Where does 4-4-2 survive?
Share of line-ups still set out as 4-4-2 — a shape that has halved across the majors since 2016.
Veikkausliiga (Finnland) keeps the faith: 39,2% of its line-ups are still 4-4-2.
| League | 4-4-2 | Line-ups |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Veikkausliiga Finnland | 39.2% | 324 |
| 2. 3. Fußball-Liga Deutschland | 34.7% | 450 |
| 3. Primera División Spanien | 32.8% | 758 |
| 4. J1 League Japan | 32.8% | 612 |
| 5. Primeira Liga Portugal | 31.6% | 607 |
| 6. Liga MX Mexiko | 31.1% | 668 |
| 7. Superliga Dänemark | 31% | 451 |
| 8. Segunda División Spanien | 30.2% | 887 |
| 9. Liga Profesional Argentina Argentinien | 23.4% | 640 |
| 10. Premiership Schottland | 21.7% | 336 |
| 11. Fotbollsallsvenskan Schweden | 20.4% | 480 |
| 12. 2. Fußball-Bundesliga Deutschland | 18.9% | 610 |
| 13. Super League China | 18.1% | 480 |
| 14. Ekstraklasa Polen | 17.9% | 574 |
| 15. TFF 1. Lig Türkei | 17.7% | 468 |
| 16. FA Cup England | 17.4% | 207 |
| 17. World Cup - Qualification Europe International | 16.7% | 508 |
| 18. Eliteserien Norwegen | 16.7% | 474 |
| 19. AFC Champions League International | 16.4% | 274 |
| 20. UEFA Europa League International | 15.9% | 906 |
| 21. Friendlies International | 15.5% | 322 |
| 22. Super League Schweiz | 14.9% | 355 |
| 23. UEFA Nations League International | 13.7% | 262 |
| 24. Championship England | 13.3% | 1.110 |
| 25. Saudi Professional League Saudi-Arabien | 13.3% | 480 |
| 26. Premier League England | 12.9% | 760 |
| 27. Champions League International | 11.2% | 392 |
| 28. Categoría Primera A Kolumbien | 9.9% | 807 |
| 29. Division 1A Belgien | 9.6% | 446 |
| 30. Ligue 2 Frankreich | 9.6% | 760 |
| 31. Eredivisie Niederlande | 9.2% | 622 |
| 32. Liga 1 Rumänien | 9% | 488 |
| 33. Ligue 1 Frankreich | 8.7% | 760 |
| 34. Primera División Peru | 8.3% | 714 |
| 35. Major League Soccer Vereinigte Staaten | 8.1% | 816 |
| 36. A-League Men Australien | 8% | 274 |
| 37. Primera División Chile | 7.5% | 480 |
| 38. Serie A Italien | 7.4% | 758 |
| 39. Serie B Italien | 7.3% | 647 |
| 40. Premjer-Liga Russland | 7.1% | 478 |
Showing every competition. Major competitions only
Exact formation as recorded. Variants such as 4-4-1-1 count separately.