From political rivalry to global brand: how two Spanish clubs created the most captivating spectacle in world sport

More than just football

Since their first match in 1902, the teams have met more than 260 times, turning their rivalry into a phenomenon that goes far beyond mere sporting rivalry. Today, El Clásico is considered the second most important football event of the season at club level after the Champions League final, and the television audience for the matches exceeds even that of the Europa League final.

But what made these encounters so special? The answer lies not only on the football pitch, but also in the depths of Spanish history, where politics, culture, and national identity are intertwined.

The roots of the rivalry: when it all began

The first match in the history of the rivalry took place on May 13, 1902. At the time, “Real Madrid” didn't exist yet—it was simply “Madrid” Football Club, founded by the Padrós brothers and Julián Palacios. The team achieved royal status on June 29, 1920, when the King of Spain bestowed upon the club the title "Royal," which in Spanish is pronounced "Real."

“Barcelona” was founded three years earlier, on November 29, 1899, by Swiss Joan Gamper. Real Madrid lost that first match 3-1, thus beginning the greatest rivalry between the two clubs.

Madrid is the capital of Spain, home to the government and the royal family, and is considered a stronghold of conservative forces. Catalonia is an autonomous region in the northeast of the country characterized by separatist sentiments. From the very beginning of football in Spain, these two clubs have represented not just cities, but two different worlds.

The Franco Era: football as a political battleground

The darkest chapters in the history of the conflict were written during the reign of Generalissimo Francisco Franco. In April 1939, the Civil War ended with Franco's victory, and the first championship began in December.

One of the most scandalous episodes occurred in the 1943 Generalissimo Cup semifinal. The Catalans won the first leg in “Barcelona” 3-0. But in the second leg in Madrid, something incredible happened. During the match, objects were thrown at the Barcelona players, they were booed, and attempts were made to destabilize them. Reports claimed that Franco's supporters intimidated the players before the match, suggesting that for their own safety, they should lose. The result was a humiliating 11-1 defeat.

However, the assumption that Franco was systematically destroying Catalan football and favoring “Real Madrid” looked dubious before 1953: during Franco's 17 years in power, the Catalans became national champions five times, while the Madrid team never did.

The transfer of the century: the Di Stefano affair

1953 marked a turning point not only for both clubs, but for the entire history of their rivalry. At the center of the story was Argentine forward Alfredo Di Stefano, a player who would change Real Madrid's fortunes forever.

The story began when “Barcelona's” leading player, Ladislav Kubala, fell seriously ill. “Barça” president Enrique Martí tasked technical director Josep Samitier with finding a new gem of world football. The choice fell on Di Stéfano, who had excelled at Colombian club “Millonarios”.

The situation was complicated by the fact that the rights to the player were divided between three clubs: “Millonarios” held his contract until October 1954, after which the rights passed to the Argentine “River Plate”, while the player himself had already essentially reached an agreement with “Barcelona”.

On August 7, 1953, “Barça's” president returned from Colombia without resolving the matter: if he had paid the 27 000 USD demanded by “Millonarios”, Di Stéfano would have been a Catalan player. “Real Madrid” president Santiago Bernabéu immediately capitalized on this mistake and paid the requested sum.

In September 1953, the Spanish Football Federation issued a bizarre verdict: Di Stéfano was to play for “Real Madrid” in the 1953-54 and 1955-56 seasons, and for “Barcelona” in 1954-55 and 1956-57. But the Catalans were unwilling to share their talent with their sworn enemy. On October 25, 1953, an hour before the start of the El Clásico match in Madrid, the Catalans signed a release renouncing Di Stéfano and accepting 4,4 million pesetas from the Madrid club. Three hours later, all of Madrid celebrated “Real Madrid's” resounding 5-0 victory over “Barcelona”, two of which were scored by Alfredo Di Stéfano.

This transfer changed the balance of power in Spanish football. With Di Stefano's arrival, “Real Madrid” won the national championship, and Alfredo scored 29 goals, becoming the competition's top scorer. During the Argentine's eleven years at the club, the Madrid team won eight Spanish championships and the first five European Cups.

