Ligue 1 is the top professional men's football league in France. It's officially branded as Ligue 1 McDonald's and includes 18 teams competing. Paris Saint-Germain are the current champions and the dominant club of the modern era.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Official name | Ligue 1 McDonald’s |
| Country | France |
| Level | Top tier of men’s professional football |
| Number of clubs | 18 |
| Matches per club | 34 |
| Current champions | Paris Saint-Germain |
| Latest completed season | 2025/26 |
| 2026/27 season dates | 21 August 2026 to 29 May 2027 |
| Main European competitions | UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League |
| Biggest rivalry | Paris Saint-Germain vs Olympique de Marseille |
History and Evolution of Ligue 1
Football had been played in France for decades before the country's professional top-flight championship was established in 1932. The competition was founded under the name National, changed to Division 1 a year later and retained that name until 2002, when it adopted its current name, Ligue 1.
Like many European sporting competitions, the league was interrupted during the Second World War, when large parts of France were under German occupation.
The format and size of the league have changed several times throughout its history. Ligue 1 currently contains 18 clubs, but the competition has had as few as 14 teams and operated with 20 clubs between 2002 and 2023.
Both Ligue 1 and Italy's Serie A expanded to 20 teams in the early 2000s. Ligue 1 returned to an 18-team format from the 2023/24 season, while Serie A retained its 20-team structure.⁹
Ligue 1 is the top tier of men’s professional football in France and is officially branded as Ligue 1 McDonald’s.⁷ The league currently has 18 clubs, with each team playing 34 matches across the season.⁵ Paris Saint-Germain are the current French champions after winning the 2025–26 title and extending their record to 14 French top-flight titles.⁴ The best-performing clubs can qualify for European competitions, while the lowest-ranked teams risk relegation to Ligue 2.³
Origins and Formation
1932
French Professional Football Begins
France's professional top-flight football championship is founded as National.
1933
Division 1 Name Introduced
The competition changes its name from National to Division 1, which it retains for much of its history.
2002
Ligue 1 Name Adopted
Division 1 becomes Ligue 1, giving the French top flight its modern name.
2023/24
Return to 18 Clubs
Ligue 1 reduces the number of participating clubs from 20 to 18 as part of a reform of the competition format.⁹
2024
McDonald’s Sponsorship Begins
McDonald’s becomes the league's title partner from 1 July 2024.⁷
2025/26
PSG Extend Their Record
Paris Saint-Germain win Ligue 1 for a fifth consecutive season and move to 14 French top-flight championships.⁴
2026/27
New Season Begins
The 2026/27 Ligue 1 McDonald’s season begins on 21 August 2026 and is scheduled to conclude on 29 May 2027.⁵
Key Milestones and Changes
- The number of clubs has changed several times throughout Ligue 1 history.
- Ligue 1 returned to an 18-club format from the 2023/24 season.⁹
- McDonald’s became the league's title partner from 1 July 2024.⁷
- PSG won their fifth consecutive title in 2025/26 and moved to a record 14 French top-flight championships.⁴
- The 2026/27 season began on 21 August 2026 and is scheduled to finish on 29 May 2027.⁵
After being bought by Qatar Sports Investments, Paris Saint-Germain have been able to invest heavily in their squad, resulting in significant domestic success. Their investment and rise have often drawn comparisons with other heavily backed European clubs, including Manchester City in the English Premier League. PSG's success has now extended to Europe as well: they won the UEFA Champions League in 2025 and retained the trophy in 2026.¹⁰
Structure and Competition Format
Ligue 1 is a round-robin league where each team plays every other team twice. With its current format of 18 teams, every team plays 34 matches. The league, like many others in Europe, runs from August to May, but this can change depending on other football tournaments.
Teams can be promoted and relegated in French football, and the system has changed multiple times throughout the competition's history, often to adjust the league's size. Currently, the bottom two teams are relegated to Ligue 2 and the 1st and 2nd place teams from Ligue 2 are promoted. 3rd from Ligue 2 and 16th from Ligue 1 then play in two relegation play-off matches, where the winner, decided by the total score across both matches, takes up the final place in Ligue 1. The loser is consigned to Ligue 2. This is similar to the promotion and relegation used for the last free place in Germany's Bundesliga.
Season Format
Ligue 1 follows a simple league format. Every club plays the others twice: once at home and once away. Teams are ranked by points.
3 points
1 point
0 points
clubs in Ligue 1
Across the season, wins, draws, defeats, goal difference, and goals scored all shape the final table.⁵ At the end of the season, teams are awarded either places in European tournaments or relegated to Ligue 2. Unlike franchise models, this means that almost any men's team in France could eventually become champion of Ligue 1.
league matches per season
Promotion and Relegation
- The lowest-ranked Ligue 1 clubs risk relegation to Ligue 2.
- Ligue 2 clubs can earn promotion into Ligue 1.
- The 16th-placed Ligue 1 team enters a relegation play-off.
- The play-off is played over two legs.²
- The winner takes the final Ligue 1 place for the following season.
