List of sports rivalries

Fans separated at an Old Firm derby in Glasgow, Scotland

A sports rivalry is intense competition between athletic teams or athletes, affecting participants,[1] management, and supporters all to varying degrees.

One of the first known sports rivalries occurred in the Roman Empire between the Blues and the Greens, and the minor teams of the Reds and Whites, each of which were chariot racing clubs competing at the Hippodrome in Constantinople. The rivalry took on political tones as well, coming close to deposing the Roman Emperor Justinian in 532 CE in a riot and the suppression of the riot killed tens of thousands of people.

Owners have been known to encourage rivalries as they tend to improve game attendance and television ratings for rivalry matches. Clubs can reduce fan aggression surrounding rivalry games by acknowledging rather than downplaying the conflict[2] because the rivalry is an integral part of fan identity.[3]

Games between two rivals that are based in areas of close geographical proximity are often known as a local derby, or simply just a derby (UK: /ˈdɑːrbi/ DAR-bee, US: /ˈdɜːrbi/ DUR-bee); a sporting event between two teams from the same town, city or region. In modern usage the term is usually connected with association football[4] and the media and supporters will often refer to this fixture as "Derby Day".[5] However, and unsurprisingly, the first recorded use of the term was to refer to major provincial horse races from a time when the Epsom Derby, was not only England’s major sporting event but also a huge social occasion.

For example, the Western Times, 2 June 1860, refers to a race meeting at Haldon, Exeter, as their "local Derby Day." The Hull Packet, 31 May 1861, calls the Beverley, Hull and East Riding Races "our local Derby." It would appear that the term was already in use elsewhere in the world - The Ballarat Star (Victoria, Australia), 6 December 1860 edition, mentions that races in Dowling Forest were "the local Derby day."

The metaphor evidently seeped into common usage, as non-racing events also earned the epithet. An athletic club fete in Croydon (Norwood News, 22 May 1869), a rowing regatta at Bathgate, Scotland (Lothian Courier, 26 September 1874) and even a hotly-contested local government election (Croydon Advertiser, 27 February 1875) were all described as a local Derby.

As club football (Rugby and Association codes) gained popularity in the 1870s and 1880s the phrase migrated to that pastime. The Preston Herald of 14 March 1883 said of a fixture between Low Moor and Clitheroe that "when it becomes known that the clubs are likely to meet, popular feeling runs high - so high, in fact, that the occasional is recognised as the local Derby day".

The Epsom Derby being an annual event, early usage tended to refer only to the biggest occasion of the year in a certain location - the Widnes Weekly News (16 March 1889) was moved to describe a match between Widnes FC and the touring New Zealand Native touring rugby team as "the great day of the season at Widnes - the local Derby." However, in football terms, the emphasis in the phrase had already shifted from the Derby aspect (a red letter day in the sporting or social calendar) to the local element - any football match involving nearby clubs, no matter how relatively unimportant the fixture might otherwise be. Hence the Burnley Express (15 December 1888) felt able to report that "for three weeks in succession the Langroyd team will be engaged in local "Derbies." First of all, Union Star; then Nelson, at Seed Hill; and afterwards Brierfield at Colne."

In rugby football, an early example of the term for that code appears in the Wigan Observer of 11 December 1885 which noted that "the local "Derby" in the football circles of Pemberton was brought off on Saturday last, when Highfield and Pemberton met."

Since at least as early as 1840 'derby' has been used as a noun in English to denote any kind of sporting contest.[6] Other names for derbies include Clásicos in certain parts of the world and crosstown rivalries in the United States.

The intensity of the rivalry can range anywhere from a light hearted banter to serious violence. A rivalry that gets out of control can lead to fighting, hooliganism, rioting and some instances with career-ending and even fatal consequences. In the "Football War", along with other factors, it was suggested to have been the tipping point in leading to military conflicts.

Rivalries do not always stem from the sharing of an area. Hostilities can occur for different reasons, such as in the case of El Clásico with tensions between fans with a background of political differences. Frequent meetings in important games between teams can also lead to unpleasantries.

