Photo by Wikimedia Commons 2.0
Passion on the terraces is a staple of all football and teams are often referred to as only being as good as their fans and the support they receive.
Few areas of the world are as enthusiastic or as vocal with their support for their football teams as South America and with the ‘beautiful game’ an integral part of the social fabric, many heated rivalries have been formed over the years.
Ranging from high-octane drama on the pitch, through to an electric atmosphere in the stands, South American football is often unmissable and scarcely believable in equal measure.
The popularity the game in South America has a far reaching audience, with many punters and online football betting sites fully embracing the myriad of betting options available in the South American football market.
With each passing season, the intensity of each rivalry continues to grow and the intense battles both on and off the pitch are showing no sign of slowing across South America.
Here is a look at some of the biggest footballing rivalries across the continent:
International
Brazil vs Argentina
Arguably the two countries most synonymous with the flair and thunder of South American football are Brazil and Argentina and when they meet, tempers always reach fever pitch.
With 8 World Cups bagged between them, they are two global footballing behemoths and there is plenty of extra needle when they clash in any capacity.
Brazil lead the way with 5 World Cups won but the last of them came back in 2002 and while they possess plenty of incredible talents, other nations have closed the gap on them in recent times.
Reigning world champions Argentina had too much for the rest of the world back in 2022, with Lionel Messi supercharging his side to victory and their combination of skill and determination has propelled them to the top of the world rankings.
Their rivalry dates back to 1914 and over the subsequent century, there have been many iconic moments between the two nations.
They have met in countless Copa America finals and World Cup fixtures and whenever they clash – the footballing world tends to come to a standstill.
Argentina vs Uruguay
Derbies involving two sides that share a land border often whet the appetite for fans more than any other game and Argentina and Uruguay have long shared disdain for each other on the football pitch.
Known as the Clásico del Río de la Plata, these two sides locked horns back in 1902 and they have been at each other’s throats ever since.
It was Uruguay who dominated most of the opening meetings between the sides, culminating in winning both the 1930 and 1934 World Cups in a golden era for them in footballing history.
From then on, Argentina have held a dominance over their rivals, and they lead the head to head between the two sides by 98 wins to 63.
Club
While international rivalries grip the hearts and minds of a nation, the brass tacks of club footballing clashes dominate the thoughts of fans throughout the season.
Here is a look at some of the most intense rivalries in South American club football:
Boca Juniors vs River Plate – Argentina
Few cities on the planet are as football obsessed as Buenos Aries and when the two biggest sides in Argentina’s capital clash, the city and the surrounding nation pause on tenterhooks.
Labelled as the Superclasico, Boca Juniors vs River Plate is a rivalry entrenched in global footballing awareness, with the atmosphere famed the world over.
On the terraces, scenes of fans packed in, chanting vociferously for their favoured side are one thing but for those not lucky enough to get a ticket, the action is equally unmissable from any available TV screen across Argentina.
While it may not have the financial resources to compete with huge European fixtures such as Liverpool vs Manchester United or Barcelona vs Real Madrid, Boca Juniors vs River Plate stands up very well in the grand pantheon of footballing rivalries.
Corinthians vs Palmeiras – Brazil
Sao Paulo is another international footballing hotbed, with 4 huge sides plying their trade in the Brazilian metropolis.
However, when Corinthians and Palmeiras clash, the whole of Brazil locks in – to watch one of the most feared and vitriolic rivalries in world footballing history.
The Paulista derby dates back to 1917 and both sides have seen their fair share of ups, downs and controversies in the corresponding 100+ years.
From pig’s heads being thrown on to the pitch, to matches having to be played behind closed doors due to crowd trouble, this is truly the fixture that has seen it all.
With Corinthians bagging 133 wins, to Palmeiras’s 136, there remains very little to split these two clubs, and they continue to battle it out season in, season out in Brazil’s Serie A.
Independiente vs Racing Club – Argentina
While Boca Juniors vs River Plate always captures the imagination in Argentina, two more sides that don’t care too much for each other are Independiente and Racing Club.
Situated in Avellaneda, just a few miles away from the heart of Buenos Aries, both Independiente and Racing Club have played their part in what has been long regarded as one of the most violent footballing rivalries worldwide.
The Avellaneda derby was first held back in 1907 and is still as fiercely battled out today as it ever has been, with the 2006 incarnation of the derby being abandoned due to crowd trouble.
Independiente lead the way in the fixture, with 89 wins to Racing Club’s 71, with a further 77 draws between these two infamous rivals and it is another conflict that promises to run and run for generations to come.
