15 Best Football (Soccer) Derbies/Rivalries in the World

Author:
Muzzammil Maniar
Updated:
May 14, 2024 12:50 PM EDT

What Is a Derby in Football?

A derby refers to a rivalry between two football clubs. This term can be used to refer to a feud as a whole or to a particular match between two clubs.

Football has seen a lot of rivalries develop between clubs during its rich and long history, some of which can be traced back more than a century.

During that time, countless managers and players have come and gone, but the clubs have lived on, with their pride and legacy being passed on from generation to generation to keep the rivalries fueled.

No other match is given as much importance as the derby. These are more than just football matches; these are matters where the pride of the club and fans are at stake. They are all-out wars to earn bragging rights.

Here is a look at some of the most prestigious and hard-fought derbies in the world of football. Keep in mind that the stats here are updated as of 2020.

What Creates a Good Rivalry?

Here are some factors that go into creating a rivalry that creates anticipated matches.

Location: Many of the derbies featured here are between local rivals; some of these feuds are between teams from the same city. This allows fans of both teams to easily congregate in a stadium, which can create a raucous atmosphere.
History: A series of important games over time only adds fuel to a feud. Players and fans will remember important tournament matches or cup finals, especially if they suffered a devastating loss.
Quality of Play: A rivalry can't really last if the games on the field don't deliver. You'll notice that the clubs on this list are some of the best in their respective leagues.

El Clásico is played between Real Madrid and Barcelona.

1. El Clásico

Location: Spain
Clubs: FC Barcelona and Real Madrid
First Match: May 13, 1902
Match Record: Barcelona leads 124–111–64

El Clásico is one of the most exciting derbies in the world of football. It is contested between the two giants of Spanish football, Real Madrid and Barcelona. The game is seen by millions worldwide, as both clubs have a massive global fanbase.

This derby is also known to represent opposing political views; Real Madrid is seen as representing Spanish nationalism, while Barcelona is seen as representing Catalan nationalism.

Many legendary players have represented these clubs, such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Ronaldinho, and Luís Figo. These stars have certainly not harmed the reputation of this event. This derby is considered to be one of the best rivalries of the 2010s.

AC Milan and Inter Milan compete in the Milan derby.

2. Derby della Madonnina (Milan Derby)

Location: Italy
Clubs: Inter Milan and A.C. Milan
First Match: January 10, 1909
Match Record: Derby is tied at 115–115–80

The Milan derby is regarded as one the biggest in Italy. It is contested between city rivals AC Milan and Inter Milan. Both clubs call San Siro stadium their home, and both clubs want to say they are the best team on that pitch.

3. The North West Derby

Location: England
Clubs: Liverpool F.C. and Manchester United F.C.
First Match: April 28, 1894
Match Record: Manchester United F.C. leads 83–71–60

Regarded as one of the greatest rivalries in English football, the North West derby is one of the most passionate sporting events in the world. Played between archrivals Manchester United and Liverpool, this game sees two of the most successful clubs in England fight it out. Both clubs have won a total of 137 trophies.

This derby is just a part of the general animosity between Manchester and Liverpool. As the two cities are only 35 miles apart, they have always been in industrial and economic competition with each other.

This game has seen a lot of highlights, with many players having voiced their hatred towards their opponents publicly to fuel the rivalry. From last-minute victories to verbal abuses and brawls, this fixture has seen it all.

This rivalry is the perfect representation of what English football is all about. A particular derby in 2019 was a pivotal moment in Liverpool's road to the league title.

Manchester United and Manchester City face off in the Manchester derby.

4. The Manchester Derby

Location: England
Clubs: Manchester City F.C. and Manchester United F.C.
First Match: November 12, 1881
Match Record: Manchester United F.C. leads 78–61–53

The Manchester derby is played between longtime city rivals Manchester United and Manchester City. These fixtures always attract large crowds.

This derby gives Manchester City the chance to outshine their more popular rival. It also gives Manchester United the chance to show off some of the best English players to compete in the sport.

Like many other derbies, this one has seen its fair share of drama. One notable game in 2011 saw a large upset, as Manchester City won 6-1. The "noisy neighbours" have always been a thorn in Manchester United's season.

In recent times, Manchester City has played some mesmerizing football while also winning more recent Premier League titles.

The Derby d'Italia features Inter Milan and Juventus.

5. Derby d'Italia

Location: Italy
Clubs: Inter Milan and Juventus F.C.
First Match: November 14, 1909
Match Record: Juventus F.C. leads 116–83–66

The Derby d'Italia is an intense rivalry between two Italian giants, Inter Milan and Juventus. Like many other matches in the Italian Serie A, this derby is always entertaining in both good and bad ways.

These matches have seen some controversial events, such as a game in the 1960–61 season where Inter Milan had their win overturned. The rivalry increased in 2006 when a match-fixing scandal stripped Juventus of the Serie A title (and relegated them to Serie B). The title was awarded to Inter Milan.

Juventus have managed to win most of the matches in this feud. They have also seen more championship success in their league.