International rivalries

[edit]

Individual

[edit]
1st party 2nd party Discipline(s) Timespan Article Source
United Kingdom Steve Ovett United Kingdom Sebastian Coe Middle-distance running 1978–1986 [7]
Jamaica Usain Bolt United States Tyson Gay Sprinting 2005–2012 [8]
Jamaica Asafa Powell 2006–2016 [9]
Cuba Dayron Robles China Liu Xiang Hurdling 2007–2011 [10]
United States Joan Benoit Norway Grete Waitz Marathon [11]
Jamaica Usain Bolt United States Justin Gatlin Sprinting 2012–2017 [12][13]
Jamaica Yohan Blake 2012 [14]
Canada Ben Johnson United States Carl Lewis 1984–1988 [15]
Jamaica Veronica Campbell-Brown United States Allyson Felix 100 metres & 200 metres 2004–2016 [16]
Italy Ondina Valla Italy Claudia Testoni Sprinting 1932–1940 Testoni–Valla rivalry [17]
Italy Luigi Facelli United Kingdom David Burghley Hurdling 1927–1933 [18]
Grenada Kirani James United States LaShawn Merritt Sprinting 2011–2017 [19]
Kenya Paul Tergat Ethiopia Haile Gebrselassie Marathon 1995–2000 [20]
Kenya Eliud Kipchoge Ethiopia Kenenisa Bekele 2012–present
United Kingdom Daley Thompson West Germany Jürgen Hingsen Decathlon [21]
Serbia Ivana Španović Russia Darya Klishina Long jump 2007–present [22]
Canada Donovan Bailey United States Michael Johnson Sprinting 1996–1997 Bailey–Johnson 150-metre race [23][24]
United Kingdom Tessa Sanderson United Kingdom Fatima Whitbread Javelin 1978–1992 [25][26][27]
India P. T. Usha Philippines Lydia de Vega Sprinting 1980s

[28][29]

Norway Jakob Ingebrigtsen United Kingdom Josh Kerr Middle-distance running 2023–present

[30]

Jamaica Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce Jamaica Elaine Thompson-Herah Sprinting 2015–present

[31]

Team

[edit]
1st party 2nd party Discipline(s) Timespan Article Source
Finland Finland Sweden Sweden Multi-discipline 1925–present Finland–Sweden Athletics International
Jamaica Jamaica United States United States Sprinting 1960s—present [32][33][34][35]
Kenya Kenya Ethiopia Ethiopia Long-distance running 1968–present [20][36]

Badminton

[edit]

Individuals

[edit]
1st party 2nd party Timespan Article Source
Indonesia Susi Susanti South Korea Bang Soo-hyun 1992–1996
Malaysia Lee Chong Wei China Lin Dan 2004–2020 Lee–Lin rivalry

International

[edit]
1st party 2nd party Timespan Article Source
Indonesia Indonesia China China 1990s–present

In Swedish bandy, derby games are often played on Saint Stephen's Day.[37]

Dominican Republic

[edit]

Dominican Professional Baseball League

[edit]

[38][39]

Japan

[edit]

Nippon Professional Baseball

[edit]
Central League
[edit]
Pacific League
[edit]
Mixture
[edit]

South Korea

[edit]

KBO League

[edit]

Taiwan

[edit]

Chinese Professional Baseball League

[edit]

Mexico

[edit]

Mexican Baseball League

[edit]

Mexican Pacific League

[edit]

United States/Canada

[edit]

Major League Baseball

[edit]

Minor League Baseball

[edit]

Venezuela

[edit]

Venezuelan Professional Baseball League

[edit]

Argentina

[edit]

Australia

[edit]

Croatia

[edit]

China

[edit]

Guangdong has 11 CBA league titles, more than any other team in history, so it is very evident that they would have a lot of rivalries within the CBA.

