Ligue 1: France’s Premier Football League
Ligue 1, officially Ligue 1 Uber Eats for sponsorship reasons, is France’s top-tier professional football league, renowned for its technical flair, youth development, and global influence. Founded in 1932, it features 18 clubs competing in a 34-match season from August to May, battling for the Ligue 1 title, UEFA Champions League qualification, and to avoid relegation to Ligue 2. With its fast-paced style and emphasis on emerging talent, Ligue 1 is a breeding ground for world-class players and a favorite among football fans.
The 2024-25 season highlights a stellar cast of stars and iconic clubs. Key players include Kylian Mbappé (Paris Saint-Germain), France’s superstar forward; Bradley Barcola (Paris Saint-Germain), a rising winger; Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Marseille), the veteran goal-scorer; Jonathan David (Lille), a consistent Canadian striker; and Lamine Yamal (on loan at Paris Saint-Germain), a dynamic young talent. PSG dominates with 12 titles, bolstered by stars like Mbappé and Barcola, while Monaco, Lyon, Marseille, and Lille add competitive depth with their rich histories and passionate fanbases.
Ligue 1’s 2023-24 season saw PSG clinch the title, with 678 goals scored league-wide, showcasing its attacking prowess. The league’s youth academies, like Lyon’s and Monaco’s, consistently produce talents who shine in Europe. With modern stadiums like Parc des Princes and global broadcasts, Ligue 1 blends tradition and innovation, making it a must-watch for football enthusiasts.
Ligue 1, French football, Paris Saint-Germain, Kylian Mbappé, Bradley Barcola, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Jonathan David, Lamine Yamal, Monaco, Lyon, Marseille, Ligue 1 2024-25, European football, football stars.
Ex-West Ham United centre-back Nayef Aguerd has spoken about the ordeal he was put through by what is thought to have been an overzealous fan. The defender was at the airport in Marseille, waiting to fly to Morocco to link up with his national team for upcoming games, when he was attacked out of nowhere.
Once hailed as Lionel Messi's heir, Ansu Fati's promising career was derailed by injury setbacks and uncertain loan spells, but the Spanish prodigy has finally found his fire again at Monaco. His electrifying resurgence is cemented by breaking a decades-old Ligue 1 scoring record, as he became the fastest player to reach five goals.
Vitinha's growing influence at Paris Saint-Germain has been formally recognised by his teammates, who have chosen him to be the deputy to captain Marquinhos. The appointment comes just after Vitinha made his 100th Ligue 1 appearance, cementing his status as a key figure for Luis Enrique's side.
Premier League giants Manchester City sent a scout to watch over the Ligue 1 fixture between RC Lens and AJ Auxerre last week. It has been reported that the scouting team had four players on their shortlist.
Leny Yoro made a surprise flying return to Lille after starring for Manchester United during their win over Sunderland. The 19-year-old defender, who joined United in the summer for a whopping £52 million, jetted across the Channel on Sunday to watch his boyhood club take on Paris Saint-Germain in a blockbuster Ligue 1 clash.
Are Bayern Munich the strongest side in Europe right now? They're certainly not far off it. The Germans maintained their flawless start to the 2025-26 season with a 3-0 win at Eintracht Frankfurt at the weekend. Unsurprisingly, Harry Kane was among the goals again, as the free-scoring striker maintained his record-breaking start to the campaign.
Kylian Mbappe has risked incurring the wrath of Paris Saint-Germain supporters after celebrating wildly when seeing a goal scored against them. That effort was, however, recorded by the Real Madrid superstar’s brother, Ethan, which can be forgiven. Mbappe was among those in the stands as PSG were held to a dramatic 1-1 draw by Lille - with his iconic celebration being broken out against the reigning Ligue 1 champions.
Paris Saint-Germain will attempt to prevent the injured Khvicha Kvaratskhelia from joining the Georgia national team after he was called up for their World Cup qualifiers. The French champions, already frustrated after Ousmane Dembele's recent injury on international duty, will attempt to prevent their star winger from travelling.
Marseille are ready to buy Matt O'Riley on a permanent deal in January after initially signing the attacking midfielder on loan from Brighton for the season. Sporting director Medhi Benatia and his team have been impressed by the Denmark international's performances and are eager to ensure he does not slip out of their grasp.
