Football's greatest rivalries : Final edition

After a controversial first and second edition including some of the fiercest rivals around the footballing globe, I proudly present the top 3 rivals at the pinnacle of competitiveness and animosity. The world’s greatest footballing rivals are:

Second runners-up: Manchester City vs Manchester United

“Rivalry adds so much to the charms of one’s conquests”- Loisa May Alcott

Remind you of something? Yes, everyone of you Manchester United fans, who would dash and rip any of those Cyan colored flags owned by your rich and noisy neighbors, I speak to you. How many rivalries can claim 10 million viewers on TV and nearly a century and half of bloody beatings and close finishes? The first ever ‘Manchester Derby’ was contested in 1881, and the fans couldn’t have loved each other more. The love snow- balled into a modern day, twice- a- year world war! The mutual hatred between the clubs has gone up ever since City’s takeover by their multi billionaire owners, making them a team with a force to be reckoned with, even in Europe. With Sergio Aguero’s 94 th minute goal that very literally won them a premier league trophy, these two of the ‘big 4′ are set to be the greatest rivals in the world, but miss out as of now.

Last encounter: Manchester City 1 – 0 Manchester United

First runners-up – Barcelona vs Real Madrid

Wow! Feeling the heat? You would if you watch La Liga or the Super Copa, with the “El Clasicos” approaching. A rivalry that is no longer restrained by earthly bonds, I’m sure even the gods argue about Messi’s superiority or his dependency on Xavi and Iniesta. The people from Catalonia had a traditional hatred towards Madridistas and its centralizing tendencies back during the 1930s, and the hatred shifted from the political battlegrounds to the football fields due to some tension between the club authorities over the legendary Alfredo di Stefano. The battle raged even further with both clubs signing legendary players the likes of Maradonna, Cruyff, Puskas, Raul, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo (the brazilian one), Ronaldo (the Portuguese, naturally), Messi and Figo. The Spanish coach Vincente Del Bosque even expressed his concern over the supposed friction between Spanish Barcelona and Madrid players during the Euros. A rivalry that makes people fight rather than doing a national duty, now that is one to watch out for!!

Last encounter: F. C. Barcelona 3 – 2 Real Madrid C. F.

Winners – Brazil vs Argentina

The wait is over! Surprised? If you are, then I am too, for wars have been fought between these two South American nations over football. Whether it was the 1946 incident, where the Argentine captain’s tibia was broken by a Brazilian player, and both teams refused to contest in any tournament that involved the other for over 10 years, or the never ending Pele- Maradonna rivalry that has since then become a Messi – Neymar rivalry, this match up is definitely the most anticipated one in the international ones, at least for most us, and is, undoubtedly, the greatest footballing rivalry of all time…

Last encounter: Brazil 3 – 4 Argentina

The other part’s of this series may be found here and here (part 1 and 2 respectively).