European battles

In the 1960s, the rivalry between the clubs reached European levels. In 1960, “Real Madrid” beat “Barcelona” 3-1 twice in the Round of 16; the capital club later won the tournament, their fifth consecutive victory. And in 1961, “Barcelona” celebrated success, becoming the first club in history to knock “Real Madrid” out of contention for a European trophy.

Where did the name "El Clásico" come from?

Surprisingly, the name we know worldwide today is a relatively recent development. The term means "classic" in the sense of "classic match," or "meeting of two classic teams." In Spain, a classic team is a club that has never relegated from the top division. There are three such teams in Spain: “Real Madrid” and “Barça”, and “Athletic” Bilbao.

It's believed that the name "El Clasico" began appearing in the media in the early 2000s, when the club rivalry reached a new level and became a true classic of Spanish football—a meeting between the country's two strongest teams, each boasting the best players. Today, "El Clasico" is no longer just a match, but an entire brand, patented by La Liga.

The Messi and Ronaldo Era: The Golden Age of the Rivalry

El Clásico's true heyday was between 2009 and 2018, the era of two of the greatest modern footballers. Representing two rival Spanish clubs, Ronaldo and Messi faced each other at least twice each season in one of the biggest club rivalries, one of the most watched annual sporting events in the world.

On March 10, 2007, 19-year-old Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick against “Real Madrid”, and the match ended in a 3-3 draw. Two years later, “Real Madrid” acquired Cristiano Ronaldo, and since then, El Clásico has been defined as a clash between two of the best footballers of the modern era.

One of the most memorable matches of that era took place on May 2, 2009. “Barcelona”, led by Pep Guardiola, demolished “Real Madrid” 6-2 at the “Santiago Bernabéu”. Lionel Messi, Thierry Henry, and Xavi tore apart the Madrid defense, demonstrating their signature tiki-taka style.

The Catalans produced another masterpiece in November 2010, when they crushed José Mourinho's “Real Madrid” 5-0 at the “Camp Nou”. During their rivalry, Messi scored 26 goals against “Real Madrid”, while Ronaldo netted 18 against “Barcelona”.

The last time “El Clasico” was played without players was December 23, 2007, when the match ended 1-0 in Madrid's favor. Since then, the forwards have faced each other in 30 of the 32 matches.

Controversial transfers

The history of El Clásico is rich not only with great matches but also with high-profile player transfers between camps. Leading “Barcelona” players have only made the move to their arch-rivals a handful of times: Michael Laudrup in 1994, and Luís Figo followed suit in 2000, becoming the most expensive transfer in football history at the time.

Figo's transfer was a true betrayal in the eyes of “Barcelona” fans. Upon the Portuguese's first return to the “Camp Nou”, he was met with not only insults but also various objects, including the famous pig's head.

Modern El Clásico: from politics to business

Clubs have actively entered the Asian market, and in pursuit of profit, they are beginning to adopt new methods. Matches have begun to start earlier. In 2017, a “Real Madrid” match began at 13:00 Madrid time, 20:00 Beijing time, and 21:00 Tokyo time.

Nowadays, this rivalry is less about politics and more about money and global scale. Matches between “Real Madrid” and “Barcelona” attract television audiences of hundreds of millions of viewers worldwide, turning into global sporting events.

Interesting facts

One of the first legendary matches was the 1943 Copa del Rey clash, when “Real Madrid” crushed “Barcelona” 11-1. This game remains the highest-scoring in the history of the competition.

In October 2024, in his first El Clásico, Kylian Mbappé set a personal record for the most offsides, being caught offside eight times. This is the most in the history of the Spanish top division.

Barcelona's motto is "Mes Que Un Club"—"More Than a Club"—emphasizing its role as a symbol of Catalan identity.

Over the history of the rivalry, the teams have played over 260 matches in all competitions, with “Real Madrid” winning more, but the margin is minimal.

Conclusion

El Clásico is a unique phenomenon in world sport, where history, politics, culture, and exceptional football intertwine. From its inaugural meeting in 1902 to today's global spectacle, this rivalry continues to evolve while remaining true to its roots.

Every match between “Real Madrid” and “Barcelona” isn't just a game; it's a continuation of a century-old story, a new chapter in the greatest football rivalry of all time. And as long as these two clubs exist, El Clásico will continue to capture the imagination of millions of fans around the world, reminding us that football truly can be more than just a game.