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Ligue 1, the top division of French football, has lost its place among the top five leagues in Europe according to the latest UEFA rankings. The rankings are based on the performances of clubs in European competitions this season, and Ligue 1 has been overtaken by the Eredivisie and the Belgian Pro League which have seen more success. The French top division is now the seventh-ranked league in the world with Belgium and Netherlands taking the 5th and 6th place respectively.
The French league has been struggling to compete with the other major leagues in terms of quality and depth, despite having some of the world's best players such as Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappe. The league has been dominated by Paris Saint-Germain, who have won 48 Ligue 1 titles in their history and reached the Champions League final in 2020. However, PSG has been unable to replicate its dominance in Europe as they reached the 2020-21 UCL semifinals while bowed out of the next two UCL seasons in the round of 16.
The other French clubs have also failed to make an impact in European competitions, with only Marseille reaching the Europa League final in 2018 as the last notable achievement. Ligue 1 has suffered from a lack of competitiveness and financial stability, as many clubs have been hit by the Covid-19 pandemic and the collapse of a lucrative TV deal with Mediapro. As a result, many clubs have been forced to sell their best players and cut their budgets, weakening their chances of challenging PSG or performing well in Europe.
Also read: UEFA renames Europa Conference League to Conference League
The UEFA rankings have a significant impact on the allocation of spots and seeds for European competitions. The top four leagues (England, Spain, Italy, and Germany) are guaranteed four places each in the Champions League group stage, while the fifth-ranked league gets two places and the sixth-ranked league gets one place.
The fall of Ligue 1 from the top five leagues is a blow for French football, which will have less representation and revenue from European competitions. It also raises questions about the attractiveness and sustainability of Ligue 1 as a destination for top players and coaches.
Manchester City top Club coefficient ranking, Barcelona fall to 50th
Manchester City have climbed to the top of the UEFA Club coefficient ranking for the 2022-23 season, after winning their first Champions League title and the treble. West Ham finish second after winning the UEFA Conference league followed by UCL semi-finalists Real Madrid.
Barcelona, on the other hand, have plummeted to the 50th place in the ranking, after failing to qualify for the Champions League knockout stage for the first time since 2004. The Catalan club also lost in the Europa League Round of 16 against Manchester United.
