8 Anime Rivals You'll Love More Than Vegeta

Although many characters had competed against Goku throughout Dragon Ball's story for the title of the most powerful Z Fighter in the universe, Vegeta was always his main rival. Vegeta constantly tried to surpass Goku in every Dragon Ball saga, but it seemed that Kakarot always acquired a new power or form that left the rest of the characters behind.

Despite being teammates and fellow Z Warriors fighting to protect Universe 7, they became one of the most popular rivalries in anime. Unfortunately, this rivalry sometimes seems superficial, with Vegeta simply wanting to step out of Goku's shadow.

However, there are many rivalries in anime with more nuance and depth than that of Vegeta and Goku, featuring characters who will captivate fans even more than the Prince of Saiyans.

Benji Price (Genzo Wakabayashi) - Captain Tsubasa

Rivalries aren't exclusive to battle shōnen anime like Dragon Ball, as sports anime also feature some of the best match-ups. While Captain Tsubasa showcases many heated competitions, the greatest rivalry was between Benji Price and Oliver Atom. Benji becomes an impenetrable goalkeeper, but his most outstanding quality is how he shattered the misconception that strikers were the only cool position in soccer.

Japan's guardian deity, Benji, became a great leader on the field, inspiring Oliver to keep improving, as well as a generation of anime fans to try out defensive positions. Measuring their shots against Benji also became a kind of benchmark to show how much the characters had improved, an admirable feat that demonstrates why he's such a strong rival.

Killua Zoldyck - Hunter x Hunter

In Hunter x Hunter, although it began as a friendly rivalry with a boy his own age, Gon Freecss becomes Killua Zoldyck's irreplaceable best friend. Instead of simply clashing against each other, Killua and Gon help each other grow, training together and encouraging one another to reach their full potential and see who can surpass the other first.

Gon even becomes Killua's emotional support and the core of his development as he struggles with his self-worth. Therefore, unlike Vegeta and other shōnen protagonists, Killua isn't the type of rival who wants to become strong to determine who is the best or defeat Gon, but rather to avoid falling behind.

Kaede Rukawa - Slam Dunk

It's become almost a norm that the protagonist of a sports manga is always accompanied by a prodigious rival, and Kaede Rukawa fit the bill for Sakuragi Hanamichi in Slam Dunk. Backed by his painstaking training, Rukawa possesses immense talent, becoming a star player recognized by everyone on the court.

Although Rukawa initially didn't acknowledge Sakuragi, the two came to respect each other and became true teammates. This is because, despite their contrasting personalities, Hanamichi and Rukawa have more similarities than differences. Furthermore, he is so beloved by fans that Rukawa's down-to-earth, cool, and somewhat genius-like character has inspired later sports anime such as Haikyu!

Dio Brando - Jojo's Bizarre Adventure

Only one anime character managed to become the eternal rival of an entire family, and that is Dio Brando. From his introduction, when he had the goal of surpassing Jonathan in everything (behavior, manners, etiquette, studies, and sports) to the point of giving up his humanity, Dio has continued the feud against the Joestar family for generations.

Dio became the ultimate villain, but he's also the most charismatic rival of all time, making it difficult for fans to hate him. Although the Joestars constantly thwart his ambitions, he begins to respect them as they fight. Likewise, his clashes with Jonathan and Jotaro are not only exceptional, but Dio is also a rival who has profoundly influenced Jojo's world.

Shinsuke Takasugi - Gintama

Part of Vegeta's charm as a rival stems from his character development after starting as a villain. However, a more complex and nuanced antagonist than Vegeta is Shinsuke Takasugi, Gintoki Sakata's destined rival in Gintama. Despite being consumed by resentment and hatred and aiming to destroy the country, Takasugi and Gintoki share a deep and indescribable bond.

Takasugi's actions are driven by his own sense of justice, and as the story progresses, it's revealed that his past haunts him. His ideals and resolve make him the polar opposite of Gintoki, which is why they clash in battle. Furthermore, Takasugi has one of the best character developments in anime, to the point of bringing many fans to tears.

L Lawliet - Death Note

L was a genius detective who engaged in a thrilling battle of wits with Light Yagami in Death Note, becoming the perfect example of an anime rival who manages to outshine the protagonist. With memorable moments like his lie that he only had a 5% suspicion of Light and the psychological warfare between them, L quickly won the hearts of fans.

That's why most fans were rooting for L rather than Kira to win. L was so unforgettable that many fans believe that Death Note went downhill after he was out of the story. Even considering the final outcome of Death Note, it's impossible to say with certainty that Kira was the absolute winner against L, a duality that has made their rivalry legendary.

Seto Kaiba - Yu-Gi-Oh!

Seto Kaiba began as an antagonist in Yu-Gi-Oh!, but there's no one better suited to be Yugi Muto's rival. An overwhelmingly egocentric character who completely looks down on others (especially Joey Wheeler) and boasts many witty one-liners that fans adore, Kaiba shares many traits with Vegeta. However, Kaiba surpasses the Prince of Saiyans in that, for him, victory becomes almost a manic obsession.

Kaiba possesses the skills, financial resources, intelligence, and power to accomplish anything he desires, facing his first defeat against Yugi. Therefore, although they forge a sort of friendship throughout Yu-Gi-Oh!'s story, Kaiba never gives up trying to settle the score with Yugi. Dimensions and realms become irrelevant in the face of Kaiba's madness, as he pursues Atem even into the afterlife for another duel.

Sasuke Uchiha - Naruto

Sasuke Uchiha is a genius and cold-minded character who is a counterpoint to Naruto, the loser who is the most unexpected and comical ninja. However, despite their stark differences, Sasuke and Naruto share commonalities that allow them to understand each other's pain and loneliness, becoming both friend and rival.

Sasuke sometimes opposes and sometimes allies with Naruto, but the anime clearly demonstrates their connection and the major role their rivalry plays in the story's development. This means that the rivalry between Sasuke and Naruto transcends even that of Vegeta and Goku, serving as the connecting thread that brings Naruto's story to a close.