- 1 year ago
From bone-crushing tackles to gravity-defying slam dunks, join us as we rank the most electrifying sports competitions on the planet! Our countdown features leagues that deliver unforgettable moments, legendary rivalries, and the world's greatest athletes competing at the highest level. Which sporting spectacle claimed the top spot? Let us know your favorite league in the comments!
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00:00It is caught! Twisting, turning, touchdown!
00:05Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the top 20 greatest sports leagues across the world today.
00:11Mitoma's touch was out of this world!
00:15Number 20, MLS.
00:17For years it seemed as if football would never truly catch on in the United States as it had abroad.
00:22But with the injection of superstars like David Beckham, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and more recently Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi,
00:29things are certainly looking up.
00:34The MLS now has a roster of teams that can compete at a high level.
00:37Sure, they're not going to cross over the pond and beat the Real Madrids and Barcelonas of the world,
00:41but the league is certainly on the rise.
00:43Though it had its financial struggles in its early years, the MLS has reached a new peak of commercial viability in the 2020s,
00:49and all signs point to it continuing its growth.
00:52For tonight, the bragging rights belong to Major League Soccer.
00:56Number 19, Australian Football League.
00:58Aussie Rules football and rugby may seem like very similar sports,
01:02but apart from the shape of the ball, the two are vastly different.
01:05That works for him and for the Lions.
01:08We've seen some love at both ends.
01:10Aussie Rules has played on an oval pitch with four giant posts sticking out from each end.
01:1418 players per side take the field in a game full of passing, kicking, and top-notch tackling.
01:19The league consists of 18 teams with each team competing in a 23-game regular season,
01:24followed by a single elimination playoff series.
01:26Any score will do.
01:32For the greatest comeback in the history of VFL, AFL football!
01:39What?
01:40Melbourne is the heart and soul of the league, as nine of the 18 teams call the coastal city home.
01:45But with a country full of passionate fans, the AFL is a completely unique sporting experience.
01:50Number 18, One Championship.
01:52Asian fight promotion One Championship isn't actually a direct competitor to the UFC,
01:56which, let's be real, is probably for the best.
01:58And the crowd is on their feet right now.
02:00This was completely unexpected.
02:02One do put on MMA fights, but they've also diversified their product in many ways,
02:06offering grappling and other striking forms a spot in their lineup.
02:10Their four-ounce Muay Thai in particular is becoming quite popular.
02:13While it is difficult to know exactly how they're looking in terms of long-term health,
02:16their CEO, Chhatri Sitiotang, will tell you that the sky's the limit for one.
02:20Down goes down!
02:21Stab goes down!
02:22Up above straight left!
02:24And considering the dynamism of their product, we hope he's right.
02:27Number 17, Volleyball Nations League.
02:29Volleyball is well and truly a sport on the rise.
02:31Though not a big deal in every country, places like Brazil, China, Russia, and the United States
02:35are leading the way when it comes to this sport's growth.
02:38Great swing from Hobos!
02:40At the center of pro volleyball is the Volleyball Nations League,
02:43a tournament started in 2018 that has been going from strength to strength in recent years.
02:48Russia and France are tied for the most championships since then, with two apiece.
02:52But the sport's popularity in European nations like Poland, Slovenia, and Serbia
02:56will likely only continue to rise.
02:58One look at their YouTube traffic will tell you exactly how popular this sport is becoming.
03:02My God!
03:03Put your helmet on!
03:05Number 16, UFC.
03:06Once seen as the unruly underdog brother to boxing, MMA, and its flagship promotion,
03:11the UFC have truly upset the odds at every turn.
03:13Right hand!
03:15Pat Barry looking to finish!
03:17Ever since their lucrative deal with ESPN, it's clear that Dana White and co. are here
03:21to stay.
03:21The emergence of crossover superstars like Conor McGregor and Ronda Rousey helped grab the
03:26attention of the masses.