France

[edit]

Germany

[edit]

Greece

[edit]

Hong Kong

[edit]

These are active Hong Kong A1 rivalries:

These are high school sports rivalries, but are primarily contested in basketball:

Israel

[edit]

Italy

[edit]

Japan

[edit]

Korea Republic

[edit]

Lebanon

[edit]

Lithuania

[edit]

North Macedonia

[edit]

Philippines

[edit]

Philippine Basketball Association

[edit]
Historical
[edit]

Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League

[edit]

College basketball

[edit]
UAAP
[edit]
NCAA Philippines
[edit]
CESAFI
[edit]

Poland

[edit]

Russia

[edit]

Slovenia

[edit]

Serbia

[edit]

Spain

[edit]

Taiwan

[edit]

Turkey

[edit]

United Kingdom

[edit]

United States and Canada

[edit]

National Basketball Association

[edit]
Individuals
[edit]
1st party 2nd party Timespan Article Source
Bill Russell Wilt Chamberlain 19591969 Celtics–Lakers rivalry [86]
Magic Johnson Larry Bird 19791991 Celtics–Lakers rivalry [86]
Michael Jordan Bill Laimbeer 1988–1991 Bulls–Pistons rivalry [87][88]
Kobe Bryant Shaquille O'Neal 1996–2011 Shaq–Kobe feud
Tim Duncan 19992016 Lakers–Spurs rivalry
LeBron James Kevin Durant 2012 – present Cavaliers–Warriors rivalry
Lakers–Suns rivalry
Stephen Curry 2015–Present Cavaliers–Warriors rivalry
Lakers–Warriors rivalry
[89]
1st party 2nd party Timespan Article Source
Switzerland Switzerland East Germany East Germany 1976–1990 [90]
CanadaUnited States Kaillie Humphries United States Elana Meyers 2013–present [91][92]
1st party 2nd party Timespan Article Source
Austria Arnold Schwarzenegger Cuba Sergio Oliva [93]
United States Lenda Murray United States Iris Kyle 2002 Ms. Olympia
2003 Ms. Olympia
2004 Ms. Olympia
[94]

Individual

[edit]
1st party 2nd party Timespan Article(s) Source
United States Sugar Ray Robinson United States Jake LaMotta 1942–1951
United States Muhammad Ali United States Joe Frazier 1971–1975 Fight of the Century
Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier II
Thrilla in Manila
[95]
United States Sugar Ray Leonard Panama Roberto Durán 1980–1989 The No Mas Fight [96]
United States Floyd Mayweather Jr. Argentina Marcos Maidana 2014 Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Marcos Maidana
Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Marcos Maidana II
[97]
United States Floyd Mayweather Jr. Philippines Manny Pacquiao 2009–2015 Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Manny Pacquiao
Philippines Manny Pacquiao Mexico Juan Manuel Márquez 2004–2012 Manny Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Márquez III
Manny Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Márquez IV
Mexico Érik Morales Philippines Manny Pacquiao 2005–2006 Érik Morales vs. Manny Pacquiao
Érik Morales vs. Manny Pacquiao II
Manny Pacquiao vs. Érik Morales III
Mexico Marco Antonio Barrera Mexico Erik Morales 2000–2004 Barrera vs. Morales trilogy
Erik Morales vs. Marco Antonio Barrera
Marco Antonio Barrera vs. Erik Morales II
Erik Morales vs. Marco Antonio Barrera III
United Kingdom Tyson Fury United States Deontay Wilder 2018–2021 Deontay Wilder vs. Tyson Fury
Deontay Wilder vs. Tyson Fury II
Tyson Fury vs. Deontay Wilder III
[98]
Mexico Canelo Álvarez Kazakhstan Gennady Golovkin 2017–2022 Canelo Álvarez vs. Gennady Golovkin
Canelo Álvarez vs. Gennady Golovkin II
Canelo Álvarez vs. Gennady Golovkin III

Team

[edit]
1st party 2nd party Timespan Article Source
Mexico Mexico Puerto Rico Puerto Rico 1930s–2010s [[Mexico–Puerto Rico boxing rivalry

