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#3 Patrick Vieira - Roy Keane
When you hear the words 'heated rivalry', the picture you'd get is of two stalwarts getting in each other's faces, fighting tooth and nail to get their team over the line. You'd think of two generals of war whose flaring tempers could so easily initiate a bloodbath. That's almost exactly what the Patrick Vieira - Roy Keane rivalry was like.
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Both were strong personalities and captained two of the greatest forces in English football at the time - Arsenal and Manchester United. The infamous incident in the Highbury tunnel where Roy Keane and Vieira were shouting in each other's faces before being separated by the referees is quite unforgettable.
Their presence elevated the Arsenal-Manchester United rivalry as well. Both Keane and Vieira held themselves to high standards. Keane had won the continental treble with Manchester United and was a serial winner under Sir Alex Ferguson. Vieira captained the Arsenal Invincibles.
It is a rivalry that will always be celebrated for the sheer amount of emotion and aggression involved.
Read more on the Patrick Vieira - Roy Keane rivalry - The red mists of Keane and Vieira: A tale of two captains.
#2 Pele - Diego Maradona
Up until the days of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, most fans were in agreement that only two players were in the GOAT debate. Those players were Pele and Diego Maradona. Despite playing in entirely different eras and having never faced each other, they share one of the biggest rivalries in football.
Pele came from Brazil and Maradona hailed from Argentina. Both countries are rich in football heritage and are rivals on the pitch. Both Pele and Maradona led their national sides to World Cup triumphs. While Pele won three, Maradona had just the one win.
However, it is important to note that the Brazilian played with some of the best in the business. Maradona did it with a rather ordinary Argentinian side. During Maradona's rise, he started getting compared to Pele. In 2000, Maradona beat Pele to the FIFA's 'Player of the Century' award.
Pele was given the 'FIFA Football Family' Award. Maradona scoffed at this and said:
"In 2000 I won the Player of the Century award thanks to the people. Pele was second. He also came second behind [Ayrton] Senna as Brazil's greatest sportsman. The award that FIFA gave Pele isn't worth s---."
Both men have taken several shots at each other. Pele has openly criticized Maradona for being too reliant on his left-foot. He has also said that Maradona can only be compared to him once he scores 1000 goals in football.
After Pele once described himself as the 'Beethoven of football', Maradona hit back saying,
"Pele has said he's the Beethoven of football. I've never heard any Beethoven music in a match so, as I've told you before, anytime he takes the wrong pill he comes up with a crazy statement."
#1 Lionel Messi - Cristiano Ronaldo
Everything that has to be said about the greatest football rivalry of all time has been said. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are two of the greatest footballers of all time and their rivalry is one of the biggest blessings the game has received in recent times.
At the peak of their powers, Messi and Ronaldo were playing for arch-rivals Barcelona and Real Madrid respectively. They exercised a duopoly of sorts over the Ballon d'Or, the most prestigious individual award in football.
Messi has won the award a record six times while Ronaldo has five to his name. While Messi's Barcelona largely dominated La Liga during the course of their rivalry, Ronaldo's Real Madrid dominated the Champions League.
Messi and Ronaldo are two of the greatest goalscorers of all time. Theirs is a complete rivalry where both players pushed each other to become better and still maintained a great amount of mutual admiration. Both are icons of the game and have made sure that the GOAT debate will rage on for ages.
