Lisbon or Lisboa is the largest city and the capital of Portugal, home to two of the three most successful teams in the history of Portuguese club soccer.
The city has a tradition for sports, and have played host to some of the biggest sporting events including soccer, like the UEFA Euro 2004 final, UEFA Champions League matches.
In soccer, the city also holds two big teams at the national level that have won major trophies including the Primeira Liga, UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup, Taça de Portugal, Supertaça and Taça da Liga.
Interesting facts
Does Lisbon have a soccer team? Lisbon has two major soccer teams (SL Benfica and Sporting Lisbon) that are amongst the three most successful in Portugal.
Primeira Liga Lisbon football teams
- SL Benfica
- Sporting Clube de Portugal
- Belenenses SAD
What football teams play in Lisbon? SL Benfica, Sporting CP and Belenenses SAD are the three major teams in Lisbon that competes in the Primeira Liga, Portugal’s top flight.
Which is the most successful football club in Portugal? Benfica is the most successful team in Portugal with 37 Primeira Liga, 26 Taça de Portugal, 7 Taça da Liga, 2 UEFA Champions League, etc.
Lisbon football (soccer) teams, stadium, Culture and guide
Statistically ranking the best football clubs in Lisbon City, SL Benfica top’s the list followed by Sporting CP while C.F. Os Belenenses Lisbon occupy the third spot.
1. SL Benfica
Club Name: Sport Lisboa e Benfica
Nickname: As Águias (The Eagles)
Stadium: Estádio da Luz
Founded: 1904
SL Benfica is a professional football club based in Lisbon that competes in the Primeira Liga.
Benfica is the most successful team in the history of the Portuguese league. They’re amongst the Big Three which includes FC Porto and direct city rivals, Sporting Lisbon.
Benfica alongside FC Porto and Sporting Lisbon are the “Big Three” clubs in Portugal that have never been relegated from Primeira Liga.
The club plays its home games at the Estádio da Luz since 2003.
Today, Benfica holds the status as the most supported soccer team in Portugal with over 250,000 members and an estimated 14 million supporters worldwide.
Winning top trophies including the Primeira Liga, Taça da Liga, Taça de Portugal, Supertaça, UEFA Champions League (European Cup), the club was honoured with the Portuguese Orders of Christ, of Prince Henry, and Merit.
Benfica is one of the greatest football clubs domestically and internationally with over 84 trophic which includes achieving “The Double” and “Treble”.
Benfica is also the only Portuguese club to win the UEFA Champions League (European Cup) back-to-back in 1961 and 1962.
SL Benfica Stadium
Estádio da Luz serves as the home ground for SL Benfica, for domestic and international competitions since 2003.
During the club’s early years, there were no specific stadia even as the club had to rent venues for every home game or competitive matches.
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The Estádio da Luz is a multi-purpose stadium located in Lisbon.
The Estádio da Luz stadium is located at Avenue Eusébio da Silva Ferreira, 1500-313.
SL Benfica trophies and achievements
Primeira Liga: (37) – record
Taça de Portugal: (26) – record
Taça da Liga: (7) – record
UEFA Champions League: (3)
2. Sporting Clube de Portugal
Club Name: Sporting Clube de Portugal
Nickname: Leões (Lions)
Stadium: Estádio José Alvalade
Founded: 1906
Sporting Clube de Portugal, Sporting CP or simply Sporting Lisbon is a professional football club based in Lisbon that competes in the Primeira Liga.
Also Read: Sporting CP or Sporting Lisbon? Meaning, difference explained
Sporting Lisbon is one of the “Big Three” and is the third most successful team in Portugal.
Alongside SL Benfica, Sporting also lays claim to a European title after it won the UEFA Cup Winners’Cup in the 1963–64 season.
For ten years (the 1940s and 1950s), Sporting Lisbon had its golden years with seven league titles in eight seasons between 1947 and 1954.
The club made history after it won the league title four in a row from 1950 to 1951 onwards.
Sporting had the achievement, a continental success winning the 1963–64 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup.
After the club had the trophy drought league twice, it ended a 19-year wait for the league title in the 2020/2021 season.
Sporting Lisbon stadium
The club plays its home games at the Estádio José Alvalade located in Lisbon, Portugal. It is a 50,095 capacity stadium.
Sporting Clube de Portugal trophies and Achievements
They’re the third most successful team in Portugal winning the Primeira Liga, Taça de Portugal, Taça da Liga, Supertaça and UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup.
Primeira Liga: (19)
Taça de Portugal: (17)
Taça da Liga: (3)
Europa Cup Winners’Cup: (1)
3. Clube de Futebol Os Belenenses
Club Name: Clube de Futebol Os Belenenses
Nickname: O Belém (The Bethlehem)
Stadium: Estádio do Restelo
Founded: 1919
Clube de Futebol Os Belenenses, commonly known as Belenenses is a professional football club based in Lisbon, that competes in the Campeonato de Portugal.
Founded in 1919, Belenenses is one of the oldest sports clubs in Portugal.