]] ||

1st party 2nd party Timespan Article Source
Germany Emanuel Lasker Germany Siegbert Tarrasch 1894–1908 World Chess Championship 1908
Cuba José Raúl Capablanca France Alexander Alekhine 1927–c.1938 World Chess Championship 1927
Russia Garry Kasparov United States Deep Blue 1996–1997 Deep Blue versus Garry Kasparov
United States Bobby Fischer Soviet UnionRussia Boris Spassky 1972–1992 World Chess Championship 1972
Fischer–Spassky (1992 match)
India Viswanathan Anand Soviet UnionRussia Vladimir Kramnik 1989–present List of chess games between Anand and Kramnik
Russia Vladimir Kramnik Russia Garry Kasparov 1993–2004 List of chess games between Kasparov and Kramnik
Soviet UnionRussia Garry Kasparov Soviet UnionRussia Anatoly Karpov 1984-c.2000 World Chess Championship 1984
World Chess Championship 1985
World Chess Championship 1986
World Chess Championship 1987
World Chess Championship 1990
[99][100]
Norway Magnus Carlsen United States Hikaru Nakamura 2012–present Magnus Carlsen Chess Tour 2020

International

[edit]
1st party 2nd party Timespan Article(s) Source
 England  Australia 1877–present The Ashes (Tests) [101]
 Australia  New Zealand 1946–present Trans-Tasman Trophy (Tests)
Chappell–Hadlee Trophy (ODI and T20I)
[102]
 England  India 1951–present Anthony De Mello Trophy (Tests)
Pataudi Trophy (Tests)
 India  Pakistan 1957–present India–Pakistan cricket rivalry (Overall)

[103]

 Australia  West Indies 1960–present Frank Worrell Trophy (Tests)
 England  West Indies 1963–present Wisden Trophy (Tests)
 Australia  India 1996–present Border–Gavaskar Trophy (Tests)
India–Australia cricket rivalry (Overall)
 India  Bangladesh 2007–present Bangladesh–India cricket rivalry (Overall) [104]
 Australia  South Africa 1999–present
 Pakistan  Australia 2019–present Benaud–Qadir Trophy (Tests)
 England  New Zealand 2024–present Crowe–Thorpe Trophy (Tests)
 Bangladesh  Sri Lanka 2018–present Bangladesh–Sri Lanka cricket rivalry (Overall)
 South Africa  New Zealand 2024–present Tangiwai Shield (Tests)

Domestic

[edit]

Australia

[edit]
League Name 1st party 2nd party Timespan Article Source
Big Bash League Melbourne Renegades Melbourne Stars 2011–present Melbourne Derby
Sydney Sixers Sydney Thunder 2011–present Sydney Smash [105]
Sheffield Shield New South Wales Queensland 1892–present

Bangladesh

[edit]
League Name 1st party 2nd party Timespan Article Source
Dhaka Premier League Abahani Mohammedan 1972–present Dhaka Derby
Bangladesh Premier League Dhaka Dynamites Comilla Victorians 2015–present BPL Clásico [106]
Rangpur Riders Fortune Barishal 2024–present North-South Derby [107]
Chittagong Kings Durbar Rajshahi 2012–present East-West Derby [108]

England

[edit]
League Name 1st party 2nd party Timespan Article Source
County Clubs Middlesex Surrey London derby [109]
Lancashire Yorkshire War of the Roses [110]
Warwickshire Worcestershire West Midlands derby [111]

India

[edit]
League Name 1st party 2nd party Timespan Article Source
Ranji Trophy
Irani Cup
Vijay Hazare Trophy
Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy
Karnataka Tamil Nadu 1934–present Kaveri Derby [112][113]
Delhi Bombay 1956–present [114]
Maharashtra Bombay 1960–present Maratha Derby [115]
Andhra Hyderabad 1954–present Telugu derby [116]
Indian Premier League Chennai Super Kings Mumbai Indians 2008–present Chennai Mumbai Rivalry
Kolkata Knight Riders Royal Challengers Bangalore 2008–present Kolkata Bangalore Rivalry
Chennai Super Kings Royal Challengers Bangalore 2008–present South Indian Derby

New Zealand

[edit]
League Name 1st party 2nd party Timespan Article Source
Plunket Shield
The Ford Trophy
Men's Super Smash
Auckland Canterbury 1873–present

