OP

Opta Sports

Industry-standard football data with advanced metrics and xG models

9.4 / 10ExcellentVerified
Starting PriceCustom
Free TierNo
Live DataYes
WebSocketYes
Commercial UseYes

Overview

Opta Sports, now part of Stats Perform, is the most widely recognized name in football data collection. Opta's detailed event-level data powers advanced metrics like Expected Goals (xG), pitch control, and sequencing analysis. Their feeds are used by Premier League clubs, top-tier media outlets, and major betting operators. The Opta brand remains the benchmark for football data quality, with coverage spanning 70+ competitions globally.

Pros

  • Gold-standard football event data
  • 25+ years of historical depth
  • Advanced xG and sequencing metrics
  • Trusted by elite clubs and media
  • WebSocket streaming

Cons

  • Enterprise pricing only
  • No direct self-serve API
  • Focused on football (limited other sports)
  • Long onboarding cycles

Best For

Professional football clubsElite media outletsTier-1 betting operatorsAcademic research

Not Ideal For

Multi-sport needsHobby projectsBudget appsQuick prototyping

Specifications

REST APIYes
GraphQLNo
WebSocketYes
WebhooksYes
OpenAPI SpecYes
Player StatsYes
Team StatsYes
Odds DataNo
Historical Data25+ years for top European football leagues
Request LimitsCustom enterprise agreements per competition and data type
Commercial UseYes
RedistributionNo
White LabelYes

SDKs

PythonJavaC#R

Leagues

Premier LeagueLa LigaBundesligaSerie ALigue 1Champions LeagueEuropa LeagueMLS+2
Last verified: 2026-08-15

Our Verdict

9.4/ 10

Opta Sports is a top-tier sports API that excels in professional football clubs and elite media outlets. With an overall score of 9.4/10, it stands out for its gold-standard football event data and 25+ years of historical depth.

Editorial: 9.4/10Benchmark: 9.3/10How we score →
Data verified: 2026-08-15
Pricing checked Coverage checked Docs checked

Coverage

Sports Supported

FootballRugbyCricketHandball
Live DataYes
Historical Data25+ years for top European football leagues
Player StatsYes
Team StatsYes
Odds DataNo

Leagues & Competitions

Premier LeagueLa LigaBundesligaSerie ALigue 1Champions LeagueEuropa LeagueMLSJ-LeagueBrasileirao

10 leagues and competitions covered

Developer Experience

API Paradigms

REST
GraphQL
WebSocket
Webhooks

SDKs

PythonJavaC#R

Documentation

Commercial Terms

Commercial use
Redistribution
White-label
Rate limit: Custom enterprise agreements per competition and data type

Pricing Plans

Evaluation

Free

Limited trial

  • Sample event data
  • Technical review

Professional

Free

Custom

  • Full Opta feeds
  • xG and advanced metrics
  • Enterprise SLA

Enterprise

Free

Custom

  • All competitions
  • Player tracking
  • White-label
  • Dedicated support