Sport is an intercultural event that truly has the potential to bring people closer, help them associate with one another, and settle differences without guns or tanks. As centuries passed, some sports grew larger than others, attaining gargantuan proportions wherein they aren’t followed by millions, but by billions worldwide. One such sport is the game of football (or soccer) which has managed to garner worldwide acclaim and a fan following. Here, we would be taking a look at the major football leagues around the world, how they became what they are today, and how live football scores today match influence how we consume sports. So, let’s start
The fantabulous game
According to historical records, the first football games took place in the UK during the mid to late 19th century. But the sport wasn’t what it is today and how we perceive it. A tectonic shift took place in the footballing hierarchy with the formation of sports and footballing clubs. Now, some things are crucial to discuss before we move into the big leagues. You see, back then the clubs were organized on an amateur basis, as extensions of political parties, factories, industrial regions, as a resistance movement, or as sports wings of army regiments. This phenomenon was prominent in Europe in general, and the UK in particular, wherein clubs like Liverpool, Manchester United, Aston Villa FC, etc. boast of a rich political, cultural, and storied past. Other European clubs like CSKA Moscow, Lokomotiv Moscow, Galatasaray, Fenerbahce, etc. narrate similar stories as well. By venturing outside the European continent, this phenomenon is predominant in South America and Asia as well, with clubs like River Plate in Argentina and Mohun Bagan in India featuring storied histories as well.
On the hand, clubs, and franchisees in the USA, Japan, China, Middle-east, etc. were formed much later, and with the sole motive of developing the sport of football in their respective countries.
Another rather interesting genre of football clubs that exist is called protest clubs, which are primarily created by disgruntled fans and rogue owners who might be frustrated with the parent club’s policies or performances. Although protest clubs generally do not grow exponentially to become footballing powerhouses, you would be surprised to learn that some of the biggest names in club football started as protest clubs, namely, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Panathinaikos A.O., etc.
Now with that out of the way, let us take a look at some of the biggest leagues in world football. For simplicity and parity, we won’t be including national tournaments like the World Cup or the Olympics here and would be basing them loosely on their popularity quotient in their respective continents.
- UEFA Champions League- World football is primarily dominated by two continents, South America, and Europe, and the Champions League is a mammoth celebration of European footballing prowess at the highest level. The league follows a group and playoff format, wherein the finalists compete against each other for the ultimate title of the best team in Europe. This tournament isn’t open to all, and clubs need to meet a stringent qualification quota in their domestic leagues to qualify. The Champions League is accompanied by its sister leagues, the Europa and conference leagues which make up the second and third tiers of European football respectively. The league is arguably one of the toughest ones in the world and has a strong history of creating new heroes while relegating the existing ones. Real Madrid CF, with 14 titles under its belt, is the most successful club ever to participate in this league.
- English Premier League- The poster child of European football, The English Premier League, or EPL, is what made European football known to the world. Starting in the late 1900s, the league was a result of a breakaway from the previous top-tier championship. As time flowed on, CR7’s freekicks, John Terry’s tackles, David James’s eccentric haircuts, and goalkeeping prowess, Wayne Rooney’s explosive charges, etc. managed to win the hearts and minds of people all over the globe and propelled European football to the present position that it occupies in this day and age. Manchester United is the most successful team to have ever played the league with 13 titles under their belt. Fans from far and wide tune in on Saturdays and Sundays via TV or live football scores today match services.
- MLS- Coming from some of the oldest leagues in the footballing world, we travel across the pond to one of the youngest in the USA. MLS, or Major League Soccer, is one of the newest and most commercialized football leagues in the world and was started off to tap into the footballing pedigree of the USA. The league has steadily grown since its inception, with several legendary players like Andrea Pirlo, Zlatan Ibrahimovich, etc. gracing the pitch with their masterclass. LA Galaxy is perched firmly on the zenith with 5 titles to their name. Fans can conveniently follow these matches via live football scores today match.
- Copa Libertadores- Central and South American countries are football-crazed like none others on the planet, with some of the greatest ever names in international football like Pele, Maradona, Cafu, Lionel Messi, etc. having originated from its shores. Copa Libertadores is an annual football tournament organized by CONMEBOL, the South American football federation. You can easily understand this as the Champions League of South and Central Americas. To date, Independiente is the most successful Copa Libertadores club with 7 titles to its name.
Final word
The footballing world is vast, with billions of fans, and spectators tuning in via TV, streaming services, and online score reporting services to follow the teams that they love. Nowadays, modern technology has made it possible for anyone, from anywhere, to follow live sports, say women basketball live, at any time that they wish.