Pakistan

[edit]
League Name 1st party 2nd party Timespan Article Source
Pakistan Super League Karachi Kings Lahore Qalandars 2016–present Karachi Kings–Lahore Qalandars rivalry [117]

Sri Lanka

[edit]
League Name 1st party 2nd party Timespan Article Source
Lanka Premier League Galle Marvels Jaffna Kings 2022–present LPL Clásico
Royal College, Colombo S. Thomas' College, Mt Lavinia 1879–present Royal–Thomian [118]
1st party 2nd party Discipline Timespan Source
United States Willie Mosconi United States Rudolph Wanderone Jr. Pool [119][120][121]
Wales Ray Reardon England John Spencer Snooker 1969–1988 [122]
Northern Ireland Alex Higgins 1972–1986
Canada Cliff Thorburn 1973–1989
England Steve Davis 1979–1989
England Jimmy White 1981–2007
Scotland Stephen Hendry 1987–2009
Scotland Stephen Hendry England Jimmy White 1986–2010
England Ronnie O'Sullivan 1993–2011
Scotland John Higgins 1995–2012
England Ronnie O'Sullivan 1994–present
England Mark Selby 2002–present
China Ding Junhui 2005–present
1st party 2nd party Timespan Article Source
Canada Glenn Howard Canada Kevin Martin [123]
Canada Jennifer Jones Canada Kelly Scott [124]
1st party 2nd party Discipline Timespan Source
Italy Gino Bartali Italy Fausto Coppi road racing 1940–1956 [125]
France Jacques Anquetil France Raymond Poulidor [126]
Belgium Rik Van Looy Belgium Benoni Beheyt 1963–1966
Belgium Eddy Merckx Belgium Roger De Vlaeminck 1969–1978 [127][128]
Belgium Eddy Merckx Spain Luis Ocaña [129]
Italy Francesco Moser Belgium Roger De Vlaeminck 1974–1984
United States Connie Carpenter-Phinney United States Rebecca Twigg road racing, track cycling [130]
Republic of Ireland Sean Kelly Belgium Eric Vanderaerden road racing
United States Greg LeMond France Bernard Hinault 1984–1986 [131]
France Laurent Fignon [132]
Scotland Graeme Obree England Chris Boardman track cycling [133]
Italy Francesco Moser Italy Beppe Saronni road racing 1978–1986 [134][135]
United States Lance Armstrong Italy Marco Pantani 2000 [136][137]
Belgium Frank Vandenbroucke Italy Michele Bartoli 1999
Belgium Lotto Belgium Soudal–Quick-Step [138]
Australia Anna Meares United Kingdom Victoria Pendleton track cycling −2012 [139][140][141]
Spain Alberto Contador Luxembourg Andy Schleck road racing [142][143][144]
Switzerland Fabian Cancellara Belgium Tom Boonen road racing 2006–2016 [145][146]
United Kingdom Chris Hoy France Grégory Baugé track cycling 2009–2012 [147]
United Kingdom Laura Trott United States Sarah Hammer track cycling 2012– [148]
United Kingdom Mark Cavendish Germany Marcel Kittel road racing [149]
United Kingdom Chris Froome Spain Alberto Contador road racing 2013–2017 [150][151]
France Julien Absalon Switzerland Nino Schurter cross-country [152]
Spain Alejandro Valverde Spain Joaquim Rodríguez road racing 2012–2016
Germany Tony Martin Switzerland Fabian Cancellara road racing
Australia Australia United Kingdom Great Britain track cycling [153]
Belgium Wout Van Aert Netherlands Mathieu van der Poel cyclo-cross, road racing 2014– [154][155]
Slovakia Peter Sagan Belgium Greg Van Avermaet road racing 2015– [156]
France Nacer Bouhanni France Arnaud Démare road racing [157]
Slovakia Peter Sagan Poland Michał Kwiatkowski road racing [158]
France Pauline Ferrand-Prévot Switzerland Jolanda Neff cross-country [159]
Netherlands Annemiek van Vleuten Netherlands Anna van der Breggen road racing 2017–2021 [160][161]
Slovenia Tadej Pogačar Denmark Jonas Vingegaard road racing 2021– [162]
Netherlands Annemiek van Vleuten Netherlands Demi Vollering road racing 2022–2023 [163][164]
1st party
(Years active)
2nd party
(Years active)
Timespan Source
Scotland Jocky Wilson (1978–1996) England Eric Bristow (1976–2007) 1980–1989 [86]
England John Lowe (1976–2007) England Eric Bristow (1976–2007) 1978–1993
England Phil Taylor (1986–2018) Netherlands Raymond van Barneveld (1987–2019) 2006–2018 [21][165][166][167]
Wales Gerwyn Price (2014–present ) Scotland Gary Anderson (2001–present) 2018–present [168][169][170]
England Luke Littler (2023–present ) England Luke Humphries (2011–present) 2024–present
1st party 2nd party Timespan Article Source
China Qiu Bo United Kingdom Tom Daley [171]

