The 'Big Three' Sports Clubs In Primeira Liga
Often favoured even above local teams, these three are the pinnacle of Portuguese football. Read on to find out how some of their biggest achievements and greatest players compare.
SL Benfica
Benfica is notable as being the most decorated club in Portugal, with a phenomenal 83 major trophies won. This includes a record 37 Primeira Liga titles, making them the most successful of the big three in terms of league wins. Further afield, they also won back-to-back European Cups in 1961 and 1962, something no other Portuguese team has accomplished. One of their most successful players is Nené, who is known for making the most appearances for the club with a total of 575. He spent 18 seasons at Benfica and amassed an awe-inspiring 360 goals.
Some of their most notable moments came in 1973 when they were the first team to win the top national league without a single defeat, only suffering two draws amidst 28 wins. Later, in 1981, the team went on to win their first Treble, becoming the champions of not only the Primeira Liga but also Taça de Portugal and Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira. The team's immense success sets them apart from others and makes them one of the top football teams in the world to follow.
Sporting CP
Sporting Clube de Portugal, or Sporting Lisbon as they are widely known abroad, was founded in 1906 and has since collected 54 trophies including the international title, the 1963–64 European Cup Winners' Cup, and 23 Primeira Liga titles - the least of the big three. One of their most famous players is Cristiano Ronaldo, who has won the Ballon d'Or twice. There is a wealth of talent who have played for the team, however, including Pedro Barbosa, who remained at Sporting for 10 seasons and earned 22 caps in a decade between 1992 and 2002. If you want to raise the stakes on your favourite players like Ronaldo and other football icons, then make sure to check out the football odds on the latest games so you can get involved in the football matches from your mobile.
Sometimes known as their golden years, Sporting saw heightened success between the 1940s and 1980s. One of their greatest achievements was winning seven league titles across only eight seasons. This occurred between 1947 and 1954 and saw the team achieve four league wins in a row.
FC Porto
In terms of international trophies, FC Porto is the most successful Portuguese team. They hold seven international trophies including two UEFA Champions League wins. They have also achieved 30 Primeira Liga wins - the second most of the big three - including five consecutively between 1994 and 1999. Some of the most successful players for the club include João Pinto, who was the team's captain and holds the record for the most appearances. During his uninterrupted 16-year-long career, he played 587 matches for the club. The only other Porto player with over 500 appearances is Vitor Baía. This former goalkeeper was also a captain and appeared in 17 seasons, amassing 566 appearances.
In 2011, Porto played some of their most memorable matches when they won the Premeira Liga with no defeats, amassing a 21-point lead, the biggest ever between champion and runner-up in a three-points-per-win system.