Top 10 Sports Rivalry of All Time

Top 10 Sports Rivalry of All Time

What makes sports exciting is the passion in the players to win and defeat their opposition. This desire to compete brings out the best from the players and sometimes they even go beyond their capabilities. This desire to perform at their peak is strengthened especially when they are up against their rivals. Rivals are important not only because they bring out the best in the players but also because a match against your rivals is one where you give your all. Sports is filled to the brim with such rivalries and in some cases have even lead to violence. Here are the Top 10 Sports Rivalry of All Time.

Top 10 Sports Rivalry of All Time

10. San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers

At number 10 in Top 10 Sports Rivalry of All Time is San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers. While once they were both based in New York and were city rivals, in the 1950s both shifted to California but the rivalry remained which started back in the 1890s. One of the most hotly anticipated matchups of the MLB; both the teams have had several brawls over the years on the field which has further fed the fires of rivalry between the two. Having faced 2400 times, the Giants enjoy the lead with 1210 wins, along with 8 World Series and 23 Pennants compared to the 6 and 21 of Dodgers.

9. Boston Celtics and L.A. Lakers

At number 9 is Boston Celtics and L.A. Lakers. Two of the greatest teams in NBA which between them have more than half of the total number of NBA championships, their rivalry is legendary in the game. This rivalry is further taken to another level by the face-offs between the great Larry Bird and Michael Johnson which according to many perfectly encapsulates the rivalry of Celtics and Lakers. Having faced each other 354 times, Boston enjoys the lead with 197 victories.

8. Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburg Steelers

At number 8 in Top 10 Sports Rivalry of All Time is Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburg Steelers. NFL rivalry doesn’t get bigger than this. Both teams are known for their no-holds barred games complete with rough hits, controversial calls and threat statements that makes this rivalry stand on pure hatred. On their head to head matches, Steelers overall enjoy the edge with more wins and Super Bowl Rings.

7. Barcelona and Real Madrid

At number 7 in Top 10 Sports Rivalry of All Time is Barcelona and Real Madrid. So popular is their rivalry that even a person who is not into football knows about the El Clasico. Two of the most popular teams in the world, they are also among the most dominant clubs in the world. Their rivalry was born back in the 1930’s due to the politics and Spanish Civil War. Both of the teams have some of the best squads in the world with each having the one of the two best players of this generation; Messi and Ronaldo, so when  they are against one another, it is not only Barcelona vs. Real but also Messi vs. Ronaldo.

6. Arton Senna and Alain Prost

At number 6 in Top 10 Sports Rivalry of All Time is Arton Senna and Alain Prost. Individual rivalries don’t get bigger than this. Both are among the best F1 racers of all time and during 1984-94, the world witnessed one of the fiercest rivalries between two racers. Prost even went on to say “Senna wanted to destroy me” and din 1989 they even managed to push each other off the track by collision. In the 116 times they faced each other Senna won 50 times, Prost 54 times while on 12 occasions they couldn’t complete the race.

5. Inter Milan and AC Milan

At number 5 in Top 10 Sports Rivalry of All Time is Inter Milan and AC Milan. Among the many other great football rivalries, these two clubs are among the biggest in the world and their rivalry is among the most intense in sports history. The fact that both the teams share the same stadium as their home stadium add more fuel to the rivalry as on many occasions matches were cancelled due to the violence inside the stadium. Despite all that, these two teams have produced some of the best football matches between them.

4. Boca Juniors and River Plate

At number 4 is Boca Juniors and River Plate. One of the lesser known football rivalries of the world but among the fiercest fought; Boca Juniors and River Plate fixtures are called The Superclasico. The history behind their rivalry is the difference in the background of both the clubs. While Boca Juniors represents the working class, River Plate is associated with the affluent. Thus this class divide has translated into one of the bitterest rivalries in the world which on several cases has turned out very violent as in 1968 when 71 fans were killed.

3. Argentina and Brazil

At number 3 in Top 10 Sports Rivalry of All Time is Argentina and Brazil. Another case of neighbors tuned bitter sports rival, both the countries are global football powerhouses. While Brazil had Pele, Argentina had Maradona and in current times Argentina boasts of Messi while Brazil has Neymar. When they meet in friendlies they fight as if the match is the final of a major tournament. While Brazil has won more World and Confederation Cups, Argentina boasts of Olympics and Copa trophies. With enough drama between the players both on and off the field, their rivalry is certainly among the greatest ever in sports.

2. Australia and New Zealand

At number 2 in Top 10 Sports Rivalry of All Time is Australia and New Zealand. Be it politics, economy or sports, it’s often the neighboring countries that end up rivals in all these matters and it’s no exception for Australia and New Zealand. While both the countries are partners in various economic deals but when it comes to sports, both the players and the fans have a bitter rivalry with the other side. Their rivalry is Rugby is especially notable and on many occasions fights almost broke out between the two sides even before the game began.

1. India and Pakistan

At number 10 in Top 10 Sports Rivalry of All Time is India and Pakistan. Between India and Pakistan there have already been four wars, tension for the state of Kashmir and constant skirmishes along the border so its no surprise that when these two countries meet on the field at any sports, it doesn’t take long for the tempers to flare. Though they are extremely competitive in every sport, it’s in cricket that this rivalry is at its peak, when sometimes entire streets are deserted if they are playing against each other. With plenty of controversial moments on and off the field when it comes to cricket rivalry between the two countries, it’s no doubt that they are at the top of the list.

Rivalries are what makes sports interesting to watch and rivalry is the reason for making the game evolve further by the means of plays and performance. These rivalries in our list are the greatest rivalries of the sporting world.

Top 10 Sports Rivalry of All Time

10. San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers

9. Boston Celtics and L.A. Lakers

8. Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburg Steelers

7. Barcelona and Real Madrid

6. Arton Senna and Alain Prost

5. Inter Milan and AC Milan

4. Boca Juniors and River Plate

3. Argentina and Brazil

2. Australia and New Zealand

1. India and Pakistan