Belenenses was one of the early successful teams in the Portuguese Primeira Liga, winning the 1945–46 Primeira Liga season.
In history, Belenenses is regarded as one of the most decorated football clubs in Portugal with major domestic as well as international trophies.
Since the formation of the Portuguese Primeira Liga, Belenenses maintained its status as one of the four teams that have never been relegated.
However, the club was eventually relegated in the 1982 season.
Despite the ups and downs, the club still holds a great place in the hearts of Portuguese football fans and was the first club from Portugal to participate in the UEFA Europa League.
The club has won the Primeira Liga, Taça de Portugal, Segunda Liga, UEFA Intertoto Cup, etc.
The 1945–46 Primeira Liga season remains in the history of the club as the best campaign ever after it was crowned Champions in the end.
Clube de Futebol Os Belenenses Stadium
The club plays its home games at the Estádio do Restelo, a 19,856 capacity stadium that was built in 1956.
The Estádio do Restelo Stadium, home of Clube de Futebol Os Belenenses Stadium is situated behind the Jerónimos Monastery, Belém.
4. Belenenses SAD
Club Name: Sociedade Desportiva de Futebol, SAD
Nickname: N/A
Stadium: Estádio Nacional
Founded: 2018
Desportiva de Futebol, or simply B–SAD, is a professional football club based in Lisbon, that competes in the Portuguese Primeira Liga.
The club is an offshoot of Clube de Futebol Os Belenenses (Referring to No.3 on the list).
Belenenses SAD Stadium
Belenenses SAD or B–SAD plays its home games at the Estádio Nacional, a multi-purpose stadium in Lisbon, Portugal.
5. Atlético Clube de Portugal
Club Name: Atlético Clube de Portugal
Nickname: Alcantarenses
Stadium: Estádio da Tapadinha
Founded: 1942
Atlético Clube de Portugal is a football club based in Lisbon.
Atlético Clube de Portugal Stadium
Estádio da Tapadinha is the home of Atlético Clube de Portugal, with a seating capacity of up to 4,000 people.
6. Clube Oriental de Lisboa
Club Name: Clube Oriental de Lisboa
Nickname: N/A
Stadium: Estádio Engenheiro Carlos Salema
Founded: 1946
Clube Oriental de Lisboa is a football club based in Lisbon, that competes in the Campeonato de Portugal.
Clube Oriental de Lisboa Stadium
The club plays its home games at the Estádio Engenheiro Carlos Salema stadium with a capacity of 8,500 people.
7. Casa Pia A.C.
Club Name: Casa Pia Atlético Clube
Nickname: Os Gansos (The Geese)
Stadium: Estádio Pina Manique
Founded: 1920
Casa Pia Atlético Clube is a football club based in Lisbon, that competes in the Liga Portugal 2.
Founded in 1920, Casa is also one of the oldest football clubs in the city.
Casa Pia Atlético Clube Stadium
The club plays its home games at the Estádio Pina Manique, with a capacity of 5,000 people.
8. C.F. Os Unidos
Club Name: Clube de Futebol Os Unidos
Nickname: N/A
Stadium: Estádio Dr Agostinho Lourenço
Founded: 1936
Clube de Futebol Os Unidos or Unidos de Lisboa is a football club based in Lisbon.
Football Culture in Lisbon City
Lisbon is home to three Primeira Liga teams SL Benfica, Sporting CP and Belenenses SAD.
Benfica has won more titles than any other side in the country with over 37 league titles as well as two UEFA Champions League titles.
Two stadiums in Lisbon (Estádio da Luz and Estádio José Alvalade) are UEFA category four stadiums.
The competition in the city is between Sporting CP and SL Benfica. The two teams square up against each other in what is known as the Lisbon Derby.
The Lisbon Derby is one of the biggest European football derby, drawing football fans across Portugal to watch two out of the three most successful teams in the country.
The two teams also have a strong rivalry with FC Porto, the second most successful team in the country.
Major European football competitions have also been held in the city including the 1967 European Cup (Championship League) Final and the 2020 UEFA European Football Championship.
Lisbon soccer teams in Portuguese major leagues
- Benfica – Primeira Liga
- Sporting Lisbon – Primeira Liga
- Belenenses SAD – Primeira Liga
How to attend football matches in Lisbon
In Lisbon, you have the luxury of watching some of the most successful football clubs in Portugal including SL Benfica and Sporting Lisbon.
The two clubs have a strong following domestically and internationally.
To be able to watch football games, you’ll purchase matchday tickets from the official ticket stores or outlets of these football clubs in the city.
Mind you, SL Benfica, Sporting CP and Belenenses SAD are currently the only three teams from the city that plays Portuguese top-flight professional football, the Primeira Liga.
For more, visit the official website or ticket outlets of the aforementioned clubs.
Conclusion
Lisbon soccer teams have enjoyed success in the Portuguese football scene. Top stadiums including (Estádio da Luz and Estádio José Alvalade) are UEFA category four stadiums.
