Summary
AI has identified and ranked the top 30 football leagues in the globe.
England, Spain, and Germany’s second tiers performed better than expected.
Serie A is ranked higher than both the Bundesliga and La Liga.
A variety of elements contribute to what makes a football league excellent. Is it the competition that drives the most revenue? Which division is the most fiercely contested? Which one is loaded with world-class players? Or perhaps the league whose clubs constantly excel on the continental stage? With so many variables at play, it’s nearly impossible to say definitively which league merits the #1 slot.
While it’s easy to assume that the conventional “big five” European leagues continue to dominate, especially given their regular success in the Club World Cup, there are a few growing forces aiming to shake up the system. None more so than the Saudi Pro League, which has spent billions to compete with UEFA’s elite. Al-Hilal’s recent surprising 4-3 victory over Manchester City indicates that they are also making rapid development.
But what does artificial intelligence have to say about all this? Rather than crunching the numbers ourselves, we enlisted Twitter’s AI, Grok, to assist in determining the 30 best football leagues in the world, taking into account team quality, competitiveness, player calibre, and international success, with Opta’s Power Rankings serving as a key reference point to determine whether the Middle East is truly that close to Europe.
30Israeli Premier League (Israel)
Average Team Rating: Not specified, estimated ~70
AI stated that Israel’s league, ranked thirty-first in Opta, is competitive but lacks the worldwide effect and resources of higher-ranked leagues. “Maccabi Tel Aviv drives its modest quality.”
For the somewhat above-average football fan, Maccabi Tel Aviv is a known name in lower-tier European competitions, frequently finishing last in Champions League or Europa League groups, occasionally alongside Maccabi Haifa. However, in a league dominated by domestic players, its worldwide influence remains restricted, implying that its position cannot rise much higher until it attracts the attention of some of its regional rivals.
To make matters worse, the current war situation makes it an even less appealing place for gamers and investors, while fan conflict continues to be an issue.
29Swedish Allsvenskan (Sweden)
Average Team Rating: Not specified, estimated ~71
What AI said: “Sweden’s league, ranked twenty-fourth in Opta, has clubs such as Malmo FF, which has occasionally achieved European success. “Depth and consistency are constraints.”
It has been a long time since a Swedish team made a deep run in Europe. In fact, no team has advanced past the Round of 32 in the last ten years, and Malmo was the last Swedish club to reach the Champions League group stage in 2017. There have been memorable runs by clubs such as IFK Goteborg, which won the UEFA Cup twice in the 1980s, but a lack of consistency has hampered the Scandinavian country’s European ambitions.
However, the fact that six different clubs have won the league title more than ten times each significantly increases the domestic league’s competitiveness rating, even if that information is generally unknown to the rest of the globe.
28Cypriot First Division (Cyprus)
Average Team Rating: Not specified, estimated ~71
According to AI, Cyprus’s league ranks twenty-third in Opta and benefits from modest but competitive clubs such as APOEL. Its limited global reach maintains it in the lower tier.
Cyprus, with a population of around 1.2 million, has a much smaller domestic market than other European nations. Meanwhile, the island’s partition between itself, Turkey, and Greece since 1974 has resulted in political instability, which has hampered economic development, including investments in sports facilities. Furthermore, the 2013 financial crisis inflicted a significant hit to the economy, restricting the resources available for the beautiful game.
The island’s best success story occurred in the 2011/12 Champions League season, when APOEL advanced to the quarter-finals. Given that Cyprus ranks 162nd in the world by landmass, this achievement is amazing in and of itself.
27South Korean K League 1 (South Korea)
Average Team Rating: Not specified, estimated ~72
What AI said: “Asia’s top league in IFFHS, just ahead of Saudi Arabia. Consistent player growth (e.g., Son Heung-min) and competitive balance rank it 26th in Opta.
South Korea, now home to former Manchester United wonderkid Jesse Lingard, is expected to climb the ranks in the next years, with fandom, talent, and competitiveness all on the rise. The country has already shown to be a fertile breeding ground for Premier League talents such as Son Heung-min, and South Korean clubs have made significant progress in the AFC Champions League.
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors won the title in 2016 and 2017, while Ulsan Hyundai did the same in 2020. Meanwhile, average attendance has increased from roughly 7,500 in 2015 to more over 11,000 in 2023, indicating the league’s growing popularity.
26Japanese J1 League (Japan)
Average Team Rating: Not specified, estimated ~72
According to AI, the J1 League is twenty-fifth in Opta and is Asia’s second-best league (565.5 points). Vissel Kobe and others develop talent, but European domination overshadows it.
Japan has produced 18 current players in Europe’s top five leagues who made their professional debuts in J1, compared to only seven in MLS, and the division is also one of Asia’s top three financially stable leagues. It’s swiftly gaining a reputation as a cultural meeting place for some of football’s most devoted fans, with its organised fandom style attracting visitors from all over the world.
