Steelers vs. Packers: Who Are Super Bowl XLV's World Football Equivalents?

All right, so we all know that the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Green Bay Packers are taking each other on in American football's showcase event, the Super Bowl.

But what if we were to compare these two teams to the greatest teams in world football? What if we were to transform these two sides into powerhouses that play the beautiful game?

So many choices, but only two can be chosen. When I think of the greatest teams in world football, I think of the UEFA Champions League and the winners there.

First, we take a look at the AFC Champions, the Pittsburgh Steelers.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

Established 1933

Play in: Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Headquartered in UPMC Sports Performance Complex, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Championships

League championships (Six)

Super Bowl Championships (Six)

1974 (IX), 1975 (X), 1978 (XIII), 1979 (XIV), 2005 (XL), 2008 (XLIII)

Conference championships (Eight)

AFC: 1974, 1975, 1978, 1979, 1995, 2005, 2008, 2010

Division championships (20)

AFC Central: 1972, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1983, 1984, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2001

AFC North: 2002, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2010

Playoff appearances (26):

This is a team that has won six Super Bowl rings and is gunning for a seventh. They have won more Super Bowls than any other team in the National Football League.

Their equivalent?

Bayern Munich.

This is a team that is tied for fourth in most UEFA Champions League titles won with four. Bayern won the UEFA Champions League in 1974, 1975, 1976 and 2001. They also have a record 22 Bundesliga titles, the most recent coming in the 2009-10 season.

Finally, the state of Pennsylvania is known for strong German heritage (ever heard of Pennsilfaanisch Deitsch?), so while there is no ethnic pandering intended here, it was a no-brainer.

Think of Bastian Schweinsteiger as your Ben Roethlisberger, Miroslav Klose and Arjen Robben as your Hines Ward and Antwaan Randle El, Mario Gomez as your Rashard Mendenhall, Philipp Lamm as your James Farrior, Franck Ribery as your Heath Miller and Hans-Jörg Butt as Troy Polamalu, for example.

Now to the NFC Champions, the Green Bay Packers

GREEN BAY PACKERS

Established 1919

Play in and headquartered in: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

Championships

League championships (12)

NFL Championships (Nine)

Super Bowl Championships (Three)

1966 (I), 1967 (II), 1996 (XXXI)

Conference championships (Nine)

NFL Western: 1960, 1961, 1962, 1965, 1966, 1967

NFC: 1996, 1997, 2010

Division championships (13)

NFL West: 1936, 1938, 1939, 1944

NFL Central: 1967

NFC Central: 1972, 1995, 1996, 1997

NFC North: 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007

Playoff appearances (26):

NFL: 1936, 1938, 1939, 1941, 1944, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1972, 1982, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2009, 2010

The Packers, as you all should know, is a community-owned team that has reaped its fair share of titles. While they have garnered just three Super Bowl rings, they have won more NFL titles overall if you include the pre-Super Bowl years.

Their equivalent?

Believe it or not, it's Real Madrid.

This is a club that has won more titles that any other team that has competed in the UEFA Champions League: 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1966, 1998, 2000 and 2002. Never mind that they also own more domestic league titles than any other club in Spain (Barcelona has a distant 20).

Think of Cristiano Ronaldo as your Aaron Rodgers, Kaka as your Jordy Nelson, Xabi Alonso as your Brandon Jackson, Sergio Ramos as your Charles Woodson and Iker Casillas as your Clay Matthews III, among examples.

Green Bay has stars that shine on the gridiron like Real Madrid has its own on the pitch. And both teams have won more league titles than any other club competing in their respective leagues.

Now I would like to know what you think. Who do you think the Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers resemble? Speak up, and let the debate begin!