The world of sport is full of rivalries. Epic contests that captivate you more than any other game. Some of these rivalries are formed from greatness, some from proximity, and others from a moment of controversy. These rivalries have developed over time and have been the scene of some of the most memorable sporting moments ever. Inevitably, these contests become a race for superiority and a desperation to be the best. That could be winning a championship or simply being regarded as the biggest name in your sport. Here we take a look at the 10 biggest rivalries in sport, what started them, and why they are so huge. We could have put 100 rivalries in this list so forgive us if your favorite sports team doesn’t feature! We’ve also tried to look at a wide range of different sports from around the globe. Read on to find out the biggest sports rivalries in history. 

  1. Los Angeles Lakers vs. Boston Celtics

This rivalry is all about greatness. Both of them have won 17 championships with the next closest team being the Warriors, who have six. That level of supremacy means these two teams account for an incredible 45% of all the NBA championships. The Lakers and the Celtics have met in 12 different finals which have given the rivalry its huge status. Six of those finals were in the 1960s, with another three coming in the 80s. Those encounters sparked a fierce rivalry which is still alive today. Outside the team rivalry was also one of the best individual NBA rivalries of all-time with Larry Bird of the Celtics going up against Magic Johnson of the Lakers. The debate about which one was the better player still rages. Who’s had the better of the team rivalry? The Celtics clearly win when it comes to head-to-head stats. They have a winning record against the Lakers in both the playoffs and regular season. Of those 12 Finals they’ve played against each other, the Celtics have won nine. The Lakers, however, will be soon hoping to boast more overall championships thanks to the help of arguably the greatest basketball player ever, LeBron James.

 

  1. Ayrton Senna vs. Alain Prost

There have been many great rivalries in F1 over the years. The Hamilton vs Rosberg rivalry was one of the best in recent years and Michael Schumacher had notable battles with many drivers, including Mika Hakkinen and Damon Hill. There is almost always some teammate angst to be found on the grid. Senna vs Prost, however, is the undisputed biggest rivalry in F1. It most fiercely played out when they were teammates together at McLaren but continued after Prost left to join Ferrari. Not a lot separated them as teammates with Senna claiming more race wins but Prost gaining more points. Both won one world championship in the two years they had the same car. The two greats seemingly hated each other at the time, with two very different personalities battling it out on the track. That relationship improved after Prost’s retirement, with both drivers leaving an incredible legacy in F1 and some of the most memorable moments ever witnessed on a race track.

 

  1. Bjorn Borg vs. John McEnroe

Prost and Senna famously had different personalities with Prost being calm and collected and Senna being passionate and flamboyant. Those same traits could be seen with Borg and McEnroe, with the Swede always able to keep his cool whereas the American never could. Such was the contrast in their personalities; the rivalry was dubbed “Fire and Ice.” They met fourteen times in official matches with an even split of wins at seven apiece. Of those 14 matches, nine of them were finals. It was McEnroe who edged those contests, winning five to Borg’s three. Perhaps the peak of the rivalry was in 1980 when the two clashed in the Wimbledon final. It was an astonishing match where McEnroe saved seven match points but couldn’t quite hang on, as Borg eventually won the fifth set 8-6. Despite McEnroe getting the better of Borg in finals, it was the Swedish player who would go on to win more Grand Slam titles with 11 to his name, compared to McEnroe’s seven.

 

  1. Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears

No two teams have played each other more often in the NFL than the Packers and the Bears. They are also the two oldest teams in the NFL. That familiarity has bred an intense rivalry over 200 games. Historically, the Bears had dominated the match-up, as they led the overall series between the two by 24 games in both 1992 and 1960. In recent years, however, the Packers have overtaken the Bears. In the 2010s, the Packers won 17 of their 21 games, including the 2010 NFC Championship Game. This match-up is a highlight of the football calendar and always produces a special atmosphere. The Bears will soon be hoping to regain the dominance they once enjoyed, but for now, it’s the Packers fans who usually come away with a smile on their face.

