About Bundesliga

The Bundesliga (German: [ˈbʊndəsˌliːɡa]), sometimes referred to as Fußball-Bundesliga ([ˌfuːsbal-]), is Germany's professional football league and the top tier of the German football league system. The Bundesliga consists of 18 teams and operates with a promotion and relegation system alongside the Bundesliga 2. The season runs from August to May. Matches are played on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, with a focus on Saturdays. All Bundesliga clubs participate in the DFB-Pokal (German Cup). The Bundesliga champion qualifies for the DFL-Supercup.

League History

The Bundesliga was founded in Dortmund in 1962, with its first season commencing in 1963-64. The structure and organization of the Bundesliga, as well as other German football leagues, have undergone frequent changes. Established by the German Football Association (DFB), it is now operated by the German Football League (DFL). Since its inception, 58 clubs have competed in the Bundesliga. Bayern Munich has won 33 of the 62 championships (having participated in 60 seasons), including 11 consecutive seasons from 2013 to 2023—a record among Europe's top five leagues. Other past champions include Borussia Dortmund, Hamburger SV, Werder Bremen, Borussia Mönchengladbach, and VfB Stuttgart.

Bayern Munich is the current Bundesliga champion. In the final round of the 2022/23 season, Bayern defeated Cologne to overtake Dortmund and secure the title, completing an 11-year consecutive championship run in the Bundesliga—a new record for the longest consecutive titles among Europe's top five leagues. Bayern's 33rd Bundesliga title makes it the most successful club in the league's history, surpassing the combined total of all other German teams (28 titles). The record for most goals in a single Bundesliga season is 41, held by Polish striker Robert Lewandowski. In May 2025, FC Bayern Munich clinched the 2024-25 Bundesliga title two rounds ahead of schedule.

Position in Europe

The Bundesliga is one of Europe's top national leagues. For the 2024-25 season, based on performances in European competitions over the past five seasons, it ranks fourth in the UEFA league coefficients. The Bundesliga led the UEFA rankings from 1976 to 1984 and in 1990, and has produced the continent's top club on seven occasions. Bundesliga clubs have won eight UEFA Champions League titles, seven UEFA Europa League titles, four UEFA Cup Winners' Cup titles, two UEFA Super Cup titles, two FIFA Club World Cup titles, and three Intercontinental Cup titles. Its players have claimed nine Ballon d'Or awards, two FIFA The Best Men's Player awards, five European Golden Shoes, and three UEFA Men's Player of the Year awards (including the UEFA Club Footballer of the Year). As of the 2024-25 season, the Bundesliga has the second-highest average attendance of any league, with 38,656 spectators per match, trailing only the English Premier League.

Ballon d'Or Players

In terms of the Bundesliga's Ballon d'Or history, Bayern Munich's Franz Beckenbauer and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge lead with 2 awards each. Additionally, Gerd Müller, Kevin Keegan, Matthias Sammer, and Allan Simonsen have brought honor to the league, contributing to a total of 9 Ballon d'Or wins.