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Europe continues to dominate the world of football, with most of the big names in the game plying their trade in that continent.
With extraordinary competition in each and every league, players from across the world aim to emulate their idols by establishing themselves at a top European club. The Premier League and La Liga continue to attract world-class players on a regular basis.
It helps that European clubs have money to spend, as compared to African or American clubs. The allure of playing for Manchester United, Real Madrid and Barcelona is too big, with global fame and a heavy wage packet all playing important roles in the decision making process.
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We rank the top 5 European leagues in the last decade.
#5 Ligue 1
Ligue 1 has produced some top talents in the last decade, with the likes of Eden Hazard, Anthony Martial and N'Golo Kante all taking their first step towards fame at Ligue 1 clubs.
However, Paris Saint-Germain's domestic dominance and their limited impact in European competitions do not bode well for the league. There have been some unlikely league winners in the last decade, including Leonardo Jardim's AS Monaco. But most of their best players left immediately, including Kylian Mbappe, who moved to Paris Saint-Germain.
The 2019/20 season saw Paris Saint-Germain reach the Champions League final, which they lost to Bayern Munich. Ligue 1 does boast stars like Neymar, Mbappe and Sergio Ramos.
Lille broke PSG's run of three consecutive league titles in the 2020-21 season.
#4 Serie A
Like Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1, Serie A was dominated last decade by Juventus, who won nine consecutive league titles.
The Old Lady were in a spot of bother during the start of last decade, but the appointment of Antonio Conte as manager saw them flourish. Massimiliano Allegri was appointed as boss in 2014, and Juventus reached two Champions League finals under his management.
Inter Milan won Serie A last season, ending Juventus' run. The Nerazzurri also reached the final of the 2020 Europa League under the management of Conte.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Paulo Dybala, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Romelu Lukaku are some of the star names in Serie A.
#3 Bundesliga
Bayern Munich are one of the best teams in world football, and unlike Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus they seem unlikely to let go of their Bundesliga dominance.
Bayern Munich won the treble in 2020, the second time they have done so in the last decade. Borussia Dortmund reached the final of the 2012/13 Champions League, where they faced Bayern Munich and succumbed to a 2-1 defeat.
However, no side apart from Bayern Munich have truly shone in the European competitions in recent years.
Bundesliga these days is the go-to place for young talents. The likes of Erling Haaland and Jude Bellingham continue to play for Borussia Dortmund, while sides like RB Leipzig and Borussia Monchengladbach have placed their trust in young talent.
#2 English Premier League
Arguably the most exciting league in the world, the English Premier League enjoyed a strong finish to the last decade.
Chelsea won the Champions League in 2012, but English clubs were generally disappointing in European competitions for a period of time after that.
Manchester United's Europa League triumph in 2017 was followed by an all-English Champions League final in 2019, with Liverpool beating Tottenham Hotspur.
There were diverse winners in the league, including Leicester City.
Last season saw Chelsea face Manchester City in the Champions League final, with Thomas Tuchel's side winning the game. Manchester United also reached the final of the UEFA Europa League, but lost to Villarreal on penalties.
#1 La Liga
Two of the greatest players to have played the game plied their trade in La Liga in the last decade, representing two of the biggest clubs in the world.
The rivalry between Barcelona's Lionel Messi and Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo was well covered, with the El Clasico fixtures garnering immense attention.
Barcelona won the treble in 2015 under the management of Luis Enrique, with the attacking trio of Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi and Neymar in fearsome form.
Real Madrid, on the other hand, have won four Champions League trophies in the last decade. They won three consecutive Champions League trophies under the management of Zinedine Zidane, and were thoroughly dominant during that period.
Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid enjoyed their own share of achievements, and La Liga was the league to watch in the last decade.
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