 

  1. Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier 

Sporting rivalries don’t get fiercer than Ali vs Frazier. It was born during the time Ali was imprisoned for refusing to fight in the Vietnam War. While he was out of the ring, Frazier stepped up to become the best heavyweight in the world. At this point, Ali became known as a champion of the people whereas Frazier, somewhat unfairly, became to represent the establishment. After Ali was released, their first fight was always going to be huge, but was made even bigger by Ali’s notorious trash-talking, including referring to Frazier as an “Uncle Tom.” Dubbed the “Fight of the Century,” it was Frazier who would come out on top in an intense 15-round encounter. It was 3 years until the rematch where Ali won by points, but it was a lot more controversial than the first. That perfectly set up the third fight, the infamous “Thriller in Manilla.” Ali won after Frazier’s corner threw in the towel after 14 brutal rounds where both men gave it their all. It was an incredible trilogy and cemented it as one of the best rivalries ever.

 

  1. Boston Red Socks vs. New York Yankees

The rivalry between Boston and New York is prominent across many sports, but nowhere is it more storied than in baseball. The two teams have been playing each other for over 100 years and it’s the most famous rivalry in American sports. The birth of the rivalry is often attributed to the Red Sox selling Babe Ruth to the Yankees in 1919. Ruth would go on to win four championships with the Yankees, whereas the Red Sox would need to wait 86 years for their next success. Due to the sheer number of games in a baseball season, the two have played each other well over 2,000 times. With that many games, the memorable moments are plenty. Perhaps their most famous encounter was in the 2004 ALCS, where the Red Sox came back from a 3-0 deficit to win the series 4-3 and ultimately went on to win their first World Series since the sale of Ruth. Both teams have consistently battled it out for divisional titles and their games often have huge importance. When you add that into the occasional brawl, such as between Joe Kelly and Tyler Austin in 2018, you get a rivalry of epic proportions.

 

  1. Real Madrid vs. Barcelona 

There are many great rivalries in soccer such as Celtic vs Rangers, Everton vs Liverpool, Dortmund vs Bayern Munich, and the Milan derby. None of them, however, have quite the prestige of El Clasico, the name given for any game between Real Madrid and Barcelona. This rivalry is not just due to their greatness but also their politics. Barcelona is in the Catalan region of Spain but many Catalonians view it as a separate nation. Real Madrid, however, is seen as the epitome of Spanish rule considering they are from the capital and have “Real” in their name, which means Royal. On the pitch, the two teams have dominated the Spanish game with 60 league titles between them. They’ve also won 18 Champions League titles, with Real Madrid winning a record 13 of those. The two clubs hate each other and the rivalry hasn’t shown any signs of cooling down in recent years.

 

  1. Arnold Palmer vs. Jack Nicklaus

No golfing rivalry has ever been as consistent or compelling as Arnold Palmer vs Jack Nicklaus. You could find the two often battling it out on a Sunday afternoon. This was shown by at least one of the two finishing in the top three of a major 22 years in a row from 1958-1980, with the rare exception of 1969. This clash of titans helped to improve the appeal of golf in the late 50s and early 60s. The rivalry hit its height in 1961-63 as there was a time when one of the two men won a major six times from seven opportunities. What made it more compelling was their personalities – Palmer being the brash and aggressive player and Nicklaus being the much more careful and considerate golfer. It was Nicklaus who would go on to dominate the rivalry on his way to 18 major championships. 

 

  1. Montreal Canadiens vs. Boston Bruins

Another famous Boston rivalry is that of the Bruins vs the Canadiens. As with the Packers vs Bears rivalry, these two teams have squared off more times than any other in their sport. They have met over 900 times with the Canadiens enjoying the greater winning percentage. Both of them are a part of the “original six” and their long history has led to many classic matches. It’s a nurtured battle between two teams which often comes down to not only city but national pride too. 33 playoff series have been played between the two and plenty of big hits have been traded over the years. The most notable of these was between Maurice Richard and Hal Laycoe which eventually led to a riot, dubbed the “Richard Riot” after the player had been suspended for the rest of the season.

 

  1. Roger Federer vs. Rafael Nadal

A lot of these rivalries are humongous due to bitterness and hatred. This rivalry is massive due to it being two of the greatest players of all-time going head-to-head in countless brilliant matches. As it stands, they currently have the joint record of most grand slam titles of all-time, with 20 apiece. Despite their fierce competitiveness, both men have maintained a good relationship throughout the years and there has rarely been a bad moment between them. Their rivalry instead is often based on their fans trying to decide which player is the greatest of all time. Their matches have helped elevate the sport of tennis, with their most famous match being the 2008 Wimbledon final, which was a back and forth contest that kept fans on the edge of their seat. Eventually, Nadal would win the match which ended in fading light. It was one of many epic contests between the two.

