Meistriliiga (), officially known as A. Le Coq Premium Liiga for sponsorship reasons, and commonly known as the Premium Liiga, is the highest division of the Estonian Football Association annual football championship. The league was founded in 1992, and was initially semi-professional with amateur clubs allowed to compete. With the help of solidarity mechanisms, the league is fully professional since the 2020 season.
As in most countries with low temperatures in winter, the season starts in March and ends in November. Meistriliiga consists of ten clubs, all teams play each other four times.
After each season, the bottom team is relegated to the Esiliiga, the Estonian second division league. The second last team plays a two-legged play-off with the second team in the Esiliiga for a place in the Meistriliiga.
History
Origins The first Estonian Football Championship title was played out in 1921 and was won by Sport, who later went on to lift nine league titles and was the most successful Estonian football club during the country's first period of independence. The championship was initially played as a knock-out tournament, before league format was adapted in 1929. During the last 1939–40 season, Tartu Olümpia became the first club outside of capital city Tallinn to be crowned the Estonian champions, and have remained to be the only non-Tallinn club to do so until present day.
Estonia lost its independence through Soviet occupation in World War II, after which former clubs were forced to dissolve and Estonian SSR Championship was established. During the occupation, native Estonians started to desist from practicing football and the local championships were mostly played by teams consisting of local Russians.
Meistriliiga Estonia restored its independence in 1991 and in the following year, Meistriliiga was established. After 52 years, Estonian clubs could once again play for the Estonian Football Championship title. The number of teams participating in the league varied from 8 to 14 until 2005, since then the league has been played with 10 teams. First live TV broadcasts began in 2008, and in 2020, first league matches were broadcast on foreign TV channels.
In February 2013, A. Le Coq, an Estonian brewery company, signed a five-year cooperation agreement with the Estonian Football Association, which included Meistriliiga naming rights. Since then, the league has been known as the Premium Liiga.
In 2020, the league became fully professional as the Estonian Football Association began financially supporting clubs that do not qualify for European spots.
Premium Liiga started using video assistant referee (VAR) from 2023.
2026 season
The following 10 clubs will compete in the 2026 Meistriliiga.
Club Positionin 2025First seasonin MeistriliigaSeasons inMeistriliigaFirst season ofcurrent spellNumber ofseasons ofcurrent spellTitlesLast titleFCI Levadiac2nd199928199928112024Floraa, b, c1st199236199236162025Harju7th20233202520 –Kuressaare9th200019201890 –Narva Transa, b, c5th1992361992360 –Nõmme Kaljuc3rd20081920081922018Nõmme United1st (EL)20242202610 –Paide Linnameeskondc4th2009182009180 –Tammekac8th2005222005220 –Vaprus6th200611202160 – a = Founding member of the Meistriliiga b = Played in every Meistriliiga season c = Never been relegated from the Meistriliiga
Champions SeasonChampionsRunners-upThird placeTop goalscorerGoals1992NormaEesti PõlevkiviTVMVSergei Bragin (Norma)181992–93Norma ()FloraNikolSergei Bragin (Norma)271993–94FloraNormaNikolMaksim Gruznov (Narva Trans/Tevalte)211994–95Flora ()Lantana-MarlekorNarva TransSerhiy Morozov (Lantana-Marlekor)251995–96LantanaFloraTevalte-MarlekorLembit Rajala (Flora)161996–97Lantana ()FloraTallinna SadamSergei Bragin (Lantana)181997–98Flora ()Tallinna SadamLantanaKonstantin Kolbassenko (Tallinna Sadam)181998Flora ()Tallinna SadamLantanaKonstantin Kolbassenko (Tallinna Sadam)131999LevadiaTulevikFloraToomas Krõm (Levadia)192000Levadia ()FloraTVMKEgidijus Juška (TVMK)Toomas Krõm (Levadia)242001Flora ()TVMKLevadiaMaksim Gruznov (Narva Trans)372002Flora ()LevadiaTVMKAndrei Krõlov (TVMK)372003Flora ()TVMKLevadiaTor Henning Hamre (Flora)392004Levadia ()TVMKFloraVjatšeslav Zahovaiko (Flora)282005TVMKLevadiaNarva TransTarmo Neemelo (TVMK)412006Levadia ()Narva TransFloraMaksim Gruznov (Narva Trans)312007Levadia ()FloraTVMKDmitri Lipartov (Narva Trans)302008Levadia ()FloraNarva TransIngemar Teever (Nõmme Kalju)232009Levadia ()Sillamäe KalevNarva TransVitali Gussev (Levadia)262010Flora ()LevadiaNarva TransSander Post (Flora)242011Flora ()Nõmme KaljuNarva TransAleksandrs Čekulajevs (Narva Trans)462012Nõmme