Esports

[edit]
1st party 2nd party Discipline Timespan Article Source
Team SoloMid Cloud9 League of Legends 2013–2023 [172]
Alliance Natus Vincere Dota 2 2013–2016 [173][174]
FaZe Clan OpTic Gaming Call of Duty, Counter-Strike 2013–present [175][176]
T1[a] Royal Never Give Up[b] League of Legends 2013–present
Edward Gaming T1 League of Legends 2015–present
Gen.G[c] T1 League of Legends 2014–present [177][178]
SK Gaming Virtus.pro Counter-Strike 2015–2018 [179][180]
KT Rolster T1 StarCraft: Brood War, League of Legends 2004–present The Telecom Wars [181]
G2 Esports Fnatic League of Legends 2016–present [182]
1st party 2nd party Timespan Article Source
India India Pakistan Pakistan 1947–present India–Pakistan field hockey rivalry [183]
1st party 2nd party Discipline Timespan Article Source
United States Linda Fratianne East Germany Anett Pötzsch Women's singles 1973–1980 [184]
United States Scott Hamilton United States Scott Cramer Men's singles 1976–1980 [185]
United States Brian Boitano Canada Brian Orser Men's singles 1982–1988 See also: Battle of the Brians [186]
East Germany Katarina Witt United States Debi Thomas Women's singles 1984–1988 See also: Battle of the Carmens [187]
United States Nancy Kerrigan United States Tonya Harding Women's singles 1990–1994 See also: Assault of Nancy Kerrigan [86]
Russia Maya Usova
Russia Alexander Zhulin
Russia Oksana Grishuk
Russia Evgeny Platov
Ice dance 1992–1994 [188]
United States Michelle Kwan United States Tara Lipinski Women's singles 1996–1998 [189]
Canada Jamie Salé
Canada David Pelletier
Russia Elena Berezhnaya
Russia Anton Sikharulidze
Pairs 1998–2002 See also: 2002 Winter Olympics figure skating scandal [190]
Russia Alexei Yagudin Russia Evgeni Plushenko Men's singles 1997–2002 [191]
United States Todd Eldredge United States Timothy Goebel Men's singles 1998–2002 [192]
South Korea Yuna Kim Japan Mao Asada Women's singles 2005–2014 [193][194]
Canada Tessa Virtue
Canada Scott Moir
United States Meryl Davis
United States Charlie White
Ice dance 2006–2014 [195][196]
France Gabriella Papadakis
France Guillaume Cizeron
2016–2018 [195]
Japan Yuzuru Hanyu Canada Patrick Chan Men's singles 2010–2018 [197][198]
Spain Javier Fernández 2010–2018 [197][199]
United States Nathan Chen 2016–2022 [197]
Russia Evgenia Medvedeva Russia Alina Zagitova Women's singles 2017–2019 [200]
1st party 2nd party 3rd party Timespan Article Source
 United States  Europe Ryder Cup [201]
United States Arnold Palmer United States Jack Nicklaus 1958–1980 [201]
United States Tom Watson United States Gary McCord [202]
United States Jack Nicklaus United States Tom Watson 1977–1982 [201]
United States Jack Nicklaus United States Lee Trevino [203]
United States Jack Nicklaus United States Tom Weiskopf [204]
United States Paul Runyan United States Sam Snead [205]
United States Ben Hogan United States Sam Snead 1938–1967 [201]
United States Ben Hogan United States Byron Nelson 1935–1946 [206]
United States Tiger Woods United States Phil Mickelson 1996–present [201][207]
United States Walter Hagen United States Bobby Jones 1914–1930 [201]
United States Walter Hagen United States Gene Sarazen [203]
United States Mickey Wright United States Kathy Whitworth 1958–1973 [201]
Australia Greg Norman United States Tim Finchem [206]
Australia Greg Norman England Nick Faldo [203]
United States Johnny Miller England Nick Faldo [204]
Oklahoma State Cowboys Houston Cougars [206]
England J.H. Taylor Jersey Harry Vardon Scotland James Braid Great Triumvirate [206]
United States Glenna Collett Vare England Joyce Wethered [203]
Republic of Ireland Pádraig Harrington Spain Sergio García [205]
Sweden Annika Sörenstam Australia Karrie Webb [205]
Spain Seve Ballesteros United States Paul Azinger [205]
Scotland Willie Park Sr. Scotland Tom Morris [208]
United States Ben Hogan
United States Byron Nelson
United States Harvie Ward
United States Ken Venturi
[208]
United States Tom Kite United States Ben Crenshaw [202]
Spain Seve Ballesteros United States Deane Beman [202]
United States Louise Suggs United States Babe Zaharias 1948–1954 [202]
South Africa Rory Sabbatini United States Ben Crane [204]
Scotland Colin Montgomerie Scotland Sandy Lyle [204]
United States Bryson DeChambeau United States Brooks Koepka 2019–present [209]

