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We’ve all witnessed some of the best rivalries in sports history, which make for great matches every time the game comes back around and the two rivals play each other. While you might have your idea of some of the most gruesome rivalries in all of the sports, some are long rooted in international ‘beef’.
Even though there are plenty of rivalries in American sports leagues that we can think of, in this article, we’ll be outlining the top 5 most intense rivalries in international sports. We will describe which rivalries are the most well-known, the intensity of the rivalry, and the significance of the rivalry to the fans and players.
You might not have heard of it, but the 1888 ancient rivalry known as the ‘The Old Firm’ is the Gaslow-based showdown between Celtic FC and Rangers FC, the two most successful club teams in Scotland. This rivalry is so big, that it extends past just the sport, as the Old Firm rivalry reflects the social, cultural, and religious views in Gaslow, particularly between Protestants and Catholics. In terms of comparison, Celtic FC and Rangers FC go back and forth in achieving top-tier Scottish League titles with 54 and 55 each respectively.
As the only player vs. player rivalry on this list, the competition between two of the best tennis players in the world can get extremely intimate. The rivalry between Swiss tennis legend Roger Feder and Spanish competitor Rafael Nadal was one of the greatest international rivalries to grace any sport. Interestingly enough of the 40 times they played each other in major bouts, Nadal won 24 with Federer winning 16. These two were not only fierce competitors but eventually became lifelong friends, making this truly one of the most intense rivalries in international sports.
Another international rivalry that may go under the radar for most American sports fans is the 1952 initial rivalry between India and Pakistan national cricket teams. While the rivalry has been on somewhat of a hiatus since 2007 due to numerous political factors and terrorist-related attacks, it is one of the fiercest in any sport. India has taken home 11 ICC tourneys compared to Pakistan’s 5. Players from both sides are prone to facing intense pressure and are even threatened by the extremism of the fans, making this one of the most notable rivalries in any sport in the entire world.
You may have noticed by now, but soccer is one of the top sports for intense international rivalries, especially considering nations are always playing both inter and intra-continentally. In South America, this rivalry is taken to the next level, especially when it involves soccer between two of the greatest football nations on Earth; Brazil and Argentina. In what’s described by FIFA as the “essence of football rivalry”, the international soccer matches between Argentina and Brazil make for the best soccer you’ll ever see nationally. The rivalry is rooted in more than just sports, with Rio De Janeiro being the first capital to recognize Argentina’s independence. Overall Argentina would acquire 23 senior titles and 3 World Cups compared to Brazil’s 20 senior titles and 5 World Cups making for one of the most holistic rivalries in international sports.
Once again, soccer makes its mark with one of the most intense rivalries of all time, Spain’s FC Barcelona vs. Real Madrid. If you want to see blood in a soccer match, this is where you’ll get it. The famed ‘El Clasico’ showdown between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona began in 1902, with Real Madrid considering itself to be the centralist club of Spain while Barcelona stayed true to its Catalan roots. Through 257 official meetings of these two teams, Real Madrid stands atop with 105 wins compared to Barca’s 100, with 52 total ties to add to the mix. The Spanish nationalism surrounding these competitions is what makes for one of the most intense rivalries in international sports.
Liam has been a major sports fan and soccer player for over a decade, with a particular focus on major top-level soccer leagues, including the EPL, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga and MLS. He has written numerous promotional articles for various top sportsbooks and continues to publish historical and factual sports articles covering the NFL, MLS, NHL, MLB, EPL and more.