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A sporting battle between two greats

In any sport, the most exciting moments generally occur when it’s simply a case of one giant in competition with another. Few can forget the truly great sporting rivalries over the years, such as that between Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost. Senna was the ultimate pin-up boy, exuding glamour and a gung-ho attitude, while Prost was technically perfect, and meticulous in his preparation.

In the 1970s, Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier were boxing’s greatest superstars. Their three fights gripped fans all over the world, and are still regarded as classics to this day. Frazier won the first at New York’s Madison Square Garden, while Ali won the other two. The second was also held at the same venue, while the third, the so-called ‘Thrilla in Manila’, took place in the Philippines.

Football’s oldest rivalry

Football is the world’s most popular sport, and at international level there are many notable rivalries. Germany against Holland is always considered to be hugely important, while Brazil v Argentina is one of the most glamorous matches. The oldest rivalry, however, is between England and Scotland, dating back to the world’s first official international match in 1872.

Across the net

In recent years, the rivalry between two giants of tennis has resulted in several superb matches, and kept fans on the edges of their seats. Rafael Nadal of Spain and Switzerland’s Roger Federer have more than 20 Grand Slam titles between them, including several final victories over each other. The 2008 final at Wimbledon saw the Spaniard win in a match that lasted almost five hours.