The Taça da Liga (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈtasɐ ðɐ ˈliɣɐ]), known outside Portugal as Portuguese League Cup, is an annual club football competition organised by the Liga Portuguesa de Futebol Profissional (LPFP) for teams competing in the top two tiers of Portuguese football – the Primeira Liga and Liga Portugal 2.[1] Unlike Portugal's other domestic cup competition, the Taça de Portugal, the winners of the Taça da Liga do not qualify for European competitions.
 | |
| Organiser(s) | Liga Portuguesa de Futebol Profissional |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2007 |
| Region | Portugal |
| Teams | 36 (2021–22 season) |
| Current champions | Vitória de Guimarães (1st title) |
| Most championships | Benfica (8 titles) |
| Broadcaster(s) | SIC (final) Sport TV |
| Website | ligaportugal.pt/allianzcup |
 2025–26 Taça da Liga | |
The Taça da Liga was established in the 2007–08 season, thus becoming the third official competition for professional clubs in Portugal,[1] after a proposal by Sporting CP and Boavista was approved by LPFP members on 28 November 2006. For sponsorship reasons, it is currently known as Allianz Cup (with the English word cup).
Benfica are the most successful team in the competition, having won eight trophies (four of which consecutively between 2009 and 2012). Vitória de Guimarães are the current holders after defeating their Minho rivals Braga 2–1 in the 2026 final to win their first title in the competition.
Format
editThe Taça da Liga format has had changes throughout the competition's history in order to increase the number of matches and also revenue for both clubs and LPFP. Starting in the 2021–22 season, the format is the following:
- First round – One-legged ties between all Segunda Liga teams (except reserve or B teams), the ten Primeira Liga teams ranked 7th–16th in the previous season, and the two teams promoted from the Segunda Liga, with the winner advancing to the next round.
- Second round – One-legged ties between the first-round winners and the two Primeira Liga teams ranked 5th and 6th in the previous season. The winners advance to the next round.
- Third round – Four groups of three teams played in a single round-robin format, each containing two second-round winners and one of the four top-placed Primeira Liga season teams of the previous season. The group winners advance to the next round.
- Knockout phase – Semi-finals and final played as one-legged fixtures played at a neutral ground.
For 2022–23, due to fixture congestion surrounding the 2022 FIFA World Cup, all Segunda Liga and Primeira Liga teams (except reserve or B teams) were placed into 8 groups (6 groups of 4 teams and 2 groups of 5 teams), with the group winners advancing to the knockout phase, consisting of quarter-finals, semi-finals and the final. All knockout stage games are one-legged fixtures, with the semi-finals and finals still played at a neutral ground. All group stage games and the quarter-finals were played during the international break surrounding the World Cup.
Finals
editPerformance by club
edit| Club | Winners | Runners-up | Winning years | Runner-up years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benfica | 8 | 1 | 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2025 | 2022 |
| Sporting CP | 4 | 4 | 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022 | 2008, 2009, 2023, 2025 |
| Braga | 3 | 3 | 2013, 2020, 2024 | 2017, 2021, 2026 |
| Porto | 1 | 4 | 2023 | 2010, 2013, 2019, 2020 |
| Vitória de Setúbal | 1 | 1 | 2008 | 2018 |
| Moreirense | 1 | 0 | 2017 | — |
| Vitória de Guimarães | 1 | 0 | 2026 | — |
| Marítimo | 0 | 2 | — | 2015, 2016 |
| Paços de Ferreira | 0 | 1 | — | 2011 |
| Gil Vicente | 0 | 1 | — | 2012 |
| Rio Ave | 0 | 1 | — | 2014 |
| Estoril | 0 | 1 | — | 2024 |
Participating clubs
editPlayers statistics
editAppearances
edit- As of 2024–25 season[citation needed]
| Rank | Nat. | Player | Apps | Goals | Years | Clubs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Jardel | 43 | 1 | 2009–2021 | Estoril, Olhanense, Benfica |
| 2 |  |
Tarantini | 41 | 5 | 2007–2021 | Portimonense, Rio Ave |
| 3 | |
Ricardo Esgaio | 39 | 0 | 2012–2025 | Sporting CP, Académica, Braga |
| 4 | |
Gilberto Silva | 38 | 3 | 2007–2023 | Boavista, Covilhã |
| 5 | |
Ukra | 37 | 3 | 2007–2023 | Varzim, Olhanense, FC Porto, Braga, Rio Ave, Santa Clara |