03:27But in recent years, the UFC has become so popular that it's not uncommon to see A-list celebrities
03:32or even current presidents in attendance for their bigger shows.
03:35It's not over until the fat lady sings.
03:39With huge yearly revenue, massive social media numbers, and pay-per-view numbers that can
03:44finally rival boxing, the only way is up for the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
03:49Number 15, Serie A.
03:50Italy's Serie A is a league that is filled to the brim with historical significance.
03:54Oh, that is brilliant!
03:57Super volley from Tati Castaghanos!
04:01A thing of absolute beauty from him!
04:03Some of the greatest players to ever set foot on a football pitch have played in the league.
04:07And according to reports, Serie A is in a period of true financial stability.
04:11If you love the beautiful game in its most technical form, the balanced nature of the
04:15Italian style of play will be right up your street.
04:17The man who netted five goals for Inter in 2018-19 shows no mercy!
04:24The league boasts some of the most important rivalries in football, and there hasn't been
04:28a season in decades where the Italians haven't been competitive with European opposition.
04:32Number 14, NASCAR.
04:34Though it certainly hit a decline in the late 2000s, the emergence of social media has strengthened
04:38NASCAR's ability to compete for modern sports fans' attention.
04:41Slick move to get things going on the first lap!
04:44We don't need to sell you on the joys of watching high-speed motorsports, but even if it's
04:47not quite the force it was in the 90s, it remains a staple of American culture.
04:51Those within the NASCAR community will tell you that compared to the last decade, it is
04:55very much on the rise again, boasting viewing figures that regularly stretch into the millions.
05:00Spinning!
05:00Spinning is Eric Johns!
05:02And yes, it is still more popular in the United States than Formula One.
05:06Number 13, Prem Rugby.
05:08Premiership rugby is not only the peak of English rugby, but it is one of the highest levels of
05:12the game in the world.
05:13Oh!
05:14Rich Lane!
05:15How did he catch that?
05:17Off he goes!
05:20And he puts it down!
05:21It is considered one of the three highest level club leagues in Europe, alongside top
05:2614 in France, and the cross-border United Rugby Championship, which includes teams from
05:30Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Italy, and South Africa.
05:33Like many leagues, the regular season is spent battling for a spot in the playoffs, and when
05:37those four final teams are decided, that's where things get truly intense.
05:41It doesn't get any better than that, ladies and gentlemen.
05:44That is a sensation!
05:47We all love international rugby as much as the next person, but when it comes to club
05:51level, Premiership rugby is as good as can be.
05:54Number 12, ATP.
05:56The ATP tour is the honor of being the only major tennis tour for high-level players.
06:00No way!
06:01Shut the front door!
06:04From era to era, its popularity has rarely dipped.
06:06The sport always has a way of creating new stars and rivalries.
06:10Like any successful sporting organization, they have embraced social media and online
06:14promotion with open arms.
06:15Sure, some fans will say that right now we're experiencing the end of an era, but one look
06:19at the history books will tell you that tennis always produces new talent before long.
06:23Oh, wow!
06:24Get out of here with that!
06:26Number 11, PGA Tour.
06:28You may not have expected to see golf on this list, but those who've learned to appreciate
06:32the game know exactly why the PGA Tour finds itself among the best leagues in the world.
06:36Meets a special Sunday, and that'll help.
06:39This first ever hole-in-one on the PGA Tour.
06:42The truly great golfers in the game test their mettle on the tour, with the best of the best
06:46earning coveted ranked positions.
06:48The tour organizes some of the biggest tournaments in the world, hosting championships like the
06:52Masters and the US Open.
06:53The PGA is tax-exempt, and as a result, the league's total revenue isn't clear.
06:57However, with impressive television ratings, the tour is probably pulling in some equally impressive
07:02sponsorship money.
07:03His first victory on the PGA Tour, after seven second-place finishers.
07:08Number 10, Indian Premier League.