Perhaps it deserves to be ranked higher, given that luminaries such as Shinji Kagawa, Keisuke Honda, Takefusa Kubo, and Kaoru Mitoma began their careers there and are now among the best Japanese players of all time. However, few players appear to stay long enough to flourish elsewhere, a limitation that may be attributed to the league’s salary caps and player export mentality.
25Egyptian Premier League (Egypt)
Average Team Rating: Not specified, estimated ~73
What AI said: “A top-20 league in IFFHS since 2020, driven by Al Ahly’s CAF Champions League triumph. It remains Africa’s strongest league, while its global impact is limited.
Al Ahly is the world’s most successful football team, and with more than twice as many CAF Champions League titles as the next club, Zamalek, who are also Egyptian, the Egyptian Premier League had to be included on this list. Unfortunately, African football is not viewed in the same way as other continents, as evidenced by Jamie Carragher’s contentious remarks about the Africa Cup of Nations not being a major international tournament.
24Greek Super League (Greece)
Average Team Rating: ~73.6
What AI said: “Rose moved up four places in the TransferRoom rankings as a result of Olympiakos’ 2024 Europa Conference League victory. Competitive clubs such as PAOK add quality, but depth is limited.
Olympiacos, AEK Athens, PAOK, and Panathinaikos can all claim to have some of the most fanatical fan bases in European football, yet beyond those four clubs, Greek football teams are largely unknown. The league frequently deals with fan violence, political upheaval, and corruption, so it gets a poor name, even when Anthony Martial moved there last summer to relaunch his career.
23Saudi Pro League (Saudi Arabia)
Average Team Rating: 73.6 (Opta Power Rankings)
What AI said: “Despite significant expenditure (e.g., Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema), it ranks 33rd in Opta and 15th in TransferRoom. Al Hilal’s strong position (34th globally) is mitigated by weaker teams, which limit overall quality.”
In 2023, Saudi Pro League clubs spent a record-breaking £696 million on transfers, with a net spend of £659 million. This is the second-highest net spend in any league globally, trailing only the Premier League. There was a flurry of major names heading to the Middle East, including Cristiano Ronaldo. However, many consider it as a retirement home, and it is evident that they have a long way to go before fully competing with Europe.
Even though Al-Hilal just claimed an improbable victory over Manchester City, Saudi Arabia still lacks worldwide appeal, and its capacity to generate talent rather than steal it from other major teams severely limits its long-term potential.
22Croatian HNL (Croatia)
Average Team Rating: Not specified, estimated ~73
According to AI, Dinamo Zagreb’s European consistency propels Croatia’s league to twenty-first in Opta rankings. Its lack of depth prohibits it from breaking into the top 20.”
Croatia has only been a sovereign country since 1991, but Yugoslavian managers’ recognition of Croatian ability during successful international tournament runs provided the framework for the newly independent nation to become the finest in the region. Dinamo Zagreb, by far the most popular team, raises the league’s reputation while also lowering it due to their dominance (winning roughly 75 percent of league titles since its creation), making the competition fairly predictable.
21Danish Superliga (Denmark)
Average Team Rating: Not specified, estimated ~74
According to AI, the Superliga is ranked fourteenth in various Opta rankings, with Copenhagen leading the way with 15 titles and recent European performances. Its competitive structure enhances its quality.
The Danish Superliga’s unique structure contributes to its attractiveness by keeping excitement and potential alive for all clubs throughout the season. The season is divided into two parts: the regular season, followed by championship and relegation playoffs. Following the regular season, the top six teams take their points into the championship round, where they compete intensely for the title and European berths.
Meanwhile, the remaining teams compete in the relegation round to avoid being dropped. This split structure keeps the stakes high throughout the season, making every match important and avoiding any mid-table complacency from setting in. However, for others, this may appear tedious, and no Danish team has ever reached a major European final.
20German 2. Bundesliga (Germany)
Average Team Rating: Not specified, estimated ~74
What AI said: “The 2. Bundesliga’s quality reflects Germany’s football depth, placing twentieth in the Opta rankings. Clubs such as Hamburg and Schalke compete at a higher level than certain top-tier leagues.
The German Bundesliga 2’s ranking among the top 20 greatest football leagues demonstrates the breadth and strength of German football. Unlike many second-tier leagues, Bundesliga 2 is highly competitive, including clubs with long histories such as Hamburg SV and Schalke 04, both former Bundesliga giants.
Many Bundesliga stars, including Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka, have previously honed their skills in the second division. The league typically draws large audiences, averaging more than 21,000 fans each game in recent seasons, demonstrating its popularity. This solid second tier exemplifies Germany’s well-organized football system and culture, which extends from the top to the bottom.
19Russian Premier League (Russia)
Average Team Rating: Not specified, estimated ~75
What AI said: “The Russian league, ranked 13th in certain Opta studies, includes clubs like as Zenit St. Petersburg. Limited European exposure due to sanctions has an impact on its ranking, but domestic quality remains strong.”
