The games between Mexico and the United States have emerged as some of the most heated on the soccer calendar. Who can forget Rafa Marquez's harsh red on Cobi Jones at the 2002 World Cup or Oguchi Onyewu's wild-west staredown with Jared Borgetti in 2005? Giovani Dos Santos' wonder-goal at the Rose Bowl in 2009 was an instant classic -- and then there's that certain Columbus scoreline.
Yet it isn't just on the pitch that the two sides compete. Off the field, the two federations are engaged in a battle for players that is reminiscent of recruiting in college sports.