The 10 biggest soccer rivalries in the world

Hostility in sports in general and football in particular is not uncommon, especially with the sport of kings. In history, there have been many teams that consider each other “enemies” and every time they encounter, they are very fiery. That contributes to the name of the phrase “Super Classic”, such as Real Madrid vs Barcelona. Of course, not only this competition but also many other equally big duels. Let’s find out the top 10 biggest soccer rivalries with Kingsoccertips admin through the article below.

Top 10 biggest soccer rivalries all of time

1. Real Madrid vs Barcelona

The first match on this list of biggest soccer rivalries is undoubtedly the match of El Classico Spain – Real Madrid vs Barcelona. Regardless of whether it takes place at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Camp Nou, or anywhere else in the world, the match between Real Madrid and Barcelona is always known as “El Clásico,” or the classic, showdown.

El Classico is the most exciting and watchable match of all time

The name “El Clásico” originated from this tradition. Initially, it was used to refer to the clashes between Real and Barca within the framework of the national championship, but nowadays it is used to describe all encounters between the two teams across all competitions.

Beyond its longstanding rivalry, El Clásico is also one of the most eagerly anticipated matches globally due to the star-studded lineup involved in the epic battle. From Barcelona’s greats such as Ronaldinho, Andrés Iniesta, Rivaldo, Xavi, and Lionel Messi, to Real Madrid’s stalwarts like Alfredo di Stefano, Raúl, Roberto Carlos, David Beckham, and Cristiano Ronaldo – these are all familiar names to many football fans.

2. Manchester United vs Liverpool – Biggest soccer rivalries

For more than 40 years, the football homeland has 2 really clear “dynasties”. One is the “United dynasty”, as everyone knows. The Red Devils’ dominance in the Premier League era is so obvious that only 3 years have passed since United were last crowned, which Old Trafford fans thought was a decade long.

Man Utd and Liverpool are very fiery every time they encounter

About two decades before the birth of the Premier League was the “Liverpool dynasty”. For 19 years, only one season did the Red Brigades fail to win or finish second in the English Championship. It was the 1980/81 season, and Liverpool compensated the Anfield fans with the European C1 Cup!

It was as if it were fate: the top football stage without Liverpool could not have United, or when the aura belonged to United, Liverpool had to be plunged into darkness. Was actually a rivalry more than a hundred years ago.

3. Juventus vs Inter Milan – Biggest soccer rivalries

In this list of biggest soccer rivalries is of course indispensable for the Italian Derby between Juventus vs Inter Milan. Derby d’Italia (English: Italian Derby) is the name of football matches between two famous Italian clubs, Internazionale and Juventus.

Inter and Juve are the only two clubs that have never been relegated to Serie B

The name of this match was coined by sports journalist Gianni Brera in 1967 because these were the two most successful clubs in Italy and often had fierce rivalries at that time. In terms of nature, this match is no different from the Juventus vs AC Milan match.

While Juventus has always been the team with the most Serie A championships, Inter and AC Milan often swap the No. 2 position (the 2nd most Serie A winners) for each other according to each team’s prosperous period. But people still use the name Derby d’Italia for matches between Inter and Juventus as a habit. After many years, from the 2021-2022 season, the Derby d’Italia match returned to its original meaning.

4. Bayern Munich vs Borussia Dortmund

Der Klassiker in German (The Classic), also known as the “German Super Classic”, is the name given in football to any match between Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich. These are two of German football’s most successful teams, having won a total of 41 past German league titles as of 2023.

The Bayern - Dortmund battle has never ceased to be fascinating — The Bayern – Dortmund battle has never ceased to be fascinating

Both teams are often fiercely competitive for the Bundesliga title and also faced off in the 2013 UEFA Champions League final. However, the name “Der Klassiker” has been called into question due to the lack of historical rivalry between the two teams, in contrast to the long history of many other prominent football derbies in Germany.

5. Marseille vs Paris Saint Germain – Biggest soccer rivalries

Because PSG was born late (founded in 1970), the French “Classic” match is also quite new. The rivalry between the two teams also began in the 1990s, and intensified when PSG transformed under the investment of Arab owners.