Individual

[edit]
1st party 2nd party Timespan Article Source
Jerry Rice Deion Sanders 1989–1996 [210]
Tom Brady Peyton Manning 2000–2016 Brady–Manning rivalry
Eli Manning 2006–2013 Manning Bowl

Mexico

[edit]

ONEFA/CONADEIP (National College Association of American Football/National College Sports Commission of Private Institutions)[211]

United States

[edit]

Canada

[edit]
1st party 2nd party Timespan Article Source
Hamilton Tiger-Cats Toronto Argonauts 1873–present Harold Ballard Trophy [214][215]
Hamilton Tiger-Cats Montreal Alouettes/Concordes 1982–present Classique [216][217]
Winnipeg Blue Bombers Saskatchewan Roughriders 1936–present Banjo Bowl [218]
Edmonton Elks Calgary Stampeders 1949–present Battle of Alberta [219]
1st party 2nd party Timespan Source
United States United States China People's Republic of China [220]
Japan Japan –present [221]
Russia Russia Romania Romania –present

Austria

[edit]

Belarus

[edit]

Belgium

[edit]

Croatia

[edit]

Denmark

[edit]

France

[edit]

Germany

[edit]

Israel

[edit]

Hungary

[edit]

Macedonia

[edit]

Poland

[edit]

Lomza Vive Kielce vs. Orlen Wisla Plock

Portugal

[edit]

Romania

[edit]

Russia

[edit]

Serbia

[edit]

Slovenia

[edit]

Spain

[edit]

Sweden

[edit]

Ukraine

[edit]
1st party 2nd party Timespan Source
Seabiscuit War Admiral 1938 [243]
Affirmed Alydar 1978–1979 [244]
Sunday Silence Easy Goer 1989 [245]
Hurricane Fly Jezki 2014 [246]

Multinational

[edit]

North America

[edit]

Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Philadelphia Flyers

Junior

[edit]

College

[edit]

Europe

[edit]

Austria

[edit]

Czech Republic

[edit]

Finland

[edit]

France

[edit]

Germany

[edit]

Italy

[edit]
  • Hockey Club Torino vs. Hockey Club Valpellice

Norway

[edit]

Poland

[edit]

Romania

[edit]

Slovakia

[edit]

