El Clásico facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
El Clásico

Barcelona and Real Madrid playing in the 2011 Supercopa de España
Native name	El Clásico (Spanish) El Clàssic (Catalan)
Locale	Spain
Teams	Barcelona Real Madrid
First meeting	13 May 1902 Copa de la Coronación FC Barcelona 3–1 Madrid FC
Latest meeting	11 May 2025 La Liga Barcelona 4–3 Real Madrid
Next meeting	26 October 2025 La Liga Real Madrid v Barcelona
Stadiums	Camp Nou (Barcelona) Santiago Bernabéu (Real Madrid)
Statistics
Meetings total	261 (official matches)
Most wins	Real Madrid (105)
Most player appearances	Sergio Busquets (48)
Top scorer	Lionel Messi (26)
Largest victory	Real Madrid 11–1 Barcelona Copa del Rey (19 June 1943)
Longest win streak	7 matches Real Madrid (1962–1965)

El Clásico (Spanish for "The Classic") is the name for any football match between two of Spain's biggest rivals: Barcelona and Real Madrid. At first, the name was only for games in the Spanish championship, La Liga. Now, it's used for any game between them, like in the UEFA Champions League or Copa del Rey.

This rivalry is one of the most famous and watched in all of sports. Hundreds of millions of people around the world tune in to watch. The games are known for being very intense and exciting. They often feature amazing goals and passionate celebrations from both teams.

The rivalry is also tied to politics. Madrid is the capital of Spain, and Real Madrid is often linked with the idea of a united Spain. Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia, a region with its own language and culture. Because of this, FC Barcelona is often seen as a symbol of Catalan identity.

Both clubs are among the richest and most successful in the world. As of the match on May 11, 2025, Real Madrid has won 105 official matches, Barcelona has won 104, and they have tied 52 times. Along with Athletic Bilbao, they are the only clubs in La Liga that have never been moved to a lower division.

The Famous Rivalry

How the Rivalry Began

The Santiago Bernabéu, home of Real Madrid, ready for El Clásico.

Camp Nou, home of FC Barcelona. Fans create a mosaic of the Catalan flag.

The rivalry between Real Madrid and Barcelona is about more than just sports. Phil Ball, who wrote a book about Spanish football, said, "they hate each other with an intensity that can truly shock the outsider."

Even back in the 1930s, Barcelona was a symbol of Catalan culture. This was different from Madrid, which represented the central government of Spain. During the rule of Francisco Franco from 1939 to 1975, regional cultures and languages were discouraged. Many people in Barcelona opposed Franco's government. During this time, Barcelona adopted its motto Més que un club (More than a club). This was because of its connection to Catalan culture and progressive ideas.

Historians debate how much Franco's rule affected the teams. While Franco didn't seem to have a favorite team at first, he later saw Real Madrid as a way to improve Spain's image internationally. Real Madrid became very successful in the 1950s, winning the first five European Cups. This made them famous across Europe.

The rivalry grew more intense with the creation of "ultras" groups, which are very passionate fan groups. In the 1980s, Real Madrid's Ultras Sur and Barcelona's Boixos Nois were formed. Some of these groups became known for causing trouble at matches.

Today, many people still see Barcelona as a "rebellious" club compared to Real Madrid. Polls show that Real Madrid is the most supported team in Spain, with Barcelona in second place. In Catalonia, however, almost everyone supports Barcelona.

The Di Stéfano Transfer

Alfredo Di Stéfano's move to Real Madrid in 1953 made the rivalry even more intense.

In the 1950s, the rivalry heated up over a player named Alfredo Di Stéfano. He was a talented Argentine player who impressed both clubs. Both Barcelona and Real Madrid tried to sign him.

After a long dispute, it was decided that Di Stéfano would play for both clubs, switching between them each season. However, this decision was very unpopular with Barcelona's members, and their president resigned. In the end, Barcelona sold their share of the player to Real Madrid.

Di Stéfano became a legend at Real Madrid. He scored two goals in his first game against Barcelona. With him, Real Madrid won five European Cups in a row. This success made the rivalry between the two clubs even bigger.

The Luís Figo Transfer

Luís Figo's transfer from Barcelona to Real Madrid in 2000 angered many Barcelona fans.

In 2000, one of the most controversial transfers in football history happened. Luís Figo, Barcelona's vice-captain and a fan favorite, moved to Real Madrid.

Florentino Pérez, who was running for president of Real Madrid, made a deal with Figo. If Pérez won the election, Figo would join Madrid. Figo publicly denied the deal, telling fans and teammates he was staying at Barcelona. But when Pérez won, Figo was introduced as a Real Madrid player.

