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ALL ABOUT THE PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP (ARGENTINA)
The Argentine Professional Football League is synonymous with passion, history, and the purest form of football. From its recent creation as a new format for the local tournament to the century-old tradition of Argentine championships, this competition brings together the country's biggest clubs—and also its most tenacious—in a season brimming with excitement. River Plate, Boca Juniors, Independiente, Racing Club, San Lorenzo, and others enliven a tournament that never goes unnoticed. In this article, we tell you EVERYTHING about the Professional League: its history, evolution, champions, statistics, and those facts that only a true fan knows.
The Origin and Evolution of the Tournament
The Argentine Professional Football League (LPF) is the current form of the First Division tournament. It was created in 2020 as the successor to the Argentine Superliga, amidst a context of leadership changes at the AFA. Although it is a "new" league, it maintains the historical continuity of the Argentine championship, which dates back to 1891 and is the oldest in the Americas.
The LPF was created to return organizational control of the championship to the AFA, which it had delegated to the failed Superliga. With Claudio Tapia as president of the AFA, and Marcelo Tinelli as one of the driving forces, the aim was to professionalize the competition, improve television coverage, and centralize sporting and commercial decisions. Changes in format and calendar: Since its inception, the LPF has changed its format several times. In 2020, due to the pandemic, the "Professional League Cup," a short tournament with regional divisions, was played. In 2021 and 2022, it alternated between long tournaments and cups. For 2023 and 2024, an annual round-robin championship was established, plus a supplementary cup. These constant adjustments are a trademark of Argentine football, where the only constant is passion.
LPF Founding: 2020.
The story of the First Division, which began in 1891, continues.
The LPF replaced the Argentine Superliga.
The AFA regained organizational control of the tournament.
Formats vary between long tournaments and cups.
The LPF not only seeks to modernize the competition: it also represents continuity with the historical legacy of Argentine football, blending the new with the traditional.
Historic Clubs and Recent Champions
Talking about the Professional League means talking about giants like River Plate and Boca Juniors, the most popular and successful clubs in the country. There are also historic clubs like Independiente, Racing, San Lorenzo, Huracán, Rosario Central, and Newell's. But there's also room for surprises like Argentinos Juniors, Lanús, Defensa y Justicia, and Godoy Cruz, who put up a fight year after year.
Since the formal creation of the LPF in 2020, the champions have been diverse.
Boca won the Diego Maradona Cup in 2020 and the 2022 league title. River, with Marcelo Gallardo and later with Martín Demichelis, won the 2021 and 2023 league titles. Colón de Santa Fe celebrated their first championship in 2021. Racing also lifted trophies, demonstrating a strong institutional presence. 2021.
Racing Club: Champions Trophy 2022.
Defensa y Justicia: Copa Sudamericana 2020 (not LPF, but key to their prestige).
Rivals, classics and passions
The LPF is the stage for heated classics: Superclásico between River and Boca, the Avellaneda derby between Racing and Independiente, the Rosario derby between Central and Newell's, the Buenos Aires derby between Huracán and San Lorenzo. These matches raise the temperature of each matchday and bring the entire country to a standstill. Each club has its loyal fans, its legendary stadium, and its history. This makes the tournament not just about football, but an emotional and cultural experience.
Statistics, figures, and curiosities of the league
The LPF is fertile ground for stars who later shine in Europe. Julián Álvarez, Enzo Fernández, Alan Varela, Thiago Almada, Facundo Farías, among others, were developed and excelled in this tournament. Furthermore, it's common to see idols return to retire at home, such as Marcos Rojo, Carlos Tevez, or Ignacio Scocco.
In terms of statistics, River and Boca lead in titles since the LPF era, although teams like Estudiantes, Lanús, and Talleres have been consistent contenders. The top scorers vary each tournament, with names like José Sand, Pablo Vegetti, Miguel Borja, and Mateo Retegui leading the charts.
Must-know facts
Julián Álvarez was a top scorer and star player before becoming a World Cup champion with Argentina.
Colón won their first Primera División title in the midst of a pandemic and without fans in attendance.
The LPF uses average points for relegation, a unique system in the world.
Carlos Tevez managed Rosario Central after retiring as a player.
River Plate was the first official champion after fans returned to the stadium. post-pandemic.
A tournament with its own DNA
The Professional League doesn't just measure points: it measures endurance, talent, and emotions. With vibrant stadiums, passionate commentators, and a unique connection between the people and the ball, Argentine football remains one of the most intense in the world. In the LPF, you don't just play: you fight, you suffer, and you enjoy it with your heart.
And although sometimes the format changes are disconcerting, what never changes is the love for the colors, the goals shouted at the top of your lungs, and the dream of once again becoming champions.
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