Buzz
Football (or soccer, as it's known in some regions) is much more than a sport; for some clubs and their supporters, it becomes a matter of life and death. Cultural and regional differences contribute significantly to the intensity of these rivalries, with the performances of players in such high-stakes matches determining whether they will be forever loved or loathed. A single moment of brilliance—or blunder—can etch itself into history, often resulting in riots, clashes, and brawls. Here are 10 of the fiercest and most significant rivalries in football. Have I missed any? Feel free to share your own thoughts.
10. Corinthians vs Palmeiras
Derby Paulista is a renowned name among the traditional São Paulo football clubs, Sport Club Corinthians Paulista and Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras. It represents the fierce rivalry between two of São Paulo's oldest and most active clubs. This rivalry, known as Derby Paulista, ranks among the 10 greatest football classics worldwide. Corinthians and Palmeiras have faced off in numerous prestigious tournaments, including state championships (Campeonato Paulista), regional competitions (Torneio Rio-São Paulo), national championships (Campeonato Brasileiro), and continental competitions like the Libertadores Cup of America. No other rivalry has determined as many major championships as this one.
A major rivalry in São Paulo, Brazil, SE Palmeiras and Corinthians have always attracted massive attention when they clash. The fierce competition between these two clubs has inspired books and movies, including a version of Romeo and Juliet, where Palmeiras and Corinthians replace the Montagues and Capulets.
9. Nacional vs Peñarol
One of football's most iconic derbies, the Uruguayan Clásico has been a fierce rivalry since the late 19th century. This battle between Montevideo's two greatest clubs, Nacional and Peñarol, is not only a fixture in South American football but has also earned global respect, even though both teams have experienced a lack of international success in recent years. Combined, they have won 8 Copa Libertadores titles and 6 Intercontinental Cups.
The 0-0 draw on April 14, 1990, was far from lacking in intensity, featuring 22 red cards, with 11 players from each side (Nacional had 9 field players and 2 bench players sent off). The match ended in the 85th minute due to the rule stating a team must have at least 7 players on the field. Similarly, the 1-1 draw on November 26, 2000, saw several fights, with players delivering boxing and karate-like kicks and punches. As a result, 9 players spent a month in jail, along with one of the coaches. Two editions of the match were played abroad, one in La Plata (Argentina) in 1960, and the other in La Coruña (Spain) in 2005, due to the threat of crowd disturbances and violence.
8. Fenerbahce vs Galatasaray
The football rivalry between Fenerbahçe SK and Galatasaray SK is one of Turkey's fiercest, involving two of the most successful clubs in the Süper Lig. This rivalry, a local derby among Istanbul's top clubs, has lasted for over a century and remains intense and bitter, often drawing large crowds. Both teams vie for the title of the most successful Turkish football club and the best Turkish sports club overall. While their football teams have always been the focus, the rivalry also spans other sports like basketball, volleyball, athletics, and rowing. Galatasaray SK leads in overall titles, with 68 official championships compared to Fenerbahçe SK’s 66. However, Fenerbahçe SK has the upper hand in their head-to-head encounters, while Galatasaray SK proudly claims the distinction of being the only Turkish club to have won the 2000 UEFA Cup and the UEFA Super Cup.
7. Internazionale vs Milan
The Derby della Madonnina, often referred to as the Milan Derby, is a fierce football contest between the two iconic Italian clubs, Associazione Calcio Milan and Football Club Internazionale Milano. Known for its intense rivalry, it is one of the most highly anticipated and widely followed derbies in the world. Alongside other famous derbies like those in Rome and Turin, it is considered a premier cross-town clash in Serie A, with only specially selected referees authorized to officiate these encounters. This derby takes place twice a year in the Serie A, but it has also been featured in prestigious tournaments like the Coppa Italia and UEFA Champions League. Remarkably, it is the only derby in Europe where both teams have earned titles as European and World champions. The name 'Derby della Madonnina' is derived from the Madonna statue atop Milan's Duomo, affectionately known as the 'Madonnina.'
6. Liverpool vs Manchester United
The rivalry between Liverpool and Manchester United is one of the most storied and significant in football history, often called the North West derby. Both clubs hail from the North West of England and are the most successful teams in English football, with a combined total of 115 major honors. After Manchester United's Premier League win in the 2008-09 season, both clubs are tied with 18 league titles each. While Liverpool has achieved great success domestically, they have yet to win the Premier League since its inception in 1992. In 2010, Manchester United set a new record by winning the League Cup, bringing their total domestic honors to 33, surpassing Liverpool for the first time. Beyond their footballing rivalry, these two clubs are also among the richest and most widely supported in the world, with their rivalry extending to the relationship between their players.
5. Internazionale vs Juventus
The term 'Derby d’Italia' (meaning 'Derby of Italy') was first introduced in 1967 by renowned Italian sports journalist Gianni Brera. It refers to the highly anticipated biannual football match between Internazionale Milan and Juventus of Turin. This name was chosen because, at the time, both teams held the distinction of having the most prestigious international (Inter) and national (Juventus) titles in Italian football.
The clash between Juventus and Inter is one of Italy’s fiercest rivalries, even though the two teams do not hail from the same city. These clubs have dominated Serie A, consistently ranking as the top two in terms of victories and goals scored in the league’s history. Additionally, both clubs are among the few that have never been relegated from Serie A, except for Juventus, who were relegated due to the infamous Calciopoli scandal.