When Figo returned to Barcelona's stadium, Camp Nou, wearing a Madrid jersey, the fans were furious. They threw things at him, including oranges, bottles, and even a pig's head. This event showed just how deep the rivalry had become.

Recent Years

Barcelona players give Real Madrid a pasillo (guard of honor) in 2008.

In recent decades, a tradition called the pasillo (guard of honor) has added to the rivalry. This is when one team lines up to applaud the other team as they enter the field, because they have already won the La Liga title. This has happened three times between the two clubs.

The teams have also had some incredible matches in the UEFA Champions League. In 2011, they played each other four times in just 18 days. These games were very intense, with many arguments and red cards.

Despite the fierce rivalry, there have been moments of respect. In 1983, Barcelona's Diego Maradona was applauded by Madrid fans at their home stadium for an amazing goal. In 2005, Ronaldinho also received a standing ovation from Madrid fans for his incredible performance. In 2015, Andrés Iniesta was also applauded by the Madrid crowd, partly because he scored the winning goal for Spain in the 2010 World Cup.

Famous Player Matchups

Cristiano Ronaldo vs. Lionel Messi (2009–2018)

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi were the faces of the rivalry for nine years.

From 2009 to 2018, the rivalry was defined by two of the greatest players of all time: Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid and Lionel Messi at Barcelona. Both players are their clubs' all-time top scorers.

During these nine years, they broke many records. They were almost always the top scorers in La Liga and the Champions League. Messi won the Ballon d'Or (award for the world's best player) five times in this period, while Ronaldo won it four times.

Together, they scored 922 goals while playing in Spain. In El Clásico matches, Messi scored a record 26 goals, and Ronaldo scored 18. Their teams were dominant, winning six Champions League titles in nine seasons.

When Ronaldo left for Juventus in 2018, it marked the end of an era for El Clásico. The first match after he left was also missed by Messi due to an injury. It was the first time since 2007 that neither player was in the game.

Records and Statistics

Head-to-Head Results

Here is a summary of all official matches played between the two clubs.

Top Goalscorers

Lionel Messi is the all-time top scorer in El Clásico history with 26 goals.

These are the players who have scored the most goals in official El Clásico matches.

Rank	Player	Club	Total Goals
1	Lionel Messi	Barcelona	26
2	Alfredo Di Stéfano	Real Madrid	18
	Cristiano Ronaldo	Real Madrid
4	Karim Benzema	Real Madrid	16
5	Raúl	Real Madrid	15
6	César	Barcelona	14
	Paco Gento	Real Madrid
	Ferenc Puskás	Real Madrid
9	Santillana	Real Madrid	12
10	Luis Suárez	Barcelona	11

Most Appearances

Sergio Busquets has played in the most El Clásico matches, with 48.

These players have played in the most El Clásico games.

Players Who Played for Both Clubs

Javier Saviola was the last player to move directly from one rival to the other, in 2007.

It is very rare for a player to switch between the two clubs because of the intense rivalry. Over the years, 38 players have played for both teams. Some moved directly, while others played for another club in between.

Some of the most famous players to make the switch include:

• Ricardo Zamora: A legendary goalkeeper who moved from Barcelona to Real Madrid in 1930 (after playing for Espanyol).
• Bernd Schuster: A German midfielder who went from Barcelona to Real Madrid in 1988.
• Michael Laudrup: A Danish playmaker who moved from Barcelona to Real Madrid in 1994.
• Luis Enrique: A Spanish midfielder who moved from Real Madrid to Barcelona in 1996 and later became their manager.
• Luís Figo: A Portuguese winger whose direct move from Barcelona to Real Madrid in 2000 is one of the most famous transfers ever.
• Ronaldo: The Brazilian striker played for Barcelona for one season before later joining Real Madrid in 2002.

The most recent player to play for both clubs is Marcos Alonso, who joined Barcelona in 2022 after having started his career in Real Madrid's youth academy.

Images for kids

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  A newspaper cover showing Real Madrid's 11–1 win over Barcelona in 1943.

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  In 2005, Ronaldinho was applauded by Real Madrid fans at their stadium for his amazing performance.

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  László Kubala was a star for Barcelona in the 1950s.

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  Alfredo Di Stéfano was a key player for Real Madrid in the 1950s.

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  Víctor Valdés has the most clean sheets (games without letting in a goal) in El Clásico history.

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  Javier Saviola was the most recent player to transfer directly between the two rivals, in 2007.

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  After signing for Barcelona in 2022, Marcos Alonso became the most recent player to play for both clubs.

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  Radomir Antić is one of only two managers to have coached both Real Madrid and Barcelona.

See also

In Spanish: El Clásico para niños

• El Clásico (basketball)
• Women's Clásico
• Madrid derby
• Derbi Barceloní
• Major football rivalries