Marseille has long been a "serious counterweight" of PSG in the Ligue 1 — Marseille has long been a “serious counterweight” of PSG in the Ligue 1

It was also the only French team ever to win the Champions League (Marseille, 1993) and the C2 Cup (PSG, 1996). In the last Le Classique match, PSG defeated Marseille with a score of 3 – 0. It was also their 45th victory, compared to their rivals’ 34 wins (21 draws).

6. Benfica vs Porto

For Portuguese football, one of the biggest soccer rivalries is the great battle between Benfica vs Porto. This can also be considered as a confrontation between Lisbon and Porto, Portugal’s two largest cities. The concept of O Classico only began to take shape in the 1980s. That’s when Porto started to kick off, and showed no signs of slowing down.

The last match saw Benfica lose 0 - 5 to Porto — The last match saw Benfica lose 0 – 5 to Porto

FC Porto replaced Sporting Lisbon as Benfica’s biggest rivals in the country. On a continental level, they even overwhelmed their opponents at the European Cup. The head-to-head balance is now also skewed in Porto’s favour with 64 wins, 44 draws and 49 losses.

7. Celtic vs Rangers – Biggest soccer rivalries

The rivalry between Celtic and Rangers, often referred to as the “Old Firm” derby, is one of the biggest and most intense in soccer history. Stemming from religious, social, and political divides in Glasgow, Scotland, the matches between these two teams are more than just sporting events; they are deeply ingrained in the cultural fabric of the country.

The matches between Celtic vs Rangers are characterized by fervent support, passionate atmospheres

Rivalry between Celtic and Rangers dates back over a century, with tensions often running high both on and off the pitch. The clubs represent two distinct communities in Glasgow: Celtic, historically associated with the Catholic community, and Rangers, traditionally linked with the Protestant community.

8. Boca Junior vs River Plate

River Plate & Boca Junior are no longer in the race for the throne in Argentine football. But it’s not about that the match between River Plate & Boca Junior will diminish in appeal. In each match, thousands of police will be mobilized to reduce the flames of hatred, the level of aggression from fans.

After 258 clashes, Boca won 91, drew 83 and lost 84 matches

General statistics show that in the previous 339 head – to – head matches, Boca Junior had a total of 126 wins while the River Plate team only had a total of 107 wins, the total draw will be 106 matches. For Argentines, this nickname is not ostentatious at all.

9. Fenerbahce vs Galatasaray – Biggest soccer rivalries

What is most drastic, even including the violent elements in Turkish football, is always shown in Galatasaray’s classic matches when facing Fenerbahce. In each of these confrontations, the fans of both teams always surround the stands, the purpose is only to enjoy the performances and cheer warmly against their opponents.

The Fener vs Gala match has never ceased to be fascinating

The Old Firm derby is known for its thrilling football. Making it one of the most watched and anticipated fixtures in world football. Beyond the sport, the rivalry between Fenerbahce vs Galatasaray reflects broader societal divisions and historical tensions in Turkey, making it much more than just a game of football.

10. AC Milan vs Inter Milan

The final duel on the biggest soccer rivalries list is the Milano Derby between AC Milan vs Inter Milan. Whether they have experienced a series of uplifting or declining performances, quietly or loudly, AC Milan & Inter Milan have entered the Derby with a high spirit of determination, peak performance.

Same city but the hostility between Milan vs Inter is huge

In a total of 158 times AC Milan & Inter Milan have faced each other in history, Milan has won 49 matches, while Inter has 59 matches and drawn 50 matches. According to the opinion, the head-to-head matches of these 2 teams always have a fierce comparison with a very low difference. Therefore, AC Milan & Inter Milan are considered one of the most classic matches.

Conclude

Summing up the information listed above, people must have a better understanding of the all-time biggest soccer rivalries. Not only the issue of winning or losing, but these teams when facing opponents put history and honor first. In the stands, the fans also contributed to making the heated match even hotter. Read the latest news on our website to get the latest sports news.