Global superpowers, romantic underdogs, and Basque purists — the Spanish top flight has produced some of the world's most storied clubs. Which one is truly the greatest?
1Real MadridSpain's most decorated club with 36 La Liga titles and 15 Champions League trophies — the benchmark of global footballing success.1000pts
2FC BarcelonaCatalonia's iconic club with 29 La Liga titles, Pep Guardiola's treble era and the home of Lionel Messi's record-breaking career.856pts
3Real ZaragozaSix-time Copa del Rey winners who lifted the 1964 Fairs Cup and the 1995 Cup Winners' Cup through Nayim's famous long-range lob against Arsenal.694pts
4Sporting GijónSporting were La Liga runners-up behind Real Madrid in 1978-79, reached two Copa del Rey finals and gave the league prolific striker Quini.660pts
5Real BetisThe beloved Seville club who won their only La Liga title in 1935 but have cultivated one of Spain's most passionate and loyal fan bases.582pts
6Real OviedoOviedo finished third in La Liga in the 1930s with Isidro Lángara's famous 'delantera eléctrica' attack, and returned to the top flight in 2025.582pts
7Atlético MadridThe perpetual challengers with 11 La Liga titles who have consistently disrupted the Madrid-Barcelona duopoly under Diego Simeone.582pts
8Celta VigoGalicia's Celta reached the Champions League in 2003-04 and enjoyed memorable European runs, including a 7-0 rout of Benfica and a 2017 Europa League semi-final.513pts
9Deportivo La CoruñaGalicia's giant-killers who shockingly won La Liga in 2000 and reached the Champions League semi-finals, ending Madrid and Barcelona's duopoly.513pts
10Las PalmasThe Canary Islands club finished La Liga runners-up in 1968-69 and reached the 1978 Copa del Rey final in a golden era for island football.434pts
11MálagaMálaga reached the Champions League quarter-finals on their debut in 2012-13, losing to Borussia Dortmund only to two stoppage-time goals.434pts
12OsasunaPamplona's Osasuna finished fourth in 2005-06, reached the 2007 UEFA Cup semi-finals and played in the Copa del Rey finals of 2005 and 2023.434pts
13MallorcaThe island club won the 2003 Copa del Rey, reached the 1999 Cup Winners' Cup final and finished third in La Liga in 1999 and 2001.434pts
14Athletic BilbaoThe Basque pioneers with eight La Liga titles who play exclusively with Basque players, a unique romantic tradition in world football.342pts
15VillarrealThe Yellow Submarine rose from the lower leagues to reach the 2006 Champions League semi-finals and win the 2021 Europa League against Manchester United.342pts
16ValenciaThe Mediterranean giants with six La Liga titles, back-to-back Champions League finals in 2000 and 2001, and a golden era under Rafa Benítez.342pts
17Real SociedadThe Basque club who won back-to-back La Liga titles in 1980-81 and 1981-82, one of the division's great underdog triumphs.233pts
18Racing SantanderA founding member of La Liga in 1929, Racing finished runners-up in 1930-31 and reached the UEFA Cup group stage in 2008-09.233pts
19EspanyolBarcelona's other club, seventh in La Liga's all-time table, with four Copa del Rey titles and two UEFA Cup finals in 1988 and 2007.233pts
20SevillaAndalusia's pride, La Liga champions in 1946 and record seven-time Europa League winners, who became regular top-four contenders in the 21st century.0pts
Photo credits
- Real Zaragoza — Campeones 2008, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sporting Gijón — Diario El Comercio - Gijón, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Real Oviedo — La Voz de Asturias, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Celta Vigo — BandidoBanderas, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Las Palmas — Tolagorn, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Málaga — Meloptido, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Osasuna — Visma17, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Mallorca — Arne Müseler, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Racing Santander — Emilio Gómez Fernández, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Espanyol — RCD Espanyol de Barcelona, CC BY-SA 4.0
Comments 1
Barcelona hold the oldest Spanish championship, 1928-29, and the two newest. Real Madrid hold 36 titles to their 29: https://youpick.best/articles/real-madrid-vs-barcelona-ranked
YP
ypb-teamAug 21
