has scored a staggering 474 goals over the course of his 17-year stay at FC Barcelona. It’s a figure which won’t be surpassed for many more decades to come unless another anomaly like Lionel comes by La Liga again.
Messi is followed by his traditional rival; Cristiano Ronaldo! Who has scored 311 goals. The third all-time top scorer is Athletic Bilbao’s legend; Telmo Zara, who has 251 goals to his name.
PLAYERS’ NAMES | NO. OF GOALS |
Lionel Messi | 474 |
Cristiano Ronaldo | 311 |
Telmo Zarra | 251 |
Hugo Sanchez | 234 |
Raul | 228 |
Who Has The All-Time Mosts Assists In La Liga?
La Liga has always been a league of creators, magicians and playmakers who are tactical masters of the game. Following is the list of 5 all time highest assist providers in the history of La Liga until 2023!
PLAYERS’ NAMES | NO. OF ASSISTS |
Lionel Messi | 193 |
Xavi Hernandez | 118 |
Karim Benzema | 103 |
Cristiano Ronaldo | 88 |
Koke | 82 |
La Liga Vs Premier League; Which Is The Best?
The debate between La Liga and the Premier League as to which is the best has been ongoing for years.
Both leagues have their strengths and weaknesses. Spain is famed for its technical, possession-based style of play, while the English game is known for its fast-paced, physical brand of football.
In terms of quality, La Liga has had some of the world’s best players such as Lionel Messi, Sergio Ramos, Iago Aspas, Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldo9, Roberto Carlos, Zinedine Zidane, Xavi, Iniesta, Puyol, Johan Cruyff & Diego Maradona over the course of its history.
While the Premier League boasts superstars like Harry Kane, Kevin De Bruyne, David Beckham, Thierry Henry, Erling Haaland, Cristiano Ronaldo, & Sergio Aguero.
Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference. If you prefer a more technical style of play then La Liga may be for you; if you’re looking for fast-paced action then the Premier League could be your best bet.
Best Stadiums In La Liga
Spain is home to some of the best stadiums in all of professional football. From the iconic Camp Nou, home to FC Barcelona, to the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, home to Real Madrid, La Liga has some of the most impressive and well-known stadiums in Europe.
The Bernabéu is renowned for its electric atmosphere, while Camp Nou is famous for its sheer size with a capacity of over 99,000 fans.
Other notable stadiums include Mestalla Stadium in Valencia, Wanda Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid, and El Molinón Stadium in Gijon. Each stadium boasts its own unique features that make it a great venue to watch a match.
Whether you’re a fan of one of La Liga’s teams or just passing through town, experiencing a match at any one of these stadiums is a treat to experience.
Following is the table of La Liga stadiums with the highest seating capacity in the league:
CLUB | STADIUM NAMES | SEATING CAPACITY |
FC Barcelona | Camp Nou | 99,354 |
Real Madrid CF | Santiago Bernabeu | 85,454 |
Atletico De Madrid | Wanda Metropolitano | 68,000 |
Real Betis | Benito Villamarin | 60,721 |
Valencia CF | Mestalla | 55,000 |
Most Expensive Players In The History Of La Liga:
The history of Spain’s top league is filled with some of the most expensive players and transfers in football. The record-breaking transfers demonstrate the impact that Spanish football has had on the world of football and its ability to attract top talent from around the globe.
The most expensive transfers in Spanish football demonstrate the financial power of some of the world’s biggest clubs, such as Real Madrid, Barcelona & Atletico Madrid.
It perfectly demonstrates how teams in La Liga are willing to invest heavily in order to compete at the highest level. The transfers also reflect how Spain is increasingly becoming a destination for some of the best players in the world.
The Most Expensive Players in the History of Spanish football are Antoine Griezmann, Eden Hazard, Ousmane Dembele, Philippe Coutinho and Joao Felix. Refer to the table below for the quantitative details of these whopping transfers.
NAME OF PLAYER | CLUB FROM | CLUB TO | TRANSFER PRICE |
Neymar Jr. | FC Barcelona | Paris Saint Germain | €222 Million |
Ousmane Dembele | Dortmund | FC Barcelona | €140 Million |
Philippe Coutinho | Liverpool | FC Barcelona | €135 Million |
Joao Felix | Benfica | Atletico De Madrid | €127 Million |
Antoine Griezmann | Atletico De Madrid | FC Barcelona | €120 Million |
Conclusion
A discussion worth having! Wasn’t it? Talking about the best football leagues in the world is always an interesting topic.
The league is around for nearly a century now, and it will be entertaining dozens of human generations to come, maintaining its sacred & legendary status along with its gloried history.
Have more questions about La Liga? Let us know by reaching out to us! Thanks for reading, check out our website for more.