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

Graham Ruthven questions whether El Clásico remains soccer's biggest fixture ahead of Barcelona hosting Real Madrid at Camp Nou. While a victory would move Barcelona nine points clear atop La Liga, Ruthven argues that the match has lost global prominence following the end of the Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo era. He suggests that the commercial dominance of the Premier League and both clubs' tactical struggles have reduced the fixture's universal appeal.

Ruthven highlights the growing rivalry between Barcelona's Lamine Yamal and Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappé as key to reviving the rivalry. With Vinícius Júnior suspended and Raphinha recovering from injury, the focus turns to Yamal and Mbappé. The writer concludes that while both are world-class talents, their rivalry requires more shared history to match the cultural impact previously achieved by Messi and Ronaldo.