 

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The world of sport is full of rivalries. Epic contests that captivate you more than any other game. Some of these rivalries are formed from greatness, some from proximity, and others from a moment of controversy. These rivalries have developed over time and have been the scene of some of the most memorable sporting moments ever. Inevitably, these contests become a race for superiority and a desperation to be the best. That could be winning a championship or simply being regarded as the biggest name in your sport. Here we take a look at the 10 biggest rivalries in sport, what started them, and why they are so huge. We could have put 100 rivalries in this list so forgive us if your favorite sports team doesn’t feature! We’ve also tried to look at a wide range of different sports from around the globe. Read on to find out the biggest sports rivalries in history. 

  1. Los Angeles Lakers vs. Boston Celtics

This rivalry is all about greatness. Both of them have won 17 championships with the next closest team being the Warriors, who have six. That level of supremacy means these two teams account for an incredible 45% of all the NBA championships. The Lakers and the Celtics have met in 12 different finals which have given the rivalry its huge status. Six of those finals were in the 1960s, with another three coming in the 80s. Those encounters sparked a fierce rivalry which is still alive today. Outside the team rivalry was also one of the best individual NBA rivalries of all-time with Larry Bird of the Celtics going up against Magic Johnson of the Lakers. The debate about which one was the better player still rages. Who’s had the better of the team rivalry? The Celtics clearly win when it comes to head-to-head stats. They have a winning record against the Lakers in both the playoffs and regular season. Of those 12 Finals they’ve played against each other, the Celtics have won nine. The Lakers, however, will be soon hoping to boast more overall championships thanks to the help of arguably the greatest basketball player ever, LeBron James.

 

  1. Ayrton Senna vs. Alain Prost

There have been many great rivalries in F1 over the years. The Hamilton vs Rosberg rivalry was one of the best in recent years and Michael Schumacher had notable battles with many drivers, including Mika Hakkinen and Damon Hill. There is almost always some teammate angst to be found on the grid. Senna vs Prost, however, is the undisputed biggest rivalry in F1. It most fiercely played out when they were teammates together at McLaren but continued after Prost left to join Ferrari. Not a lot separated them as teammates with Senna claiming more race wins but Prost gaining more points. Both won one world championship in the two years they had the same car. The two greats seemingly hated each other at the time, with two very different personalities battling it out on the track. That relationship improved after Prost’s retirement, with both drivers leaving an incredible legacy in F1 and some of the most memorable moments ever witnessed on a race track.

 

  1. Bjorn Borg vs. John McEnroe

Prost and Senna famously had different personalities with Prost being calm and collected and Senna being passionate and flamboyant. Those same traits could be seen with Borg and McEnroe, with the Swede always able to keep his cool whereas the American never could. Such was the contrast in their personalities; the rivalry was dubbed “Fire and Ice.” They met fourteen times in official matches with an even split of wins at seven apiece. Of those 14 matches, nine of them were finals. It was McEnroe who edged those contests, winning five to Borg’s three. Perhaps the peak of the rivalry was in 1980 when the two clashed in the Wimbledon final. It was an astonishing match where McEnroe saved seven match points but couldn’t quite hang on, as Borg eventually won the fifth set 8-6. Despite McEnroe getting the better of Borg in finals, it was the Swedish player who would go on to win more Grand Slam titles with 11 to his name, compared to McEnroe’s seven.

 

  1. Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears

No two teams have played each other more often in the NFL than the Packers and the Bears. They are also the two oldest teams in the NFL. That familiarity has bred an intense rivalry over 200 games. Historically, the Bears had dominated the match-up, as they led the overall series between the two by 24 games in both 1992 and 1960. In recent years, however, the Packers have overtaken the Bears. In the 2010s, the Packers won 17 of their 21 games, including the 2010 NFC Championship Game. This match-up is a highlight of the football calendar and always produces a special atmosphere. The Bears will soon be hoping to regain the dominance they once enjoyed, but for now, it’s the Packers fans who usually come away with a smile on their face.