07:10Though this cricket league has only been around since 2008, it's hard to argue against its
07:14unprecedented rise as a fan favorite and a hub for the best competition.
07:17Catch this!
07:19Straight back into the crowd over the side screen.
07:22The Indian Premier League includes ten franchises, each representing major cities in India, playing
07:27in a home-and-away round-robin before the four best teams enter a playoff to determine a champion.
07:32The IPL's quick rise is due in large part to their adoption of the newest format of cricket,
07:362020, which ultimately means games last around three hours instead of three days.
07:41It's fast-paced and exciting, and fans have responded.
07:44In the air, goes high, and it's into the crowd, it's over the roof!
07:49As a result, the IPL ranks fifth in the world in attendance for outdoor sports, averaging
07:54nearly 32,000 fans per game.
07:56Number 9, Bundesliga.
07:58There are a number of incredible football leagues around the world, and considering Germany
08:02produces some of the best talent the game has to offer, it's no surprise they offer up
08:05one of the most exciting leagues as well.
08:07Well, we're being treated to some magnificent strikes, and this one right out of the top
08:15draw.
08:16The top division of German football, the Bundesliga, is home to some of the best teams
08:20in the world.
08:20Bayern Munich has won the Champions League six times, while Borussia Dortmund boasts some of
08:24the most passionate fans in Europe.
08:26In addition, the Bundesliga is also arguably the best-run league in world football, where
08:30it is some of the cheapest ticket prices out of the major European leagues and the highest
08:34average attendance.
08:35That is absolutely sensational!
08:38Number 8, UEFA Champions League.
08:40When it comes to club football, the UEFA Champions League is undoubtedly the highest level,
08:44not just in Europe, but in the entire world.
08:46Though attempts to bring world-club-level championships into the sport have been admirable, there's
08:56no denying the historic importance of winning a Champions League trophy.
08:59For any player or manager, the only thing that is considered more prestigious than winning
09:03this title is, of course, taking your own home nation all the way to World Cup glory.
09:08But considering that international teams play together quite infrequently, it could be said
09:12that the most impressive team units are found in the Champions League.
09:21Number 7, La Liga.
09:22La Liga has been a powerhouse in world football for years now, bolstered by its immense importance
09:27in Spain, but also its relevance in other parts of Europe and South America.
09:31There hasn't been an era in Spanish football where you couldn't see world-class players
09:34representing the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona.
09:37But it's not just a two-team league either.
09:39Like any truly great league, there is quality to be found in most La Liga squads.
09:43Sure, the Messi and Ronaldo era represented a peak that will be nearly impossible to match,
09:47but there are still plenty of superstars on display week-to-week in Spanish football.
09:52Number 6, NHL.
09:53There's just something about hockey that gets people excited.
09:56Beautiful play from Pittsburgh, and Drew O'Connor's giving the Pens a 3-1 lead.
10:01Is it the speed of the game, the tremendous goals, the fighting?
10:04Who's to say?
10:05What we do know, though, is that the NHL is special.
10:07It's a testament to the sport that the league has recovered from two major lockouts since 2004,
10:12proving just how dedicated and passionate hockey fans truly are.
10:15The NHL has seen legends like Wayne Gretzky and Bobby Orr graze the ice,
10:19as well as current world-class stars like Alex Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby, and Conor McDavid.
10:23What a play by McDavid to set up Conor Brown.
10:28Conor McDavid showing off those hands and that vision.
10:31When playoff season comes around and the beards start to grow,
10:34magic is in the air for one of the greatest and most competitive tournaments in sports.
10:38Number 5, Formula One.
10:40NASCAR is the tire-squealing adrenaline rush crash champion of America,
10:44but the world's favorite and fastest racing sport is without question Formula One.
10:48Max Verstappen's got the inside line!
10:50In my word, that is a fast corner to try that move!
