Europe is considered the pinnacle of club football, boasting global appeal, substantial financial investment, intense league structures, and premier continental club competitions. Additionally, the world’s best players grace the top European leagues and every young player dreams of playing for European clubs and leagues.
In fact, the world’s top five leagues are all European: namely, the English Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, and Ligue 1, often known as Uber Eats Ligue 1 due to sponsorship reasons. The French top division is reportedly edging towards striking another major sponsorship deal.
McDonald’s deal with Ligue 1 to cause rebranding
Ligue 1, the French top-tier competition, is set to undergo a title sponsorship rebranding from ‘Uber Eats Ligue 1’ to ‘Ligue 1 McDonald’s’ starting in the upcoming 2024–25 season. RMC Sport journalist Daniel Riolo reported that the French league is in talks with the American fast-food chain to become their new title sponsor.
Reportedly, the deal inked is for a three-year partnership amounting to a whopping €60 million for the duration. This agreement will allow the French League to earn around €20 million per season from McDonald’s for the next three years.
McDonald’s will be replacing the current sponsor, Uber Eats, the food delivery company that has been partnered with Ligue 1 for the last few years. Uber Eats initially signed a two-season deal in 2019 and further extended it for three more years, paying nearly €15 million per season.
It is also reported that the new deal with McDonald’s will uplift the commercial aspects of Ligue 1, a timely boost considering Kylian Mbappe’s departure from PSG could potentially diminish the league’s appeal due to the exit of one of its best players.
Fans join in to clown Ligue 1
France’s top division has been infamously dubbed a “farmers’ league” by fans due to the perceived lack of competition and PSG’s dominance, having won the league championship for nearly a decade. The announcement of the league’s new title sponsor has once again drawn attention and trolls from fans across social media.
A fan commented, “The league is as much of a joke as the name of the league. Can’t take them seriously,” poking fun at their sponsorship deals.
“First Uber Eats and now McDonald’s. Ligue 1 just continues to keep the banter alive 😂,” wrote a third user on X (formerly Twitter).
Another fan tweeted a picture of Eden Hazard with the quote, ‘I got my joy back,’ accompanied by the caption, “Coming back from retirement… 🤔” This tweet humorously associates Hazard with his favorite food, playing on the news of Ligue 1’s new title sponsorship.
Another fan remarked, “This isn’t a farmers league anymore… this is a clown league 🤣,” ridiculing the league by referring to McDonald’s mascot, a clown, in light of their new sponsorship.
What’s your overall take on the quality of Ligue 1? Tell us in the comments section.
