El Clasico history, the biggest rivalry in club football

El Clasico is arguably the biggest rivalry in the club football history. FC Barcelona and Real Madrid are the biggest clubs in the world football and the two clubs with the most titles in football history. El CLASICO also one of the most watched sporting events in sports.

The Origin of Rivalry

The origins of El Clasico date back to the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), when football became entangled with politics and regional identity. FC Barcelona, founded in 1899, emerged as a symbol of Catalan nationalism and autonomy.

In contrast, Real Madrid, established in 1902, represented the central Spanish government and Spanish nationalism. This divide fueled tensions between the two clubs, setting the stage for a rivalry that transcended sports..

During the Franco regime (1939-1975), Barcelona’s Catalan identity was suppressed, and the club became a symbol of resistance. Real Madrid, on the other hand, maintained a close relationship with the government, gaining special treatment and financial assistance. The perceived favoritism increased the rivalry between the clubs.

The Golden Era of El Clasico

The 1950s to 1960s are considered the golden era of El-Clasico. Real Madrid dominated Spanish football, winning five European Cups. Barcelona sought to challenge their supremacy, leading to thrilling matches. Legends like Alfredo Di Stéfano and Ferenc Puskás lit up the pitch, cementing El-Clasico’s status as a must-watch event.

Messi vs Ronaldo Era

The rivalry between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo between 2009 and 2018 has been the most competitive in El Clásico history, with both players being their clubs’ all-time top scorers. Messi vs Ronaldo is arguably the greatest player rivalry in football history and it’s simply gave an boost to EL Clasico

El Clasico Records

Head to Head

Real Madrid : 105 wins
FC Barcelona : 100 wins
Draw : 52 times

Player Records

Most goals : Lionel Messi – 26
most matches : Sergio Busquets – 48
most clean sheets : Victor Valdes – 7
most assists : Lionel Messi – 14
most yellow card : Sergio Ramos – 22
most red cards : Sergio Ramos – 5
most penalties : Lionel Messi – 6
most freekicks : Lionel Messi & Ronald Koeman – 2
most wins : Sergio Busquets – 23
Most loses : Sergio Ramos – 20

most information collected : Wikipedia