Before Sunday's El Clasico: Looking Back at the Five Greatest Barcelona–Real Madrid Clashes

One of football's biggest fixtures is in the spotlight again this weekend, as Barcelona host Real Madrid in Sunday's blockbuster La Liga showdown. Famously dubbed El Clasico — Spanish for 'The Classic' — the rivalry dates back to 1902, and the two clubs go into the latest meeting with 106 wins each, setting the perfect stage for one of them to take the edge.

Victory in this fixture has always brought bragging rights that extend far beyond football, and the matches have historically drawn millions of viewers worldwide, with many of the world's best players featuring over the years.

From the duels between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to Neymar Jr, Luis Suarez, David Beckham and Zinedine Zidane, fans have been spoiled for choice. In recent years the limelight has shifted to Lamine Yamal and Raphinha of Barcelona and Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Jr in the Real camp.

Ahead of the latest meeting, here is a look back at five of the greatest clashes — starting with a match that ranks among Barcelona fans' fondest victories, won by a stoppage-time Messi strike at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Real took the lead in that match when Casemiro scored in the first half, but Messi equalised within five minutes. Ivan Rakitic then scored after the break as Barca came from behind to lead, and things went from bad to worse for the hosts after captain Sergio Ramos was sent off for a two-footed lunge on Messi. James Rodriguez netted in the 85th minute to give Real fans a sigh of relief, but Messi silenced the crowd by scoring the winner with the last kick of the game — his 500th goal for Barca. The end-to-end thriller went down as one of the best Clasicos in history. The win momentarily put Barca on top of the table, but Real were crowned champions of Spain that season, finishing three points above their Catalan rivals.

The next fixture, at Camp Nou, offered fans the first glimpse of Messi's wizardry. A 19-year-old Messi, still far from a finished product, scored his first career hat-trick against Real that day, salvaging a draw for hosts who ended the game with 10 men.

Ruud van Nistelrooy scored twice for Real in the first half and Ramos added another in the second, but Messi ensured Barca earned a draw, scoring the equaliser in the first minute of stoppage time. The Argentinian's coming-of-age performance foreshadowed the dominance that would follow. Interestingly, Real and Barca ended that season on equal points, 76 each, but Real won the title thanks to a superior head-to-head record.

The next game on the list saw Real win in style at home with their Galacticos, the mega-expensive world-class talent bought by President Florentino Perez. French great Zinedine Zidane scored early and Brazil's Ronaldo Nazario doubled the advantage, before Raul netted another. Michael Owen then sealed the deal with his 65th-minute goal.

Several other Real superstars — Beckham, Roberto Carlos, Luis Figo and Iker Casillas — also graced the field that day. Samuel Eto'o and Ronaldinho were on the scoresheet for Barca, but it was not enough as Real stormed to victory. However, it was Barcelona who went on to win the league title that season, finishing three points clear at the top.

The dynamic duo of Thierry Henry and Messi ran riot in the next match, breaking Real hearts at the Bernabeu. When Gonzalo Higuain put Real ahead in the 14th minute, home fans were optimistic — but Henry equalised within four minutes, and what followed was a goal-fest.

Henry completed his brace, Messi followed suit with two of his own, and Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique also joined the party with a goal apiece. Ramos's second-half goal carried very little meaning as Real were crushed by their rivals on their own turf. Barca went on to comfortably win the league that season, finishing nine points ahead of Real.

The list wraps up with a Ronaldo special that clinched a trophy — the 2011 Copa del Rey final. With the game still goalless after 90 minutes, the match went to extra time and many thought a penalty shootout would decide the final's fate.

Then came Ronaldo's moment of magic. The Portugal international headed home superbly from an Angel Di Maria pass, securing Real's first trophy under then-manager Jose Mourinho. Di Maria was soon sent off after picking up his second yellow card, but it did little harm, as Ronaldo's header brought home Real's first domestic cup since 1993.

Together, the five matches show why El Clasico is never just another league game: every generation of the rivalry produces new heroes and moments that live long in the memory. On Sunday, with the all-time tally level at 106 wins apiece, the winner will move ahead in the storied rivalry as well as taking the three points — extra stakes for the generation of Yamal and Mbappe.