Sweden

[edit]

Switzerland

[edit]

United Kingdom

[edit]

International

[edit]
1st party 2nd party Timespan Article(s) Source
 Canada  Russia
 Soviet Union
1954, but especially after 1972, to present Summit Series
2008 IIHF World Championship final
[302]
 Canada men  USA men 1920–present Canada–United States rivalry [303]
 Canada women  USA women 1990–present Canada–United States women's rivalry [304]
 Canada U20  USA U20 1973–present Canada–United States junior rivalry [305]
 Czechoslovakia  Soviet Union 1954, but especially after 1968, to 1993 1954 World Ice Hockey Championships [306]
 Czech Republic  Russia 1993–present 1998 Winter Olympics gold medal game
2010 IIHF World Championship final
[306]
 Czech Republic  Slovakia 1994–present Czech Republic–Slovakia rivalry
 Finland  Sweden 1932–present [307][308]

Individual

[edit]
1st party 2nd party Timespan Article(s) Source
Canada Sidney Crosby Russia Alexander Ovechkin 2005–present Capitals–Penguins rivalry [309][310]
1st party 2nd party Timespan Article Source
Cornell Princeton 1922–present Cornell–Princeton lacrosse rivalry [311]
Johns Hopkins Loyola (MD) 1939–present Johns Hopkins–Loyola lacrosse rivalry [312][313][314]
Johns Hopkins Maryland 1895–present Johns Hopkins–Maryland lacrosse rivalry [315]
1st party 2nd party Timespan Article Source
Austria Markus Prock Germany Georg Hackl 1988–2002 [316]
Germany Tatjana Hüfner Germany Natalie Geisenberger 2008–2019 [317]
1st party 2nd party Timespan Article Source
Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioners Luta Livre practitioners 1930s–1997 [318]
Brazil Royce Gracie United States Ken Shamrock 1993–2016 [319]
Russia Fedor Emelianenko Brazil Rodrigo Minotauro [320]
United States Matt Hughes United States B.J. Penn [320]
United States Chuck Liddell United States Tito Ortiz 2004–2018 Chuck Liddell vs. Tito Ortiz [320]
United States Chuck Liddell United States Randy Couture Randy Couture vs. Chuck Liddell [320]
United States Tito Ortiz United States Ken Shamrock [320]
Japan Kazushi Sakuraba Brazil Royler Gracie
Brazil Royce Gracie
Brazil Renzo Gracie
Brazil Ryan Gracie
(Gracie family)
1999–2007 Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Royce Gracie [321]
Cuba Jose Landi
Brazil Wanderlei Silva
Brazil Maurício Shogun
Brazil Anderson Silva
(Chute Boxe)
Brazil Rodrigo Minotauro
Brazil Murilo Bustamante
Brazil Vitor Belfort
Brazil Rogério Minotouro
(Top Team)
2002–2007 [320]
United States Quinton Jackson Brazil Wanderlei Silva 2003–2018 Wanderlei Silva vs. Quinton Jackson [320]
United States Brock Lesnar United States Frank Mir [322]
United States Dominick Cruz United States Urijah Faber [322]
United States Jon Jones United States Daniel Cormier 2014–2017
United States Ronda Rousey United States Miesha Tate 2012–2013 Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey [322]
United States Chael Sonnen Brazil Anderson Silva 2010–2012 [322]
United States Michael Chandler United States Eddie Alvarez [322]
United States Frankie Edgar United States Gray Maynard [322]
United States Gilbert Melendez United States Josh Thomson [322]
United States Tim Sylvia Belarus Andrei Arlovski [322]
United States Cain Velasquez Brazil Junior dos Santos 2011–2014 [322]
United States Matt Serra Canada Georges St-Pierre 2007–2008 [322]
Republic of Ireland Conor McGregor United States Nate Diaz 2016 [323]
Republic of Ireland Conor McGregor Russia Khabib Nurmagomedov 2014–2021 [323]
Republic of Ireland Conor McGregor United States Dustin Poirier 2021–present [324]
Mexico Brandon Moreno Brazil