 

  1. Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier 

Sporting rivalries don’t get fiercer than Ali vs Frazier. It was born during the time Ali was imprisoned for refusing to fight in the Vietnam War. While he was out of the ring, Frazier stepped up to become the best heavyweight in the world. At this point, Ali became known as a champion of the people whereas Frazier, somewhat unfairly, became to represent the establishment. After Ali was released, their first fight was always going to be huge, but was made even bigger by Ali’s notorious trash-talking, including referring to Frazier as an “Uncle Tom.” Dubbed the “Fight of the Century,” it was Frazier who would come out on top in an intense 15-round encounter. It was 3 years until the rematch where Ali won by points, but it was a lot more controversial than the first. That perfectly set up the third fight, the infamous “Thriller in Manilla.” Ali won after Frazier’s corner threw in the towel after 14 brutal rounds where both men gave it their all. It was an incredible trilogy and cemented it as one of the best rivalries ever.

 

  1. Boston Red Socks vs. New York Yankees

The rivalry between Boston and New York is prominent across many sports, but nowhere is it more storied than in baseball. The two teams have been playing each other for over 100 years and it’s the most famous rivalry in American sports. The birth of the rivalry is often attributed to the Red Sox selling Babe Ruth to the Yankees in 1919. Ruth would go on to win four championships with the Yankees, whereas the Red Sox would need to wait 86 years for their next success. Due to the sheer number of games in a baseball season, the two have played each other well over 2,000 times. With that many games, the memorable moments are plenty. Perhaps their most famous encounter was in the 2004 ALCS, where the Red Sox came back from a 3-0 deficit to win the series 4-3 and ultimately went on to win their first World Series since the sale of Ruth. Both teams have consistently battled it out for divisional titles and their games often have huge importance. When you add that into the occasional brawl, such as between Joe Kelly and Tyler Austin in 2018, you get a rivalry of epic proportions.

 

  1. Real Madrid vs. Barcelona 

There are many great rivalries in soccer such as Celtic vs Rangers, Everton vs Liverpool, Dortmund vs Bayern Munich, and the Milan derby. None of them, however, have quite the prestige of El Clasico, the name given for any game between Real Madrid and Barcelona. This rivalry is not just due to their greatness but also their politics. Barcelona is in the Catalan region of Spain but many Catalonians view it as a separate nation. Real Madrid, however, is seen as the epitome of Spanish rule considering they are from the capital and have “Real” in their name, which means Royal. On the pitch, the two teams have dominated the Spanish game with 60 league titles between them. They’ve also won 18 Champions League titles, with Real Madrid winning a record 13 of those. The two clubs hate each other and the rivalry hasn’t shown any signs of cooling down in recent years.

 

  1. Arnold Palmer vs. Jack Nicklaus

No golfing rivalry has ever been as consistent or compelling as Arnold Palmer vs Jack Nicklaus. You could find the two often battling it out on a Sunday afternoon. This was shown by at least one of the two finishing in the top three of a major 22 years in a row from 1958-1980, with the rare exception of 1969. This clash of titans helped to improve the appeal of golf in the late 50s and early 60s. The rivalry hit its height in 1961-63 as there was a time when one of the two men won a major six times from seven opportunities. What made it more compelling was their personalities – Palmer being the brash and aggressive player and Nicklaus being the much more careful and considerate golfer. It was Nicklaus who would go on to dominate the rivalry on his way to 18 major championships. 

 

  1. Montreal Canadiens vs. Boston Bruins

Another famous Boston rivalry is that of the Bruins vs the Canadiens. As with the Packers vs Bears rivalry, these two teams have squared off more times than any other in their sport. They have met over 900 times with the Canadiens enjoying the greater winning percentage. Both of them are a part of the “original six” and their long history has led to many classic matches. It’s a nurtured battle between two teams which often comes down to not only city but national pride too. 33 playoff series have been played between the two and plenty of big hits have been traded over the years. The most notable of these was between Maurice Richard and Hal Laycoe which eventually led to a riot, dubbed the “Richard Riot” after the player had been suspended for the rest of the season.

 

  1. Roger Federer vs. Rafael Nadal

A lot of these rivalries are humongous due to bitterness and hatred. This rivalry is massive due to it being two of the greatest players of all-time going head-to-head in countless brilliant matches. As it stands, they currently have the joint record of most grand slam titles of all-time, with 20 apiece. Despite their fierce competitiveness, both men have maintained a good relationship throughout the years and there has rarely been a bad moment between them. Their rivalry instead is often based on their fans trying to decide which player is the greatest of all time. Their matches have helped elevate the sport of tennis, with their most famous match being the 2008 Wimbledon final, which was a back and forth contest that kept fans on the edge of their seat. Eventually, Nadal would win the match which ended in fading light. It was one of many epic contests between the two.

