Sport is an arena of life where rivalries can play out. It is where our competitive nature is channelled through strength and skill in contests to not just be the best but also beat the best.
When there are great sportsmen and women, there will always be fiercely competitive rivalries as they strive to be the best. Some are friendly. Some are not. Whilst some rivalries are born from mutual respect for each other's prowess, some are fuelled by deep-set hatred and can boil over in moments of high drama.
But what are the biggest rivalries in the recent history of sport? By studying individual and team rivalries in a multitude of different sports across the globe Gambling Zone CA has revealed the biggest sorting rivals!
The Most Searched Team Rivalries
1. England vs West Indies (Cricket), 70.28 Million Annual Searches:
The most searched-for rivalry in world sport right now is the cricketing clash between England and the West Indies, the most recent clash taking place in November 2024 in the Caribbean. The West Indian cricket team comprises players from a group of countries and territories in the Caribbean, and they have competed against England since 1928.
2. LA Dodgers vs New York Yankees (Baseball), 32.73 Million Annual Searches:
The biggest sporting rivalry in North America is the baseball contest between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees, two of the most followed teams in the sport. The two teams competed in the final of the 2024 World Series, during which the Dodgers defeated the Yankees. This was their fourth World Series win since 2017, making them the most successful team in recent years. Whereas the Yankees have not won since 2009, but with their record 27 titles, they are still the most successful MLB team of all time.
3. Al Hilal vs Al Nassr (Soccer), 29.49 Million Annual Searches:
Saudi Arabia is the new powerhouse in world soccer, and the Saudi Premier League has shot to prominence due to excessive spending on some of the world's most prominent players. Al Nassr's signing of Cristiano Ronaldo in 2023 kicked off this revolution, and his team competed in the Riyadh Derby against Al Hilal, who signed Neymar as their premium player.
Most Newsworthy Team Rivalries
1. Man United vs Man City (Soccer), 5.47 Million News Articles:
Many consider Manchester United to be the biggest soccer club in the world. Piggybacking off the success of the Alex Ferguson era, they have become a global brand supported by over a billion people. However, they have struggled in the last decade, whereas their noisy neighbour Manchester City has won everything. The Manchester Derby is the most talked-about sporting rivalry in the media.
2. Barcelona vs Real Madrid (Soccer), 5 Million News Articles:
The El Classico match between Barcelona and Real Madrid is one of the most prestigious soccer matches in the world as Spain’s two biggest clubs go head to head. As well as being two of the most successful clubs in the world, the rivalry goes deeper as there are political and cultural differences between the two cities and their clubs. The most recent clash was a humiliating loss for the champions Madrid in their own stadium, with a resurgent Barcelona romping to victory.
3. Liverpool vs Man City (Soccer), 1.81 Million News Articles:
Over the past decade, Liverpool vs. Manchester City has been the biggest game in English soccer due to their rivalry at the top of the Premier League — they have finished first and second on four occasions. The rivalry has been exemplified by two men, Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp, two of the most successful managers in modern soccer. Although Klopp has now left, Liverpool are currently top of the table and looking to bring the title back to Anfield.
The Most Searched Individual Rivalries
1. Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk (Boxing), 6.35 Million Annual Searches:
When it comes to individual rivalries fighting sports is perhaps the most intent, as both competitors know they are going in to try and knock the other out. The heavyweight boxing champion of the world is often considered the “baddest man on the planet”, and that honour is currently bestowed upon Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk, who unified the division when he beat Tyson Fury in May 2024.
A much-anticipated rematch is set to take place at the end of 2024, and they are by far the most searched rivals on Google, over five million more than anyone else.
2. Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo (Soccer), 1.87 Million Annual Searches:
As we previously discussed, the El Classico rivalry is one of the biggest in soccer, and for years it was exemplified by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. These two players are arguably the greatest two in the history of the game; between 2008 and 2023, only two Ballon d'Or awards were awarded to anyone else. Despite both being in the twilight of their careers, playing away from the top leagues, the two are on course to have one last dance against each other in the 2026 World Cup.
3. Novak Djokovic vs Rafael Nadal (Tennis), 1.34 Million Annual Searches:
Over the past two decades of male tennis, the “big three” have dominated the sport, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer have won 66 major singles championships and were ranked as the world's number one player for a combined 947 weeks throughout their careers. With Federer already retired and Nadal hanging up his racket at the end of this year, 2024 will be the last year Djokovic and Nadal faced off in their rivalry.
Most Newsworthy Individual Rivalries
1. Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo (Soccer), 111,000 News Articles:
Whilst it is not the most searched rivalry, the two titans of soccer are the most written-about rivals by far. There are over 100,000 articles on Messi vs. Ronaldo, more than triple the number of articles on the second-ranking rivalry.
2. Lewis Hamilton vs Max Verstappen (Formula 1), 35,700 News Articles:
Lewis Hamilton is the most successful driver in the history of Formula 1, as he has won 105 races, and has seven World Championships in a stellar career. However, since 2021 a younger champion has risen up to dominate the sport, Max Verstappen has won the last four world titles in conclusive fashion.
The rivalry was at its height in 2021 when Verstappen controversially won the title at the final race of the season, and people are now wondering if the veteran Hamilton can ever get back to the top.
3. Roger Federer vs Rafael Nadal (Tennis), 35,000 News Articles:
Roger Federer is considered one of the greatest tennis players of all time, but the man who seemed to always have his number was Rafael Nadal. The two men faced off in 14 Grand Slam finals, with Nadal winning 10. Between the two, they won 42 total Grand Slam titles, with Federer winning 20 and Nadal winning 22. Their rivalry was incredibly interesting as they had very different strengths, Nadal dominated on clay courts, whereas Federer was the king of grass courts.
Methodology
- We compiled a list of 200 individual and team rivalries from a variety of articles and lists for research.
- Using Google Keyword Planner, we found the total number of global searches between November 2023 and October 2024 and ranked the top 100 most searched rivals.
- We used Google’s news search function to find the number of articles about each rivalry.
- All data is accurate as of 19/11/2024.