|
Pizzi | 37 | 9 | 2009–2024 | Covilhã, Paços Ferreira, Benfica, Braga | |
|
Paulinho | 37 | 21 | 2012–2024 | Trofense, Gil Vicente, Braga, Sporting CP | |
| 8 | |
Filipe Gonçalves | 36 | 3 | 2007–2020 | Vitória Setúbal, Paços Ferreira, Trofense, Moreirense, Estoril, Oliveirense |
| 9 | |
Ricardo Pessoa | 35 | 7 | 2007–2018 | Portimonense, Moreirense |
|
João Pedro | 35 | 4 | 2007–2022 | Beira-Mar, União de Leiria, Oliveirense, Naval, Braga Belenenses, Moreirense, Académica |
Bold = Still active and playing in Portugal
Goalscorers
editAll-time top scorers
edit- As of 2024–25 season[citation needed]
| Rank | Nat. | Player | Goals | Games | Years | Clubs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | |
Paulinho | 21 | 37 | 2012–2024 | Trofense, Gil Vicente, Braga, Sporting CP |
| 2 | |
Tozé Marreco | 12 | 25 | 2010– | Desportivo das Aves, União da Madeira, Naval, Tondela, Académica |
| 3 | |
Liédson | 11 | 13 | 2007–2013 | Sporting CP, Porto |
| 4 | |
Jonas | 10 | 15 | 2014–2019 | Benfica |
| 5 | |
Hélder Guedes | 9 | 34 | 2007–2018 | Penafiel, Paços de Ferreira, Rio Ave, Vitória Setúbal |
|
Lima | 9 | 16 | 2009–2015 | Belenenses, Braga, Benfica | |
|
Rabiola | 9 | 16 | 2007–2015 | Porto, Desportivo das Aves, Penafiel | |
|
Dyego Sousa | 9 | 21 | 2010–2019 | Leixões, Tondela, Portimonense Marítimo, Braga | |
|
Edinho | 9 | 22 | 2007–2020 | Marítimo, Académica, Braga, Vitória de Setúbal, Feirense | |
|
Miguel Rosa | 9 | 25 | 2008–2022 | Estoril, Carregado, Belenenses, Cova da Piedade, Estrela da Amadora | |
|
Clemente | 9 | 27 | 2007–2019 | Chaves, Oliveirense, Santa Clara | |
|
Pizzi | 9 | 37 | 2009–2024 | Covilhã, Paços Ferreira, Benfica, Braga | |
Bold = Still active and playing in Portugal
Goalscorers by seasons
edit
Sponsorship
editSince its inception (except in the period between 2011 and 2015) the Taça da Liga has had the following naming sponsors meaning it has been known by different names:
| Period | Sponsor | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 2007–2010 | Carlsberg | Carlsberg Cup |
| 2010–2011 | Bwin | Bwin Cup |
| 2011–2015 | No main sponsor | Taça da Liga |
| 2015–2018 | CTT | Taça CTT |
| 2018– | Allianz | Allianz Cup |
Records
editAs of 11 January 2025[update][citation needed]
- Most tournament wins (team): 8 wins, Benfica
- Most final appearances (team): 9, Benfica
- Most tournament wins (player): 7, Luisão for Benfica;
- Most final appearances: (individual): 6, Luisão for Benfica (2009–11, 2014–16)
- Most matches (team): 72, Sporting
- Most matches (individual): 43, Jardel
- Most game wins (team): 46, Benfica
- Most goals (team): 143, Benfica
- Highest goalscorer (career): 21 goals, Paulinho
- Highest goalscorer (season): 5 goals, by Matheus for Vitória de Setúbal (2007–08), Hugo Vieira for Gil Vicente (2010–11) and Jonas for Benfica (2014–15)
- Most goals scored in a match (individual): 4 goals, by Rabiola for Desportivo das Aves vs Trofense, 29 July 2012
- Biggest win: Sporting CP 6–0 União da Madeira, third round, 20 December 2017
- Biggest win in a final: Marítimo 2–6 Benfica, 20 May 2016
- Highest scoring game: 8 goals, Belenenses 5–3 Leixões, first round, 7 August 2011 and Marítimo 2–6 Benfica, final, 20 May 2016
- Most penalties in a deciding penalty shoot-out: 20 – Vitória de Guimarães 6–7 Sporting CP (27 September 2007)
- Youngest goalscorer in the final: Bruno Pereirinha, 20 years and 19 days, for Sporting CP vs Benfica, 2009
- Youngest player in the final: Geovany Quenda, 17 years, 8 months and 13 days for Sporting CP vs Benfica, 2025
- Youngest captain in the final: João Moutinho, 21 years, 6 months and 14 days for Sporting CP vs Vitória de Setúbal, 2008
See also
edit- Taça de Portugal
- Taça Ribeiro dos Reis (unofficial predecessor organized by the Portuguese Football Federation)
- Taça Federação Portuguesa de Futebol (another predecessor organized by the Portuguese Football Federation)
- List of association football competitions in Portugal
- List of Taça da Liga winning managers
References
edit- 1 2 "Taça da Liga – Acerca desta Competição" [About this competition]. lpfp.pt (in Portuguese). Portuguese League for Professional Football. Archived from the original on 17 January 2013. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
External links
edit
- Official website (in Portuguese)
- Portugal – List of League Cup Finals, RSSSF.com