KaljuLevadiaFloraVladislav Ivanov (Sillamäe Kalev/Narva Trans)232013Levadia ()Nõmme KaljuSillamäe KalevVladimir Voskoboinikov (Nõmme Kalju)232014Levadia ()Sillamäe KalevFloraYevgeni Kabaev (Sillamäe Kalev)362015Flora ()LevadiaNõmme KaljuIngemar Teever (Levadia)242016InfonetLevadiaNõmme KaljuYevgeni Kabaev (Sillamäe Kalev)252017Flora ()LevadiaNõmme KaljuAlbert Prosa (FCI Tallinn)Rauno Sappinen (Flora)272018Nõmme Kalju ()FCI LevadiaFlora Liliu (Nõmme Kalju)312019Flora ()FCI LevadiaNõmme KaljuErik Sorga (Flora)312020Flora ()Paide LinnameeskondFCI LevadiaRauno Sappinen (Flora)262021FCI Levadia ()FloraPaide LinnameeskondHenri Anier (Paide Linnameeskond)262022Flora ()FCI LevadiaPaide LinnameeskondZakaria Beglarishvili (FCI Levadia)212023Flora ()FCI LevadiaTallinna KalevTristan Koskor (Narva Trans)162024FCI Levadia ()Nõmme KaljuPaide LinnameeskondAlex Matthias Tamm (Nõmme Kalju)282025Flora ()FCI LevadiaNõmme KaljuRauno Sappinen (Flora)21
Total titles won ClubWinnersRunners-upWinning seasonsFlora1671993–94, 1994–95, 1997–98, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2010, 2011, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2025FCI Levadia11121999, 2000, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2021, 2024Nõmme Kalju232012, 2018Norma211992, 1992–93Lantana211995–96, 1996–97TVMK132005FCI Tallinn102016
All-time Meistriliiga table The table is a cumulative record of all match results, points and goals of every team that has played in the Meistriliiga since its inception in 1992. The table that follows is accurate as of the end of the 2022 season. Teams in bold play in the Meistriliiga 2023 season. Numbers in bold are the record (highest) numbers in each column.
In this ranking 3 points are awarded for a win, 1 for a draw, and 0 for a loss, although Meistriliiga awarded 2 points for a win until the 1994–95 season. Championship matches, relegation matches and relegation tournament matches involving clubs of lower leagues are not counted. In 1992 Preliminary Round matches were played in two groups. The results of the matches played between teams in same group were taken to second round, thus counted twice, in this table these results are counted once.
The table is sorted by all-time points.
Club Seasons Titles 1Flora32149696821651222577768180922112.28 2Levadia12410805578143842140591154918772.33 3Narva Trans3209704341903461742134140114921.54 4Nõmme Kalju152530313111106114150263910501.98 5TVMK21714522558211510735165578471.87 6Tulevik32206551871123567921283−4916731.02 7Paide Linnameeskond14049418887219734845−1116511.32 8Tammeka1706341761173417671235−4686451.02 9Sillamäe Kalev13041318365165741681606141.49 10Kuressaare15050488753414271283−8563390.67 11FCI Tallinn9511809041493432121313111.73 12Tallinna Kalev1003546855231341860−5192590.73 13Lantana5721608838343411531883021.89 14Tallinna Sadam601326719462711681032201.67 15Eesti Põlevkivi90162504072224276−521901.17 16Norma4278497222231111121541.97 17Merkuur460153412884204404−2001510.99 18Vaprus702463521190235760−5251260.51 19Legion3098252251109174−65930.95 20Lootus6501482219107104394−290850.57 21Warrior501562118117120425−305810.52 22Levadia II13084201450106211−105740.88 23Lelle408016194572155−83670.84 24Dünamo408916116292277−185590.66 25DAG740681694385199−114570.84 26Viljandi207214144470157−87560.78 27Vigri20321679815526551.72 28Pärnu Linnameeskond207211105162185−123430.60 29Tervis Pärnu2046115303892−54380.83 30Keemik2031106154172−31361.16 31Ajax301087138860449−389340.31 32Pärnu83038552836120−84200.53 33Lokomotiv1036462635115−80180.50 34Maardu Linnameeskond1036452730118−88170.47 35Pärnu Levadia102815221996−7780.29 36Tarvas1036033315113−9830.09 37Vall10140113944−3510.07 38Maardu109009659−5300 Notes Note 1: 1999–2003 FC Levadia Maardu, 2004– FC Levadia. Not to be confused with FC Levadia Tallinn 2001–2003 a separate team owned by the steel company Levadia. In 2004 the clubs were merged FC Levadia Maardu were moved to Tallinn and became FC Levadia, former FC Levadia Tallinn became their reserves as FC Levadia II. Note 2: 1992 TVMV, 1992-1994 Nikol, 1995–1996 Tevalte-Marlekor, 1996–1997 Marlekor, 1997–2008 TVMK Note 3: 1992 Viljandi JK, 1993– Viljandi Tulevik Note 4: 1992–2005 Merkuur, 2006 Maag Note 5: 1993–1994 Tevalte, 1995–1999 Lantana Note 6: 2000–2003 Kohtla-Järve Lootus, 2004 Alutaguse Lootus, 2005–2012 Kohtla-Järve Lootus, then merged and became Kohtla-Järve JK Järve Note 7: 1992 Tartu Kalev, 1992–1994 EsDAG, 1994– DAG Note 8: 1992 Pärnu JK, 1994–1996 PJK Kalev Note 9: 2011–2016 Infonet, 2017 FCI Tallinn
Records All as of end of 2025 season if not stated otherwise.
