The Belgian Pro League is the top tier of professional football in Belgium, a highly competitive and technically proficient league that serves as a vital talent incubator for Europe's biggest clubs. Founded in 1895, it is one of the oldest continuous football leagues in the world. Headquartered in Brussels, the league has undergone several format changes in recent years, most notably the introduction of a playoff system. After a standard double round-robin regular season involving 16 clubs, the top six teams enter the Championship Playoffs, where their points are halved (rounded up) and they play each other home and away again to decide the champion and European qualification spots. The league is renowned for its excellent youth development and attacking style of play, with clubs like Club Brugge, Anderlecht, and Genk being perennial contenders. The Belgian Pro League champion earns a direct spot in the UEFA Champions League group stage, underlining its growing stature. Individual accolades include the Belgian Golden Shoe award for the best player in the league.