World Soccer’s 50 Greatest Derbies
By: Daryl | July 17th, 2008
The July issue of the ever-informative World Soccer magazine has a great front page feature: The 50 Greatest Derbies in World Football. Unfortunately, the full article is unavailable online so you’ll have to get yourself to a shop and dip your hand in your pocket to read it.
But below is the final order WS decided on, 1-50. The final order is always up for argument, and I’m sure there are plenty of derbies left out. Most interesting is that a good chunk of the 50 aren’t “local” derbies. Real Madrid vs Barcelona is number one for example, and though the Manchester derby and the Merseyside derby are both absent, Man Utd vs Liverpool is in at number 28.
Read on for the full list…
1. Real Madrid vs Barcelona (Spain)
2. Boca Juniors vs River Plate (Argentina)
3. Celtic vs Rangers (Scotland)
4. Galatasaray vs Fenerbahce (Turkey)
5. Ajax vs Feyenoord (Netherlands)
6. Lazio vs Roma (Italy)
7. Shalke vs Borussia Dortmund (Germany)
8. Al Ahly vs Zamalek (Egypt)
9. Betis vs Sevilla (Spain)
10. Partizan Belgrade vs Red Star Belgrade (Serbia)
11. Marseille vs Paris St. Germain (France)
12. Juventus vs Fiorentina (Italy)
13. Flamengo vs Vasco da Gama (Brazil)
14. Olympiacos vs Panathanaikos (Greece)
15. Milan vs Internazionale (Italy)
16. Athletic Bilbao vs Real Sociedad (Spain)
17. Benfica vs Porto (Portugal)
18. Coirinthians vs Sao Paulo (Brazil)
19. Racing Club vs Independiente (Argentina)
20. America vs Guadalajara (Mexico)
21. Nacional vs Penarol (Uruguay)
22. Pirouzi vs Esteghlal (Iran)
23. Spartak Moscow vs CSKA Moscow (Russia)
24. Steaua Bucharest vs Dinamo Bucharest (Romania)
25. Kaizer Chiefs vs Orlando Pirates (South Africa)
26. Slave Prague vs Sparta Prague (Czech Republic)
27. Corinthians vs Santos (Brazil)
28. Liverpool vs Manchester United (England)
29. Rosario Central vs Newell’s Old Boys (Argentina)
30. Cerro Porteno vs Olimpia (Paraguay)
31. Ferencvaros vs Ujpest (Hungary)
32. AIK Stockholm vs Djurgardens (Sweden)
33. CSKA Sofia vs Levski Sofia (Bulgaria)
34. Genoa vs Sampdoria (Italy)
35. America vs Deportivo Cali (Colombia)
36. Raja Casablanca vs Wydad Casablanca (Morocco)
37. Basle vs Zurich (Switzerland)
38. Rapid Wien vs Austria Wien (Austria)
39. Barcelona vs Emelec (Ecuador)
40. Hajduk Split vs Dinamo Zagreb (Croatia)
41. Beitar Jersulam vs Hapoel Tel Aviv (Israel)
42. Arsenal vs Tottenham (England)
43. Alianza Lima vs Universitario (Peru)
44. FC Copenhagen vs Brondby (Denmark)
45. Anderlecht vs Club Brugge (Belgium)
46. Asec Abidjan vs Africa Sports (Cote d’Ivoire)
47. Sarajevo vs Zeljeznicar (Bosnia)
48. Mohun Bagan vs East Bengal (India)
49. Tenerife vs Las Palmas (Spain)
50. Gremio vs Internacional (Brazil)
Category: World Football
Tags: 50 greatest rivalries, AC Milan, Arsenal, Barcelona, Boca Juniors, derbies, Fenerbahce, Galatasaray, Inter Milan, Lazio Roma, Liverpool, magazine, Manchester United, Real Madrid, River Plate, Tottenham Hotspurs, World Football, World SoccerSubscribe
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Comments | Add your comment
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Yevy, historically CSKA VS Dynamo, was THE derby of Moscow. And if talking about Spartak, then the craziness was aloof when Dynamo Kiev was is town (and vice versa). But those rivalries are forgotten. On the other hand these other derbies that you and magazine mentioned, are too new to be picked up.
It always happen when you try to find 50 interesting match-ups, some of them (most) just scratching the surface of any real derby monumentality.Posted from
United States
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Does anyone know what was the criteria they used to create this list?
Posted from
United States -
What a stupid list. How can you call Marseille vs PSG a derby? Not even in the same city. Liverpool vs Man U? They should try again and limit it to derbies? Forest vs Derby is a good one. Bristol City vs Rovers. etc.