Club records Most seasons in the Meistriliiga: 35 – Flora and Narva Trans (all seasons, 1992–present) Most consecutive seasons in the Meistriliiga: 35 – Flora and Narva Trans (all seasons, 1992–present) Most titles: 16 – Flora Most consecutive titles: 4 – Levadia (2006–2009) Biggest title-winning margin: 21 points – 2009; Levadia (97 points) over Sillamäe Kalev (76 points) Smallest title-winning margin: 0 points – 1993–94; Flora and Norma both finished on 36 points, Flora won the title in a championship play-off match 5–2. Most points in a season: 97 – Levadia (2009), Flora (2022) Fewest points in a season: 0 – Maardu (1992) Most wins in a season: 31 – Levadia (2009, 36 games), Flora (2022, 36 games) Fewest wins in a season: 0 – PJK/Kalev (1995–96, 14 games), Vall (1996–97, 14 games), Lelle (1998, 14 games), Ajax (2011, 36 games), Tarvas (2016, 36 games) Most consecutive wins: 17 – Norma (15 May 1992 – 2 October 1993) Most defeats in a season: 33 – Tarvas (2016, 36 games) Most consecutive matches undefeated: 61 – Levadia (10 May 2008 – 7 November 2009) Most goals scored in a season: 138 – TVMK (2005) Most goals per game in a season: 4.636 – Norma (1992–93, 102 goals in 22 games) Fewest goals scored in a season: 11 – Sillamäe Kalev (1993–94, 22 games), Valga (2000, 28 games), Kuressaare (2003, 28 games), Lootus (2004, 28 games), Ajax (2011, 36 games) Fewest goals per game in a season: 0.306 – Ajax (2011, 11 goals in 36 games) Most goals conceded in a season: 192 – Ajax (2011, 36 games) Fewest goals conceded in a season: 16 – Levadia (2010, 36 games) Most clean sheets in one season: 24 – Levadia (2014) Most consecutive clean sheets: 13 – Levadia (2014) Biggest win: Tevalte 24–0 Sillamäe Kalev (27 May 1994) Most hat-tricks in a season: 9 – Norma (1992–93)
Player records As of 18 August 2026. Active players in bold.
+ Most appearancesRankPlayerGamesGoals1Andre Frolov543752Sander Sinilaid520393Andrei Kalimullin517224Stanislav Kitto515555Maksim Gruznov4943046Rauno Alliku4831267Konstantin Nahk4811538Markus Jürgenson472639Maksim Podholjuzin4571410Tarmo Neemelo450196
+ Most goalsRankPlayerGoalsGamesAverage1Maksim Gruznov3044942Vjatšeslav Zahovaiko2113093Tarmo Neemelo1964504Andrei Krõlov162287Vitali Leitan1624186Ingemar Teever1572967Dmitri Lipartov153333Zakaria Beglarishvili153365Konstantin Nahk15348110Rauno Sappinen149255
Oldest player: Boriss Dugan – 51 years and 153 days (for Ajax v. Tammeka, 5 November 2011) Youngest player: Patrik Kristal – 14 years and 245 days (for FCI Levadia v. Tammeka, 15 July 2022) Oldest goalscorer: Sergei Zamogilnõi – 43 years and 16 days (for Eesti Põlevkivi v. Vall, 15 September 1996) Youngest goalscorer: Martin Vetkal – 15 years and 261 days (for Tallinna Kalev v. Tulevik, 9 November 2019)