A great sporting rivalry is more than two competitors. It is a clash of styles, personalities and values that the public projects itself onto. The best rivalries divide opinion because both sides are compelling.
Muhammad Ali vs Joe Frazier
Three bouts. The first Ali ever lost. The third — the Thrilla in Manila — is possibly the greatest boxing match ever fought. Ali called Frazier a gorilla. Frazier never forgave him. But the fights produced something extraordinary. Both men said the other brought out the best in them.
Roger Federer vs Rafael Nadal
Fourteen years of the finest tennis ever played. Aesthetically opposite: Federer all precision and grace, Nadal all power and relentlessness. Their 2008 Wimbledon final is considered by many the greatest match ever played in any sport. Their retirement speeches, when each mentioned the other, moved millions.
Messi vs Ronaldo
A generation defined by a binary choice that was really not a binary choice at all. Both are extraordinary, and the debate over who is greater has probably improved both players by raising the bar perpetually. Twenty years from now, the right answer will be "both".
El Clásico: Barcelona vs Real Madrid
Not individuals but institutions. The rivalry runs deeper than football — it is cultural, political and regional. More than 650 million people watch El Clásico globally. It is the most-watched club fixture on earth.
