Is El Clásico still the world’s biggest match? Three questions before Barcelona v Real Madrid

The fixture’s relevance waned as the Messi-Ronaldo rivalry faded. Can Lamine Yamal and Mbappé lift it into a new era?

For the best part of a decade, El Clásico was more than just soccer’s biggest fixture. It was the defining narrative. At the peak of the Lionel Messi v Cristiano Ronaldo era, there were clásicos everywhere. Yes, when the two historic rivals clashed on the pitch, but also in the voting for the Ballon d’Or every year and in so much of the discourse around the sport.

As the Messi-Ronaldo rivalry faded, though, so too did the clásico’s relevance. This isn’t to say matches between Barcelona and Real Madrid no longer matter. They always have and always will. In 2026, however, it’s difficult to measure a clásico’s standing. Is it still the sport’s biggest fixture?

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