At the end of a Ligue 1 season, the lowest-ranked clubs risk dropping into Ligue 2. The current structure includes a relegation play-off, with the 16th-placed Ligue 1 club facing the Ligue 2 play-off winner over two legs.² This gives one lower-division side a route into the top flight and gives one Ligue 1 club a final chance to stay in the division. The system helps keep the bottom of the table competitive until the final weeks of the season.
European Qualification
- The highest-finishing Ligue 1 clubs qualify for Europe.
- Top clubs can reach the UEFA Champions League.
- Other European places can lead to the UEFA Europa League.
- Some clubs may enter the UEFA Conference League.
- Domestic cup results can affect the final European qualification places.³
The highest-finishing Ligue 1 clubs qualify for UEFA competitions at the end of the season. The strongest league finishers can enter the UEFA Champions League, while other European places can lead to the UEFA Europa League or UEFA Conference League.³ Domestic cup results can also affect the final distribution of European places. This means the top end of the Ligue 1 table can stay important even when the title race is already settled.
Notable Clubs and Achievements
Some teams have been more successful recently than others, but these are the teams that have won the most titles in Ligue 1 or its predecessors.¹ That way, you might discover a team worth supporting with historical heritage rather than any recent titles.
Paris Saint-Germain
Paris Saint-Germain are the top team in Ligue 1. They've won many of their titles recently. Their modern success has changed how people see Ligue 1, with global attention, star players, and higher expectations for French clubs in Europe. Whether their success is trickling down to the rest of Ligue 1 remains to be seen.
top-flight titles
Olympique de Marseille
The rivalry between Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique de Marseille is dubbed “Le Classique”, a French translation of the Spanish term El Clásico, used to refer to the match between La Liga sides Real Madrid and Barcelona.
AS Monaco
Association Sportive de Monaco Football Club, or AS Monaco, is a football club from the principality of Monaco. This is not Monaco's national side, but rather a club based in the principality that plays within the French football system. Like Nantes, Monaco also has 8 league titles, but their most recent, in 2016–17, prevented Paris Saint-Germain from winning a fifth consecutive title.
| Club | Top-flight titles | Key era | Why they matter | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paris Saint-Germain | 14 | 2010s–2020s | The dominant modern Ligue 1 club | Record French top-flight title total after 2025–26 |
| Saint-Étienne | 10 | 1960s–1980s | A historic French football powerhouse | First French club to reach 10 league titles |
| Olympique de Marseille | 9 | 1970s–1990s | France’s first European Cup winner | Professional league titles; some all-time lists also discuss Marseille’s earlier amateur title |
| AS Monaco | 8 | 1960s–2010s | A major club from outside mainland France | Based in Monaco but competes in the French league system |
| Nantes | 8 | 1960s–2000s | One of France’s great historic league clubs | Most recent title came in 2000–01 |
| Olympique Lyonnais | 7 | 2000s | Won seven consecutive league titles | Dominant run from 2001–02 to 2007–08 |
| Bordeaux | 6 | 1950s–2000s | A fallen giant of French football | Now outside Ligue 1 after major financial problems |
| Reims | 6 | 1940s–1960s | One of the great early French champions | Major force in early French and European football |
| LOSC Lille | 4 | 1940s–2020s | Famous recent title win in 2020–21 | LOSC total; Olympique Lillois is usually counted separately |
| OGC Nice | 4 | 1950s | A major southern French club | Four-time French champion |
Recent Developments and Current Season
Recent seasons have brought significant changes to French football, including the move to an 18-club Ligue 1, new commercial partnerships and continued efforts to expand the league's international profile. On the pitch, Paris Saint-Germain have remained the dominant domestic side, while clubs such as Lens, Lille, Lyon and Marseille continue to compete for European places.
2025–26 Season Overview
- Paris Saint-Germain finished as 2025–26 Ligue 1 champions.
- PSG’s title was their fifth consecutive French league championship.⁴
- The season confirmed PSG’s position as the league’s dominant modern club.
- The final table also shaped European qualification for the following season.
- The 2026/27 Ligue 1 McDonald’s season began on 21 August 2026 and is scheduled to conclude on 29 May 2027.⁵
| Position | Club | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goal difference | Points | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paris Saint-Germain | 34 | 24 | 4 | 6 | 45 | 76 | Champions |
| 2 | RC Lens | 34 | 22 | 4 | 8 | 31 | 70 | Runners-up |
| 3 | LOSC Lille | 34 | 18 | 7 | 9 | 15 | 61 | Top-three finish |
| 4 | Olympique Lyonnais | 34 | 18 | 6 | 10 | 13 | 60 | European qualification position |
| 5 | Olympique de Marseille | 34 | 18 | 5 | 11 | 18 | 59 | European qualification position |
| 6 | Stade Rennais | 34 | 17 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 59 | Top-six finish |
Impact of Sponsorships
- Ligue 1 is officially branded as Ligue 1 McDonald’s.
- McDonald’s became title partner from 1 July 2024.⁷
- The partnership changed the league’s official name and branding.