 

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The world of sport is full of rivalries. Epic contests that captivate you more than any other game. Some of these rivalries are formed from greatness, some from proximity, and others from a moment of controversy.

These rivalries have developed over time and have been the scene of some of the most memorable sporting moments ever. Inevitably, these contests become a race for superiority and a desperation to be the best. That could be winning a championship or simply being regarded as the biggest name in your sport.

Here we take a look at the 10 biggest rivalries in sport, what started them, and why they are so huge. We could have put 100 rivalries in this list so forgive us if your favorite sports team doesn’t feature! We’ve also tried to look at a wide range of different sports from around the globe.

Read on to find out the biggest sports rivalries in history. 

  1. Los Angeles Lakers vs. Boston Celtics

This rivalry is all about greatness. Both of them have won 17 championships with the next closest team being the Warriors, who have six. That level of supremacy means these two teams account for an incredible 45% of all the NBA championships. The Lakers and the Celtics have met in 12 different finals which have given the rivalry its huge status. Six of those finals were in the 1960s, with another three coming in the 80s. Those encounters sparked a fierce rivalry which is still alive today. Outside the team rivalry was also one of the best individual NBA rivalries of all-time with Larry Bird of the Celtics going up against Magic Johnson of the Lakers. The debate about which one was the better player still rages. Who’s had the better of the team rivalry? The Celtics clearly win when it comes to head-to-head stats. They have a winning record against the Lakers in both the playoffs and regular season. Of those 12 Finals they’ve played against each other, the Celtics have won nine. The Lakers, however, will be soon hoping to boast more overall championships thanks to the help of arguably the greatest basketball player ever, LeBron James.

 

1. Los Angeles Lakers vs. Boston Celtics

This rivalry is all about greatness. Both of them have won 17 championships with the next closest team being the Warriors, who have six. That level of supremacy means these two teams account for an incredible 45% of all the NBA championships.

The Lakers and the Celtics have met in 12 different finals which have given the rivalry its huge status. Six of those finals were in the 1960s, with another three coming in the 80s. Those encounters sparked a fierce rivalry which is still alive today.

Outside the team rivalry was also one of the best individual NBA rivalries of all-time with Larry Bird of the Celtics going up against Magic Johnson of the Lakers. The debate about which one was the better player still rages.

Who’s had the better of the team rivalry? The Celtics clearly win when it comes to head-to-head stats. They have a winning record against the Lakers in both the playoffs and regular season. Of those 12 Finals they’ve played against each other, the Celtics have won nine. The Lakers, however, will be soon hoping to boast more overall championships thanks to the help of arguably the greatest basketball player ever, LeBron James.

  1. Ayrton Senna vs. Alain Prost

There have been many great rivalries in F1 over the years. The Hamilton vs Rosberg rivalry was one of the best in recent years and Michael Schumacher had notable battles with many drivers, including Mika Hakkinen and Damon Hill. There is almost always some teammate angst to be found on the grid. Senna vs Prost, however, is the undisputed biggest rivalry in F1. It most fiercely played out when they were teammates together at McLaren but continued after Prost left to join Ferrari. Not a lot separated them as teammates with Senna claiming more race wins but Prost gaining more points. Both won one world championship in the two years they had the same car. The two greats seemingly hated each other at the time, with two very different personalities battling it out on the track. That relationship improved after Prost’s retirement, with both drivers leaving an incredible legacy in F1 and some of the most memorable moments ever witnessed on a race track.

2. Ayrton Senna vs. Alain Prost

There have been many great rivalries in F1 over the years. The Hamilton vs Rosberg rivalry was one of the best in recent years and Michael Schumacher had notable battles with many drivers, including Mika Hakkinen and Damon Hill. There is almost always some teammate angst to be found on the grid.

Senna vs Prost, however, is the undisputed biggest rivalry in F1. It most fiercely played out when they were teammates together at McLaren but continued after Prost left to join Ferrari. Not a lot separated them as teammates with Senna claiming more race wins but Prost gaining more points. Both won one world championship in the two years they had the same car.

