Football season can’t get here any sooner. Countries around the world are already gearing up for next year’s FIFA World Cup. But before all the attention the World Cup will garner, La Liga will have all eyes on them first.

There has been a number of major off-season changes that will enhance the intense rivalry between La Liga rivals, FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. Real Madrid hopes to take back the La Liga championship from FC Barcelona. Madrid already holds the record for most La Liga wins with 31 while Barcelona has a respectable 20.

Real Madrid

Real Madrid spent a lot of Euros acquiring two big football names. Real Madrid bought midfielder Kaka from AC Milan and gave him a six year deal. Kaka had a strong showing at the recent Confederations Cup where he won MVP. He was also a former FIFA World Player of the Year (2007). Real Madrid made Cristiano Ronaldo the most expensive footballer on the planet. Ronaldo is the reigning FIFA World Player of the Year. Can you imagine that? Two world winners on the same team. It’s like having Kobe Bryant and LeBron James on the same NBA team.

Real Madrid’s line-up is loaded. They already have the greatest Real Madrid player of all-time in Raul. Raul has the ability to get great position on the field but his inconsistency has hindered his rise to the football elite. Real Madrid has yet to determine their starting 11 but it seems that whoever they send out on the field, no team can possibly match-up to their star studded line-up.

FC Barcelona

FC Barcelona are the defending La Liga champs. They also feature a star-studded line-up. Barcelona has arguably the world’s second best footballer in Lionel Messi, French striker Thierry Henry, veteran striker Eto’o and top defenders in Puyol and Pique. FC Barcelona also has Xavi. He was a finalist for FIFA World Player of the Year last year.

Spanish defenders Puyol and Pique played well in the recent Confederations Cup. They didn’t allow a single goal until their match with the US. Expect Puyol and Pique to give Ronaldo and Kaka a hard time when these two teams meet.

Barcelona’s Lionel Messi has already stated that he is not scared of the Ronaldo and Kaka threat. He reiterates that Barcelona are still the defending champs of La Liga. Messi made the message clear: Real Madrid may have two great footballers but the pressure is on Real Madrid to produce.

It is yet to be seen if Real Madrid can mesh all their talent into a cohesive goal scoring machine. Barcelona still has the advantage over Real Madrid in terms of players familiar with each other but once Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo learn how to compliment each other’s skills, Messi and Co. better watch out.

I have to admit that I’m not a fan of both teams, I’m more of a Manchester United kinda guy but the match-up between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona is starting to give me goose bumps.