Top 10 Best Sports Rivalries of All Time

Sports rivalries are the essence of sports entertainment, pitting two teams against one another for intense competition. Rivalries elevate the spirit of sportsmanship and evoke the passion of fans worldwide. While most rivalries are among teams from the same city, some of the greatest rivalries are among single athletes, national teams, and universities from the same conference. Keep reading to learn about the ten best sports rivalries of all time.

What Are the Best Sports Rivalries of All Time?

1. Boca Juniors vs. River Plate
2. North Carolina Tar Heels vs. Duke Blue Devils (Men’s College Basketball)
3. FC Barcelona vs. Real Madrid CF
4. Joe Frazier vs. Muhammad Ali
5. Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees
6. Michigan Wolverines vs. Ohio State Buckeyes (College Football)
7. Celtic FC vs. Rangers FC
8. India vs. Pakistan (Cricket)
9. Los Angeles Lakers vs. Boston Celtics        
10. Chris Evert vs. Martina Navratilova

1. Boca Juniors vs. River Plate

No rivalry in the world creates the same tension as the “Superclasico,” the rivalry between the two winningest teams in Argentina, Boca Juniors and River Plate, who account for 75% of the soccer fans in the country.

“Los Xeneizes (Boca Juniors)” and “Los Millonarios (River Plate)” have been rivals since they were both founded in the same neighborhood, “El Barrio de La Boca,” over 100 years ago. In 258 matches through the end of the 2021-2022 season, Boca has won 91, River 84, and there have been 83 ties. The show on the field never disappoints, but the core of the rivalry is in the constant chirping between the organized fans groups (“Las Barras Bravas”) of the two teams.

2. North Carolina Tar Heels vs. Duke Blue Devils

Based only 10 miles apart from each other, UNC and Duke have created the greatest rivalry in college sports. Both teams are among the best teams in men’s college basketball every year and have a great tradition of developing NBA all-time greats such as Michael Jordan and Grant Hill.

As of the end of the 2022-2023 season, the Blue Devils and Tar Heels have faced each other 260 times, with UNC leading with 143 wins. The level of intensity in their head-to-head contests reaches NBA levels, while the fans cheer the whole time after camping outside the stadium the days before the games.

3. FC Barcelona vs. Real Madrid CF

Regarded as the most anticipated match in international club soccer every year, “El Clasico” is the rivalry between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF, two of the winningest teams in soccer history. As of the middle  of the 2022-2023 season, “Los Culers” (FC Barcelona) lead the way with 123 wins, while Real Madrid has won 108 and there have been 64 ties.

The rivalry between the two teams has a deep political meaning that goes beyond the show that they can put on the field, as FC Barcelona represents the Catalonian independentist movement that clashes against the Spanish Crown represented by Real Madrid.

4. Joe Frazier vs. Muhammad Ali

Over the years, there have been many rivalries between athletes, but none has been as fierce and, at the same time, spectacular as the one between Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali, two of the greatest boxers of all time.

The rivalry started in 1971 when Frazier and Ali agreed to meet for the “Fight of the Century.” The two used to be great friends, but some comments made by Ali prior to the fight sparked hostility between the two. Frazier would go on to win the fight, which led to a rematch in 1974 that saw Ali triumphing. The two met again for a final third fight in Manila, Philippines. After 14 rounds of one of the most intense bouts of all time, Ali triumphed again, getting the edge on his greatest rival.

5. Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees

Rivalries between Boston and New York teams are a tradition in American sports. Among these rivalries, the one between the Red Sox and the Yankees was the first one to surge, going all the way back to Babe Ruth’s move to New York in 1919.

Due to the history of both teams and the level of tension on the field in each game, this rivalry is also considered as one of the best in all American sports. The Red Sox and Yankees have faced each other over 2,000 times.

6.Michigan Wolverines vs. Ohio State Buckeyes (College Football)

This rivalry game is one of the most awaited days of the year on any college campus, especially at Ann Arbor or Columbus, the homes of University of Michigan and the Ohio State University, respectively. Similarly to the Red Sox-Yankees case, this rivalry started due to the proximity between the two states, who already share many other rivalries.

Since their first meeting in 1987, Ohio State versus Michigan has become “The Game'' due to the intensity of the rivalry and the quality of the players on the field. As of the end of the 2022-2023 season, Michigan leads with 60 to 51 wins, while “The Game” has ended in a tie only six times.

7. Celtic FC vs. Rangers FC

Similarly to El Clásico, the “Old Firm,” the rivalry between Celtic and Rangers, the two greatest Scottish soccer clubs, goes beyond the playing field. The rivalry between the two clubs reflects the great division in Scotland between the unionist and Protestant side, represented by Rangers, and the independentists and Catholics, who support Celtic.

Despite the mediocre level of Scottish football, each “Old Firm” is a must-watch for any soccer fan due to the intensity and violence of the matches. As of the middle of the 2022-2023 season, Rangers lead the series with 168 wins, four more than their rivals Celtic, while there have been 102 draws in the history of the “Old Firm”.

8. India vs. Pakistan (Cricket)

India versus Pakistan in cricket represents the greatest rivalry in national team competitions, as historical conflict is reflected on the playing field of the main sport in the region.

The memories of the Indo-Pakistani war have increased the ideological difference between the two countries, whose national teams never spare each other in their long and exhausting cricket contests. As of 2023, the teams have met each other 203 times in all three cricket formats (Test, ODI, and T20I). Pakistan leads with 88 wins against 72 from India, while draws have occurred 43 times.

9. Los Angeles Lakers vs. Boston Celtics

All throughout the sixties, the eighties, and the end of the 2000s, games between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics were the highest display of basketball in the world. NBA legends such as Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen have all delighted basketball fans with all-time performances during the history of this rivalry.

As of the end of the 2022-2023 season, the Celtics have the edge in the series with 165 wins to the Laker’s 133 regular season games. The Celtics have also won nine of the twelve NBA Finals series played against their biggest rival, including seven from 1959 to 1969.

10. Chris Evert vs. Martina Navratilova

Often overlooked even by sports experts, the rivalry between Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova is the greatest in tennis history. The two played each other 80 times between 1973 and 1988, as they constantly met in the finals at all four grand slam tournaments.

While each match between the two was always extremely hard fought, Navratilova has the edge in almost every stat, as she has won 43 matches out of 80 and 36 finals out of 60, including 10 finals at Grand Slam tournaments. However, Evert has won more French Open finals (three to two), a tournament she won seven times in her career.

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