The two greats seemingly hated each other at the time, with two very different personalities battling it out on the track. That relationship improved after Prost’s retirement, with both drivers leaving an incredible legacy in F1 and some of the most memorable moments ever witnessed on a race track.

  1. Bjorn Borg vs. John McEnroe

Prost and Senna famously had different personalities with Prost being calm and collected and Senna being passionate and flamboyant. Those same traits could be seen with Borg and McEnroe, with the Swede always able to keep his cool whereas the American never could. Such was the contrast in their personalities; the rivalry was dubbed “Fire and Ice.” They met fourteen times in official matches with an even split of wins at seven apiece. Of those 14 matches, nine of them were finals. It was McEnroe who edged those contests, winning five to Borg’s three. Perhaps the peak of the rivalry was in 1980 when the two clashed in the Wimbledon final. It was an astonishing match where McEnroe saved seven match points but couldn’t quite hang on, as Borg eventually won the fifth set 8-6. Despite McEnroe getting the better of Borg in finals, it was the Swedish player who would go on to win more Grand Slam titles with 11 to his name, compared to McEnroe’s seven.

3. Bjorn Borg vs. John McEnroe

Prost and Senna famously had different personalities with Prost being calm and collected and Senna being passionate and flamboyant. Those same traits could be seen with Borg and McEnroe, with the Swede always able to keep his cool whereas the American never could. Such was the contrast in their personalities; the rivalry was dubbed “Fire and Ice.”

They met fourteen times in official matches with an even split of wins at seven apiece. Of those 14 matches, nine of them were finals. It was McEnroe who edged those contests, winning five to Borg’s three.

Perhaps the peak of the rivalry was in 1980 when the two clashed in the Wimbledon final. It was an astonishing match where McEnroe saved seven match points but couldn’t quite hang on, as Borg eventually won the fifth set 8-6.

Despite McEnroe getting the better of Borg in finals, it was the Swedish player who would go on to win more Grand Slam titles with 11 to his name, compared to McEnroe’s seven.

  1. Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears

No two teams have played each other more often in the NFL than the Packers and the Bears. They are also the two oldest teams in the NFL. That familiarity has bred an intense rivalry over 200 games. Historically, the Bears had dominated the match-up, as they led the overall series between the two by 24 games in both 1992 and 1960. In recent years, however, the Packers have overtaken the Bears. In the 2010s, the Packers won 17 of their 21 games, including the 2010 NFC Championship Game. This match-up is a highlight of the football calendar and always produces a special atmosphere. The Bears will soon be hoping to regain the dominance they once enjoyed, but for now, it’s the Packers fans who usually come away with a smile on their face.

4. Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears

No two teams have played each other more often in the NFL than the Packers and the Bears. They are also the two oldest teams in the NFL. That familiarity has bred an intense rivalry over 200 games.

Historically, the Bears had dominated the match-up, as they led the overall series between the two by 24 games in both 1992 and 1960. In recent years, however, the Packers have overtaken the Bears. In the 2010s, the Packers won 17 of their 21 games, including the 2010 NFC Championship Game.

This match-up is a highlight of the football calendar and always produces a special atmosphere. The Bears will soon be hoping to regain the dominance they once enjoyed, but for now, it’s the Packers fans who usually come away with a smile on their face.

  1. Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier 

Sporting rivalries don’t get fiercer than Ali vs Frazier. It was born during the time Ali was imprisoned for refusing to fight in the Vietnam War. While he was out of the ring, Frazier stepped up to become the best heavyweight in the world. At this point, Ali became known as a champion of the people whereas Frazier, somewhat unfairly, became to represent the establishment. After Ali was released, their first fight was always going to be huge, but was made even bigger by Ali’s notorious trash-talking, including referring to Frazier as an “Uncle Tom.” Dubbed the “Fight of the Century,” it was Frazier who would come out on top in an intense 15-round encounter. It was 3 years until the rematch where Ali won by points, but it was a lot more controversial than the first. That perfectly set up the third fight, the infamous “Thriller in Manilla.” Ali won after Frazier’s corner threw in the towel after 14 brutal rounds where both men gave it their all. It was an incredible trilogy and cemented it as one of the best rivalries ever.

5. Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier 

Sporting rivalries don’t get fiercer than Ali vs Frazier. It was born during the time Ali was imprisoned for refusing to fight in the Vietnam War. While he was out of the ring, Frazier stepped up to become the best heavyweight in the world.

At this point, Ali became known as a champion of the people whereas Frazier, somewhat unfairly, became to represent the establishment.

After Ali was released, their first fight was always going to be huge, but was made even bigger by Ali’s notorious trash-talking, including referring to Frazier as an “Uncle Tom.” Dubbed the “Fight of the Century,” it was Frazier who would come out on top in an intense 15-round encounter.

It was 3 years until the rematch where Ali won by points, but it was a lot more controversial than the first. That perfectly set up the third fight, the infamous “Thriller in Manilla.” Ali won after Frazier’s corner threw in the towel after 14 brutal rounds where both men gave it their all. It was an incredible trilogy and cemented it as one of the best rivalries ever.

  1. Boston Red Socks vs. New York Yankees

The rivalry between Boston and New York is prominent across many sports, but nowhere is it more storied than in baseball. The two teams have been playing each other for over 100 years and it’s the most famous rivalry in American sports. The birth of the rivalry is often attributed to the Red Sox selling Babe Ruth to the Yankees in 1919. Ruth would go on to win four championships with the Yankees, whereas the Red Sox would need to wait 86 years for their next success. Due to the sheer number of games in a baseball season, the two have played each other well over 2,000 times. With that many games, the memorable moments are plenty. Perhaps their most famous encounter was in the 2004 ALCS, where the Red Sox came back from a 3-0 deficit to win the series 4-3 and ultimately went on to win their first World Series since the sale of Ruth. Both teams have consistently battled it out for divisional titles and their games often have huge importance. When you add that into the occasional brawl, such as between Joe Kelly and Tyler Austin in 2018, you get a rivalry of epic proportions.

6. Boston Red Socks vs. New York Yankees

The rivalry between Boston and New York is prominent across many sports, but nowhere is it more storied than in baseball. The two teams have been playing each other for over 100 years and it’s the most famous rivalry in American sports.

The birth of the rivalry is often attributed to the Red Sox selling Babe Ruth to the Yankees in 1919. Ruth would go on to win four championships with the Yankees, whereas the Red Sox would need to wait 86 years for their next success.

Due to the sheer number of games in a baseball season, the two have played each other well over 2,000 times. With that many games, the memorable moments are plenty. Perhaps their most famous encounter was in the 2004 ALCS, where the Red Sox came back from a 3-0 deficit to win the series 4-3 and ultimately went on to win their first World Series since the sale of Ruth.

Both teams have consistently battled it out for divisional titles and their games often have huge importance. When you add that into the occasional brawl, such as between Joe Kelly and Tyler Austin in 2018, you get a rivalry of epic proportions.

  1. Real Madrid vs. Barcelona 

There are many great rivalries in soccer such as Celtic vs Rangers, Everton vs Liverpool, Dortmund vs Bayern Munich, and the Milan derby. None of them, however, have quite the prestige of El Clasico, the name given for any game between Real Madrid and Barcelona. This rivalry is not just due to their greatness but also their politics. Barcelona is in the Catalan region of Spain but many Catalonians view it as a separate nation. Real Madrid, however, is seen as the epitome of Spanish rule considering they are from the capital and have “Real” in their name, which means Royal. On the pitch, the two teams have dominated the Spanish game with 60 league titles between them. They’ve also won 18 Champions League titles, with Real Madrid winning a record 13 of those. The two clubs hate each other and the rivalry hasn’t shown any signs of cooling down in recent years.

7. Real Madrid vs. Barcelona 

There are many great rivalries in soccer such as Celtic vs Rangers, Everton vs Liverpool, Dortmund vs Bayern Munich, and the Milan derby. None of them, however, have quite the prestige of El Clasico, the name given for any game between Real Madrid and Barcelona.

This rivalry is not just due to their greatness but also their politics. Barcelona is in the Catalan region of Spain but many Catalonians view it as a separate nation. Real Madrid, however, is seen as the epitome of Spanish rule considering they are from the capital and have “Real” in their name, which means Royal.

On the pitch, the two teams have dominated the Spanish game with 60 league titles between them. They’ve also won 18 Champions League titles, with Real Madrid winning a record 13 of those. The two clubs hate each other and the rivalry hasn’t shown any signs of cooling down in recent years.