4. Boca Juniors vs River Plate
Superclásico refers to the legendary football clash between Argentina’s fiercest Buenos Aires rivals, Boca Juniors and River Plate. The term 'clásico' is Spanish for derby, while the prefix 'super' signifies the unparalleled stature of these two clubs in Argentine football. With massive fanbases—Boca representing 40% and River 33% of Argentina’s population—the rivalry encompasses much of the nation. The match is known worldwide for the intense passion of the supporters, with stadiums brimming with raucous chants (often set to famous Argentine rock music), fireworks, flags, and paper rolls. At times, the tension leads to violent clashes among the most devoted fans, or even with the police. Tourists flock to Argentina from all over the world to witness this spectacular event, often purchasing exclusive packages that guarantee entry to the Superclásico.
The Superclásico is widely regarded as one of the most passionate and important derbies in global football. In April 2004, The Observer, a prestigious British newspaper, ranked it number one on their list of '50 sporting things you must do before you die.' The publication described the event as 'Derby day in Buenos Aires makes the Old Firm game look like a primary school kick-about.'
3. Real Madrid vs Barcelona
Barcelona Madrid
As the two most influential and successful clubs in Spain, Barcelona and Real Madrid have a rivalry that often influences the outcome of the league title race. The rivalry peaks during the two clásico matchups every season, which capture the attention of football fans worldwide. While Real Madrid has more La Liga and Champions League trophies, Barcelona leads in Spanish Cups, Cup Winners Cups, and UEFA Cups. Additionally, Barcelona made history in 2008-2009 as the first Spanish club to win the treble. In 2009, they went on to win all six major competitions they entered in one calendar year. The rivalry has also been intensified by star players moving between the two clubs, such as Bernd Schuster (1988), Michael Laudrup (1994), and Luís Figo (2000), who controversially transferred from Barcelona to Real Madrid. Luis Enrique also made the switch in 1996, later becoming the captain of Barcelona.
In a 2007 survey conducted by the Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas, Real Madrid was found to have the largest fan base in Spain, with 32.8% of football fans supporting the club, while Barcelona had 25.7%. Valencia CF was in third place with 5.3%. On a European scale, Barcelona appears to be the more popular team. A survey by SPORT+MARKT in 2009 revealed that Barcelona had 44.2 million supporters across Europe, surpassing Real Madrid's fan base by 2.9 million.
2. Lazio vs Roma
The Derby della Capitale, also known as the Derby of the Capital, is the intense local football rivalry between the two major clubs in Rome, Lazio and Roma. It is widely regarded as the most passionate and fierce derby in Italy, surpassing other significant local rivalries such as the Derby della Madonnina (Milan derby) and the Derby della Mole (Turin derby). The match is one of the most eagerly contested capital city derbies in Europe. Historically, the derby has been marked by large crowds, high-stakes excitement, occasional violence, and more recently, the presence of racist banners in the stands.
Several extreme events have etched themselves into the history of this fixture. One of the most tragic occurred in 1979, when Lazio supporter Vincenzo Paparelli was killed after being struck in the eye by a flare fired from a Roma fan in the opposite stand. Paparelli's death became the first fatality linked to football violence in Italy. In 2004, another unprecedented moment took place when Roma ultras managed to suspend the match after spreading false rumors among the crowd, claiming that a child had been killed by the police before the game. More recently, in December 2009, the game was halted for around seven minutes after fireworks were thrown onto the pitch. Another infamous incident took place on March 21, 2004, when the match was abandoned four minutes into the second half, with the score level at 0–0, due to a riot breaking out in the stands. Following the match's suspension, a violent clash between fans and police occurred, resulting in fires in the stands, with people fleeing the stadium. The incident led to 13 arrests and over 170 police injuries.
1. Celtic vs Rangers
One of the fiercest and most intense rivalries in world football, the Old Firm derby between Celtic and Rangers from Glasgow, Scotland, is much more than a football match – it represents a clash of religion, politics, and opposing social values. Dating back to 1888, this rivalry is one of the oldest and most played in the world, with over 370 games contested. Matches take place at either Ibrox Stadium, with a capacity of 51,000, or Celtic Park, which hosts 60,000 fans. On occasion, Hampden Park is used if the match is part of the Scottish Cup or Scottish League Cup finals or semi-finals. While both clubs have amassed many titles, Rangers currently hold 53 league titles, compared to Celtic's 42. The most recent encounter ended with a 2-1 victory for Celtic over Rangers.
The rivalry between Celtic and Rangers is regarded by many as one of the most passionate in the world. With electrifying atmospheres and chants, it's easy to understand the fierce nature of this derby. Millions of fans tune in globally to witness the Old Firm. Rangers are seen as a Protestant club with Unionist and loyalist supporters, while Celtic is known as a Catholic club with Republican and Nationalist backing. This rivalry has long been intertwined with the political struggles in Northern Ireland, with thousands of Northern Irish and Irish fans traveling to Scotland for these matches. Tensions even result in violence in Northern Ireland following the games. The rivalry is so intense that only five players have ever switched between the two clubs. In 1980, following Celtic's 1-0 victory in the Scottish Cup Final, around 9,000 fans participated in a violent pitch invasion, which remains the largest ever reported. The Old Firm derby is notorious for inciting violence, and hospital emergency rooms in Glasgow experience a ninefold increase in admissions during Old Firm weekends. Journalist Franklin Foer noted that from 1996 to 2003, eight deaths in Glasgow were directly linked to Old Firm matches, with hundreds of assaults reported during this period.
