About Spanish La Liga

The Spanish La Liga (officially known as Campeonato Nacional de Liga de Primera División, commonly referred to as "La Liga" in English) is the top-tier competition in the Spanish football league system and one of Europe's top five major leagues, founded in 1928.

League Participants

Each season, La Liga involves 20 teams, typically running from August to May of the following year, with a total of 38 rounds of matches. At the end of each season, the bottom three teams in La Liga's standings are relegated to the Segunda División (Spanish Second Division). Meanwhile, the top two teams in that season's Segunda División are directly promoted to La Liga, and the third promotion spot is determined through a play-off among the teams ranked 3rd to 6th in the Segunda División.

League History

Since the 1928/29 season, a total of 62 teams have participated in La Liga. Among them, nine teams have won the championship: FC Barcelona claimed the first La Liga title, and Real Madrid holds the record with 36 championships. In the 1940s, Valencia, Atlético Madrid, and Barcelona emerged as the strongest clubs, winning La Liga titles on multiple occasions. Real Madrid and Barcelona dominated La Liga in the 1950s, each securing 4 titles. During the 1960s and 1970s, Real Madrid dominated the league, winning 14 titles, while Atlético Madrid claimed 4.

On May 16, 2025, in the 36th round of La Liga, Barcelona defeated Espanyol 2-0 to clinch the title two rounds early, securing their 28th La Liga championship in club history.

Ballon d'Or Winners

La Liga boasts an illustrious history in terms of the Ballon d'Or. Lionel Messi leads with 6 Ballon d'Or wins, and legendary players such as Johan Cruyff, Luis Suárez, and Rivaldo also left a profound mark here, contributing to a total of 23 Ballon d'Or victories.