10:53Rather than having its drivers race each other on an oval,
10:56Formula One takes them on a ride through complex tracks
10:58where they'll have to maneuver sharp turns to test their skills
11:01and the fastest course cars on the planet to come out on top.
11:04With Grand Prix events all over the world,
11:06fans of Formula One line the tracks to get a glimpse of the world's best drivers in action.
11:11The McLarens collides!
11:13Lando Norris into the wall and out of the race!
11:17Number 4, MLB.
11:18This one's all about history, folks.
11:20Throw to third!
11:22Got him!
11:23Major League Baseball is about more than just baseball.
11:25It's part of a nation's identity.
11:27America's favorite pastime, baseball, is a total experience.
11:30It's about grabbing a hot dog outside the stadium,
11:33trying to catch a foul ball,
11:34getting up on the big screen,
11:36chanting, booing, and making signs.
11:38But let's not forget the competition.
11:39We could talk about the ugliness of steroid use,
11:41but we'd rather talk about the Sox versus the Yankees,
11:44or the Cubs, or the Giants and Dodgers.
11:46Take us out to the ballgame already.
11:47High fly ball, center field, well struck.
11:50PCA back, back some more, and it's gone.
11:53Three-run homer, and the Orioles have taken the lead.
11:57Number 3, NBA.
11:58The National Basketball Association is the world's premier basketball league,
12:02drawing the top talents in the U.S. and from all around the globe.
12:05Probable!
12:06Unbelievable!
12:07Impossible!
12:09Magic getting!
12:10Good day, mate!
12:10Right now, that includes the likes of LeBron, Curry, Durant, SGA, Anthony Edwards,
12:15and other future greats spread throughout a competitive 30-team league.
12:18It also has a storied past, which includes legends of the game,
12:21like Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Magic Johnson,
12:25as well as classic rivalries like Celtics and Lakers, and Bulls and Knicks.
12:29The league has seen a lot of growth internationally,
12:31with more and more international players appearing on teams' rosters.
12:35Shea using those screens, steps back, straight away, that's low!
12:39Buries it from downtown!
12:41Number 2, Premier League.
12:42The world's most popular sport deserves the world's most popular league.
12:46It's beautifully made, and he took it well, too!
12:50What about this, that little flick, sensational!
12:53Boasting some of the most exciting, fast-paced football
12:55from some of the best players on the planet,
12:58the Premier League is the gold standard for football.
13:00Teams are solid from the top of the table to the bottom,
13:03and on any given match day, you can witness an upset.
13:05With famous and storied clubs such as Manchester United, Liverpool, and Arsenal,
13:09Premier League rivalries are a sight to behold.
13:12And Saka scores!
13:15It's the creativity on the left,
13:18by Gabriel Martinelli,
13:20which has caused Fulham so many problems this evening,
13:23and it's Bukayo Saka who profits!
13:26The Premier League boasts the most lucrative television contract in sports,
13:29securing its global reach and bringing in fans from anywhere and everywhere.
13:33Before we continue,
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13:49Number 1, NFL.
13:51Are you ready for some football?
13:52Baseball may be America's pastime,
13:54but football is America's game.
13:56It wasn't there,
13:57so now he's got to throw it deep to the end zone!
14:00And was that caught?
14:01Yes!
14:02Despite having a short season running from September to February,
14:05if you count the playoffs,
14:06the NFL is a money-making machine.
14:08For the 18 weeks of the regular season,
14:10Americans give up their Sundays
14:12to enjoy a day's worth of televised pigskin.
14:14And come playoff time,
14:15football fever's in the air.
14:17This all leads to huge advertising bucks,
14:19but that hasn't sacrificed any of the sport's tradition.
14:21In fact, it's added to it.
14:23He has got it!
14:25Touchdown!
14:26Tailgating has created its own market for products,
14:28while tons of viewers check out the Super Bowl
14:30just for the commercials.
14:32What's your own personal favorite sports league?
14:34Let us know in the comments.
14:35And a brilliant, brilliant Bristol score.
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