  1. Arnold Palmer vs. Jack Nicklaus

No golfing rivalry has ever been as consistent or compelling as Arnold Palmer vs Jack Nicklaus. You could find the two often battling it out on a Sunday afternoon. This was shown by at least one of the two finishing in the top three of a major 22 years in a row from 1958-1980, with the rare exception of 1969. This clash of titans helped to improve the appeal of golf in the late 50s and early 60s. The rivalry hit its height in 1961-63 as there was a time when one of the two men won a major six times from seven opportunities. What made it more compelling was their personalities – Palmer being the brash and aggressive player and Nicklaus being the much more careful and considerate golfer. It was Nicklaus who would go on to dominate the rivalry on his way to 18 major championships. 

8. Arnold Palmer vs. Jack Nicklaus

No golfing rivalry has ever been as consistent or compelling as Arnold Palmer vs Jack Nicklaus. You could find the two often battling it out on a Sunday afternoon. This was shown by at least one of the two finishing in the top three of a major 22 years in a row from 1958-1980, with the rare exception of 1969.

This clash of titans helped to improve the appeal of golf in the late 50s and early 60s. The rivalry hit its height in 1961-63 as there was a time when one of the two men won a major six times from seven opportunities.

What made it more compelling was their personalities – Palmer being the brash and aggressive player and Nicklaus being the much more careful and considerate golfer. It was Nicklaus who would go on to dominate the rivalry on his way to 18 major championships. 

  1. Montreal Canadiens vs. Boston Bruins

Another famous Boston rivalry is that of the Bruins vs the Canadiens. As with the Packers vs Bears rivalry, these two teams have squared off more times than any other in their sport. They have met over 900 times with the Canadiens enjoying the greater winning percentage. Both of them are a part of the “original six” and their long history has led to many classic matches. It’s a nurtured battle between two teams which often comes down to not only city but national pride too. 33 playoff series have been played between the two and plenty of big hits have been traded over the years. The most notable of these was between Maurice Richard and Hal Laycoe which eventually led to a riot, dubbed the “Richard Riot” after the player had been suspended for the rest of the season.

9. Montreal Canadiens vs. Boston Bruins

Another famous Boston rivalry is that of the Bruins vs the Canadiens. As with the Packers vs Bears rivalry, these two teams have squared off more times than any other in their sport. They have met over 900 times with the Canadiens enjoying the greater winning percentage.

Both of them are a part of the “original six” and their long history has led to many classic matches. It’s a nurtured battle between two teams which often comes down to not only city but national pride too.

33 playoff series have been played between the two and plenty of big hits have been traded over the years. The most notable of these was between Maurice Richard and Hal Laycoe which eventually led to a riot, dubbed the “Richard Riot” after the player had been suspended for the rest of the season.

  1. Roger Federer vs. Rafael Nadal

A lot of these rivalries are humongous due to bitterness and hatred. This rivalry is massive due to it being two of the greatest players of all-time going head-to-head in countless brilliant matches. As it stands, they currently have the joint record of most grand slam titles of all-time, with 20 apiece. Despite their fierce competitiveness, both men have maintained a good relationship throughout the years and there has rarely been a bad moment between them. Their rivalry instead is often based on their fans trying to decide which player is the greatest of all time. Their matches have helped elevate the sport of tennis, with their most famous match being the 2008 Wimbledon final, which was a back and forth contest that kept fans on the edge of their seat. Eventually, Nadal would win the match which ended in fading light. It was one of many epic contests between the two.

10. Roger Federer vs. Rafael Nadal

A lot of these rivalries are humongous due to bitterness and hatred. This rivalry is massive due to it being two of the greatest players of all-time going head-to-head in countless brilliant matches. As it stands, they currently have the joint record of most grand slam titles of all-time, with 20 apiece.

Despite their fierce competitiveness, both men have maintained a good relationship throughout the years and there has rarely been a bad moment between them. Their rivalry instead is often based on their fans trying to decide which player is the greatest of all time.

Their matches have helped elevate the sport of tennis, with their most famous match being the 2008 Wimbledon final, which was a back and forth contest that kept fans on the edge of their seat. Eventually, Nadal would win the match which ended in fading light. It was one of many epic contests between the two.

See more about - The 25 best sports movies of all time

See more about - The 25 best sports movies of all time