Posted from
United States -
Nothing on earth like the Bristol Derby*
*Probably only true if like me you’re from the west country…
Posted from
United States -
More like rivalries than derbies …
Posted from
United States -
it would have to Liverpool v Everton, because ManU is NOT in the same city (ManU vs. ManCity)
Posted from
United States -
“Lists” have to be the single most effective debate / conversation starter in the world. If I were single again I’d probably try to pick up chickies at a bar by throwing a list at them of the top five positions I’d like to use in the sack or the top five things I find attractive about them. I’d be guaranteed to be talking to them instantaneously. On the other hand, I’ve also learned that women + talking = trouble, so maybe a list as a pick up device ain’t such a good idea.
Posted from
United States -
Even though im sure the boca-river must have the best atmosphere and cheerful crowd, barca-madrid share the biggest rivalry of all teams. Both spanish teams share rejection towards one another ever since the civil war. The camp nou was known as a symbolic place to cherish the catalan culture and speak the language due to the franco oppression, which gave birth to the infamous phrase that is inmortalized at the stadium stalls “Mes que un club”.
Madrid is considered the icon that oppressed barcelona, franco was known to be a madridista and there are many legends that the dictator controlled all tournaments in favor of Real. When barca beats madrid, the cules will feel a little sting of republican pride as opposed to the madridistas who will boast of “united” cause against the independentists. The rivalry is very present today, every match is filled with adrenaline and healthy hate…if that makes sense at all.
The rivalry dates back to the 16th century when the Count Duque of Olivares increased the tax rate among all states to keep up with the war expenses, the catalans enjoyed an aristocratic state to which they werent going to give up, after many unsettling guerrilla battles, the catalans finally allowed napoleon through the gates to take over spain. This has divided the country up until now, the civil war also had its share under the same cause. Its basically a tale of two cities, madrid, a central state under the notion of a united country opposed to barcelona, a city that seeks independence to enjoy their wealth instead of staying solidary in paying taxes to relieve the poorer states. All this resumed in a simple football match.
Posted from
Spain -
if you had seen the Turkish derby Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe , you would have certainly said ”yeah, this is the real derby!”Every match between these teams iscrazy wild and full of excitement ..
Posted from
United States -
A “derby” doesn’t mean that the two clubs have to be from the same city. The meaning derives from the Epsom derby and just means a significant sporting event (apparently). Personally, I’d have put the Rangers-Celtic game at number one: it has all the qualities of the Barca-Madrid game (bar the world-class players, of course), except notched up a level of rivalry: there’s nothing more passionate than a drunken Scotsman.
Posted from
United States -
Ah yes the Galatasaray-Fener derby. The Turkish delight. The battle of the Bosphorous. Call it whatever you want. No other match (literally) shuts down a nation as that match does.
Posted from
United States -
Steaua vs Dinamo should be no. 1 if fan passion and violence is the only deciding factor.
Posted from
United States -
Proudly representing the only team on the list twice: Corinthians. I don’t know, teams just get worked up when they have to face the fiel torcida =)
They should’ve had the derby against Palmeiras instead of Santos, though. Corinthians v Palmeiras is one of the biggest rivalries in South America, no question. Even the players started fighting: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46xFdYuNuUE
Posted from
United States -
um….inter/ac milan is not even listed? wtf?
Posted from
United States -
Milan v Inter is #15
Posted from
United States -
All I can say is that I emphatically agree with the top four, regardless of their order. When I saw the title of this post, those were the exact matches that came to my mind.
Posted from
United States -
I’m surprised that Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe isn’t in the mix either. I’m also glad a certain term wasn’t used for #3.
Posted from
United States -
Where’s the LA Galaxy/Chivas derby?? EH!?!
Posted from
United States -
just noticed Ecuador was mentioned on the list….sweet
Posted from
United States -
Esperance vs. Club Africain. Derby de la Capitale (Tunis, Tunisia). Got some of the best fans, best tifos, best chants and songs. Not surprised its not on there as we’re overlooked a lot but in my book it’s in the top 20 at least.
Posted from
United States -
Milan and Inter are not 15!!!!!!!!!
Posted from
United States -
Where is Everton / Liverpool? America / Guadalajara should be ranked higher.
Posted from
United States -
Ahly(International) And Zamalek The Best Derbies In Africa , Tomorrow Matchs Between Ahly And Zamalek In Champions League Africa , I advise everyone to watch And Good luck My Favorite team Ahly Egypt
Posted from
United States -
Ahly VS Zamalek is the best derby in all world cuz ahly in it …
the best team in all worldPosted from
United States -
bad bad bad
Flamengo x Fluminense
Santos x Botafogo (in the 60’s)
are two of the biggest derbis ever in Brazil and in the world…Posted from
United States
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