Ligue 1 is the premier level of the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP), the professional football (soccer) league of France (there is one team from Monaco). The league was founded in 1932 and exists today as a well respected European league. The second level of the LFP is the Ligue 2 which has existed since 1933; 20 teams participate in both Ligue 1 and Ligue 2.
The Ligue 1 season consists of 38 games with each of the 20 teams playing each other twice. Teams receive three points for a victory, one point for a tie, and zero points for a loss. The team finishing the year with the most points is named league champion (in the event of a tie, tie-breakers based upon goals are used). The club Olympique Lyonnais is the six-time defending champion of Ligue 1 (as of the end of the 2006-07 season).
As is common in many European football leagues, teams occupying the premier league are not guaranteed to remain in the league; they must earn their inclusion. At the end of each season three teams from Ligue 1 and three teams from Ligue 2 swap positions. The bottom three teams in Ligue 1 are relegated to Ligue 2, while the top three teams from Ligue 2 are promoted to Ligue 1.