- Sponsorship helps shape how Ligue 1 is promoted internationally.⁶
- The competition remains France’s top men’s professional football league.
Ligue 1 is officially branded as Ligue 1 McDonald’s because McDonald’s became the league’s title partner from 1 July 2024.⁷ The sponsorship affects the league’s official name, branding, and international presentation.⁶ The competition itself remains the top tier of men’s professional football in France. The name may change with future sponsorship deals, but the league’s place in the French football pyramid stays the same.
Why You Should Watch Ligue 1
If you enter any online conversation about football, which we wouldn't always recommend, you'll likely see criticism levelled at Ligue 1. However, Ligue 1 can still throw up surprises. Despite Paris Saint-Germain's eyewatering budget and expected domination each season, they didn't win the 2020-2021 or 2016-2017 seasons, which were won by Lille (LOSC) and AS Monaco, respectively.
For some, Paris Saint-Germain is the reason to watch Ligue 1. Others yearn for a league that's more competitive at the top. There's still hope for Ligue 1, too. Between Lyon's last league title in the 2007-2008 season and the 2012-2013 season, there were six different champions in six seasons!
consecutive Ligue 1 titles
There's good football to watch, and while many of Paris Saint-Germain's fixtures offer a chance to see some of the world's best players, they don't often provide competitive matches. Ligue 1 is still ranked as one of Europe's best football leagues.
Emerging Talents
A high-profile young attacker who won the Champions League with PSG at 20 and remains one of Ligue 1's leading young names.
A young Portuguese midfielder already central to PSG's new-look side, with Ligue 1 noting his growing impact for club and country.
A breakout forward whose 2025–26 form made him one of Ligue 1's standout attacking stories.
Competitive Nature
- PSG have dominated much of the modern era.
- Ligue 1 can still produce surprise title races.
- Lille won the league in 2020–21.
- Monaco won the league in 2016–17.
- Battles for Europe and relegation can keep the table interesting beyond the title race.
Cultural Significance
- Ligue 1 reflects football culture across France’s regions and cities.
- Marseille, Paris, Lyon, Monaco, Lille, Lens, and Rennes all bring different identities to the league.
- Le Classique gives Ligue 1 one of French football’s biggest rivalries.
- The league connects domestic football to France's broader international reputation in football.
- For new fans, Ligue 1 offers a different atmosphere from the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, or the Bundesliga.
For football fans in Malta, English and Italian clubs traditionally attract particularly strong followings, but Ligue 1 provides another major European league to explore. Fans who want to follow football closer to home can also read our guide to Malta Premier League.
References
- ESPN. “Who Has Won Ligue 1? All-Time French Soccer Champions List.” ESPN, 13 May 2026, https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/46020449/who-won-ligue-1-all-french-soccer-champions-list. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
- Ligue 1. “Dates Set for the 2026/27 Season.” Ligue1.com, 8 Dec. 2025, https://ligue1.com/en/articles/l1_article_3812-dates-set-for-the-2026-27-season. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
- Ligue 1. “Europe: What Has Changed after Lens’ Coupe de France Win?” Ligue1.com, 28 May 2026, https://ligue1.com/en/articles/l1_article_5194-europe-what-has-changed-after-lens-coupe-de-france-win. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
- Ligue 1. “PSG’s Ligue 1 McDonald’s Title Win in Numbers.” Ligue1.com, 20 May 2026, https://ligue1.com/en/articles/l1_article_5140-psg-s-ligue-1-mcdonald-s-title-win-in-numbers. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
- Ligue 1. “The 2026/27 Ligue 1 McDonald’s Calendar Is Released.” Ligue1.com, 10 June 2026, https://ligue1.com/en/articles/l1_article_5292-the-2026-27-ligue-1-mc-donald-s-calendar-is-released. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
- Ligue de Football Professionnel. “La Ligue 1 McDonald’s Accélère Son Expansion Internationale.” LFP.fr, 28 Aug. 2025, https://www.lfp.fr/article/la-ligue-1-mcdonald-s-accelere-son-expansion-internationale-1. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
- Ligue de Football Professionnel. “McDonald’s Nouveau Partenaire Titre de la Ligue 1.” LFP.fr, 21 Mar. 2024, https://www.lfp.fr/article/mcdonalds-nouveau-partenaire-titre-de-la-ligue-1. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
- Reuters. “Six-Times French Champion Bordeaux File for Bankruptcy.” Reuters, 25 July 2024, https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/six-times-french-champion-bordeaux-file-bankruptcy-2024-07-25/. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
- Sky Sports. “Ligue 1: French Top Tier Reduced to 18 Teams from 2023/24 Season.” Sky Sports, 3 June 2021, https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11800/12324041/ligue-1-french-top-tier-reduced-to-18-teams-from-2023-24-season. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
- UEFA. “Champions League Winners List: Which Teams Have Won the European Cup or Champions League?” UEFA.com, 30 May 2026, https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0275-1541637ad1db-88aeeefefefd-1000--champions-league-winners-list-which-teams-have-won-the-eu/. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
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