Biggest Sporting Rivalries: Rivalries in sports are what define players and the spectators. Sports history is full of rivalries spanning generations of athletes and teams; pitting neighbours against neighbours, fist against face alike. Rivalries keep us interested in sports like Soccer, tennis, football, golf, or cricket. Rivalries pick out the real fans from the spectators. Here, below our picks for the top 10 of the most intense, fascinating and biggest sporting rivalries.
So, click through the list to get started and view our selections.
Do you agree with our “10 Biggest Sporting Rivalries” list? Which of these sports rivalries do you believe is the greatest or the most intense?
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The Top 10 Biggest Sporting Rivalries:
10. Barcelona Vs Real Madrid – Soccer
Football game between the professional teams of Real Madrid and FC Barcelona is termed as El Clásico (‘The Classic’) in the Spanish language. The clash of the most successful clubs in the two largest cities in Spain is considered one of the most important battles of the football.
The reasons for the rivalry are complex, ranging from sporting competition on the regional contrasts Castile and Catalonia to the different political currents, which are attributed to the teams. Another reason is, they represent the two terms of population, the largest and most economically important cities of the country, namely Madrid and Barcelona , two cities with similarities but also many differences.
Many Spanish and international football stars roamed over the jerseys of both clubs during their careers. Examples are Ricardo Zamora, Josep Samitier, Lucien Muller, Bernd Schuster, Michael Laudrup, Gheorghe Hagi , Ronaldo or Samuel Eto’o.
9. Manchester United F.C. vs Liverpool F.C – Soccer
The rivalry between Manchester United and Liverpool FC is a highly regarded rivalry in English football. The rivalry is partly due to the city rivalry between Liverpool and Manchester as the most important economic and cultural center in northern England and on the other hand is struggling between the two clubs to the status as the most successful club in England.
During the Premier League games between these two clubs take a prominent place – mostly the game is like other derbies in England played usual for security at noon and in some cases an alcohol ban is imposed.
8. Hamilton Tiger-Cats Vs Toronto Argonauts – Football
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a Canadian football team from Hamilton in the Canadian province of Ontario. The team plays in the Canadian Football League and in the Eastern Division.
The Toronto Argonauts are a Canadian football team from Toronto in the Canadian province of Ontario. It is the oldest professional sports team in North America and the oldest team of the Canadian Football League , which still carries its original name.
7. Muhammad Ali Vs Joe Frazier – Boxing
The Fight of the Century was a historic boxing match between the then reigning heavyweight champion Joe Frazier and former world champion Muhammad Ali.
The fight took place on 8 March 1971 at New York’s Madison Square Garden and marked the beginning of a long-standing rivalry, during which both counterparts should face two more times in the ring. Their third meeting was as also a historic event in Manila.
In 2001, the enmity between Ali and Frazier was officially declared over, as Frazier took an apology from Ali because of his former alleged offenses. The reason for the announcement was the upcoming fight between their daughters Laila Ali and Jackie Frazier-Lyde.
6. Roger Federer vs Rafael Nadal – Tennis
Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are the two tennis professionals cited by many sports critics, having the greatest sports rivalry registered in the tennis world.
Both have held the top two positions in the ranking of ATP Tour from July 2005, and are the only pair of men who finished five consecutive years at the top of the ranking. Federer was ranked # 1 for a record 237 consecutive weeks , from February 2004. Nadal, who is five years younger, peaked at No. 2 in July 2005 and held that place a record 160 row before beating Federer on August 18, 2008 weeks.
Not only that both have records for consecutive wins on a surface in the Open Era -Federer both lawn (65) and hard surfaces (56); Nadal on clay (81) – but all three runs were interrupted by the other.
Commentators have stated on several occasions that the differences in personalities and style of play are the main ingredients that make this such a compelling rivalry. In any way, it also should be noted that, off the court, both players enjoy a relationship of great camaraderie. >> 10 Greatest Tennis Players of All Time.
5. Australian Kangaroos vs New Zealand Kiwis – Rugby
The first match between Australian Kangaroos and New Zealand Kiwis was played in 1908, with New Zealand running out 11–10 winners. The most recent clash was played in the 2014 Rugby League Four Nations Grand Final. New Zealand won 22-18 to record it’s 31st victory over Australia. >> 10 Most Disappointing Comebacks in Sports.
4. Bugatti vs Bentley – Sports Car Racing
Bugatti is one of the legendary car brands in Europe. The fabricated of Bugatti cars were among the most successful racing cars as well as the finest and best sports cars and sedans of their time and made the brand a legend. The original Bugatti company was set after World War II. Since then, the brand was revived twice.
Bentley is a British automobile manufacturer. The company is Volkswagen AG since 1998. Bentley is the official purveyor to the British Royal Family.
In the world of sports car racing both are big rivals. >> 10 Greatest Sporting Cars of All Time.
3. Yomiuri Giants vs Hanshin Tigers – Baseball
The Yomiuri Giants from Tokyo are the oldest and most successful team in the Japanese baseball with 42 league titles in the Central League and 21 Nippon Series.
The Hanshin Tigers is a Japanese baseball -team in the Central League .The team was founded in 1935 by the railway company Hanshin Denki tetsudō under the name Osaka Tigers.
Both the team always attract massive crowds and steamy games. >> 10 Most Bizarre Sports Scandals.
2. Cristiano Ronaldo–Lionel Messi – Soccer
Ronaldo is a Portuguese footballer who stands for the most expensive transfer in football history. He is under contract since the summer of 2009 with Real Madrid. He is captain and leading scorer of the Portuguese national team.
Messi is an Argentine footballer who also has Spanish nationality. Messi plays for FC Barcelona since he was 13 years. At age 24, he was top scorer from FC Barcelona, with 25 the youngest player in La Liga- -History, who scored 200 goals.
Both Ronaldo and Messi have scored over 400 goals in their career for club and country. >> 10 Soccer Players With Most Number of Fans.
1. India vs Pakistan – Cricket
The 2011 World Cup semifinal between India and Pakistan attracted around 150 million television viewers and was the largest television event of the year.
The arch-rival relations between Pakistan and India, resulting from the extensive communal violence and conflict that marked the Partition of British India into India and Pakistan in 1947 which was followed Kashmir dispute, laid the foundations for the emergence of an intense sporting rivalry between the two.
Javed Miandad’s six to Cheetan Sharma on the last ball of the match that won the title for Pakistan is still considered to be the best sporting moment between the arch rivals. >> 10 Most Dangerous Hard Hitters in ODI Crickeet.