Unless the war in Ukraine ends soon, the Russian Premier League is likely to fall farther down the pecking order as it deals with a suspension from European football. Still, clubs like Zenit and Dinamo Moscow are household names from the past, and they could easily reclaim their former glory if political tensions ease, with their communist principles of a strong sporting identity on full display at the 2018 World Cup, where the host nation reached the quarter-finals – their best finish in an international tournament in just shy of half a century.
18Polish Ekstraklasa (Poland)
Average Team Rating: Not specified, estimated ~75
AI stated: “Jumped from 30th to 16th in certain rankings due to recent progress by clubs such as Legia Warsaw. Its quality is improving, but it remains behind the best European leagues.”
The Polish Ekstraklasa has seen significant growth in recent years, reflecting a greater desire to promote Polish football. Clubs have invested in youth development, infrastructure, and facility modernization with the goal of increasing domestic and international competitiveness. This success is visible in Poland’s improved UEFA coefficient position, as the country just secured five slots in European competitions beginning with the 2026/27 season.
Legia Warsaw’s consistent participation in European competitions such as the Europa League and Europa Conference League has undoubtedly been the driving force behind its recent rise to prominence, while Lech Poznan has been steadily improving to help make the division more equal than in previous decades.
17Spanish La Liga 2 (Spain)
Average Team Rating: Not specified, estimated ~76
What AI said: “La Liga 2, a second-tier league ranked 17th by Opta, benefits from Spain’s football infrastructure. Clubs like as Espanyol retain a level of excellence equivalent to some of the best leagues.”
In Spain, the second division is regarded as a vital step toward maintaining the country’s position in the world rankings. The league is an important breeding ground for Spanish talent, with clubs such as Real Zaragoza, Espanyol, and Real Valladolid frequently moving between the top two levels, maintaining high standards.
Managers such as Marcelino Garcia Toral, Andoni Iraola, and Jose Bordalas began their careers in Spain’s second tier before rising to success in higher-level divisions, demonstrating the division’s influence on all aspects of Spanish football.
16Austrian Bundesliga (Austria)
Average Team Rating: Not specified, estimated ~76
According to AI, Austria’s league is ranked sixteenth in the Opta rankings, with Red Bull Salzburg leading the way due to their European consistency. It exceeds some larger nations in terms of competitive balance and young development.
The Austrian Bundesliga, which started Erling Haaland’s career, has produced and nurtured some remarkable talents in recent years. In recent seasons, the league title has been pretty evenly spread among Rapid Wien, Sturm Graz, LASK, and Red Bull Salzburg, indicating that it is far from predictable, especially with the franchise giant’s emergence.
15Swiss Super League (Switzerland)
Average Team Rating: Not specified, estimated ~77
What AI said: “The Swiss league, ranked 11th in some Opta analyses, includes clubs such as Young Boys.” Its quality is derived on consistent UEFA competition participation, however it lacks the star power of higher leagues.”
Mohamed Salah, Xherdan Shaqiri, Riccardo Calafiori, Manuel Akanji – none of these recent Premier League stars should be overlooked, and with FC Basel and BSC Young Boys both having recently defeated some of England’s best football teams, it’s easy to see why the Swiss Super League is so highly regarded. In the recent decade, the former has advanced to the Europa League’s last eight or better three times.
14Turkish Super Lig (Turkey)
Average Team Rating: ~77.9 (TransferRoom estimate)
What AI said: “The Süper Lig has risen to seventh in the TransferRoom rankings, thanks to clubs such as Galatasaray and Fenerbahce.” Its quality is rising, but it lacks consistency in European success when compared to top-10 leagues.”
With Galatasaray, Fenerbahce, Besiktas, Basaksehir, and Kasimpasa alone in Istanbul, the Turkish Super Lig is filled to the brim with heated (if not inferno-like) rivalries, and it’s become a hugely respected football scene as a result, with Jose Mourinho and Victor Osimhen’s recent arrivals proving it’s a rising force that spans both Europe and Asia.
13Mexican Liga MX (Mexico)
Average Team Rating: 78.5 (Opta Power Rankings)
According to AI, Liga MX is ranked thirteenth in Opta and leads CONCACAF in IFFHS, because to Cruz Azul’s regional supremacy and steady talent production. It is on par with MLS but lacks significantly in worldwide appeal.”
Liga MX is widely recognized as one of the most competitive and entertaining football leagues in the Americas. The league is known for its unpredictable results, passionate fanbases, and heated rivalries, such as El Super Clasico between Club America and Chivas, and it boasts new champions each season. Its playoff format (Liguilla) preserves it that way, and strong financial backing allows clubs to attract top talent from across the Americas and beyond, as evidenced by Monterrey’s acquisition of Sergio Ramos.
With Mexico co-hosting the 2026 World Cup, Liga MX is investing in infrastructure, youth development, and foreign exposure, with the goal of solidifying its position as a global football force and raising its profile globally to match its Northern American competitors’ lofty objectives.
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