Vegeta's rivalry with Goku is one of the Dragon Ball most notable dynamic, and honestly, it's one of the most perplexing. Since Goku turned into a Super Saiyan on Namek, Vegeta was tirelessly driven to surpass him to prove his superiority. However, when you take a step back, their rivalry starts to make less sense considering Goku never had a clear victory over Vegeta.
This has become more apparent in recent arcs, as Vegeta has repeatedly shown that he is on par with Goku. However, It's this illogical nature that makes their rivalry so brilliant. Vegeta's obsession with Goku has always been about his pride as a Saiyan prince, and while it may not make much sense in regards to their increase in power, it suits his character. He's stubborn, petty, and absolutely perfect, and Dragon Ball It wouldn't be the same without him.
Vegeta's rivalry with Goku is strange considering they are almost always the same
Goku never had a definitive victory over Vegeta throughout the series, but Vegeta did
One of the strangest aspects of Vegeta's rivalry with Goku is the fact that their power levels aren't all that different. While Dragon Ball is consistently increasing your energy system, both Goku and Vegeta remained extremely close in terms of strength and new transformations. Every time Goku appears to be ahead, Vegeta quickly closes the gap or even temporarily overtakes him. A perfect example of this is that Vegeta's Ultra Ego rivals and possibly surpasses Goku's Ultra Instinct. Another is that Vegeta's Forced Spirit Fission technique gave the Z-Fighters the advantage against Moro, a battle they wouldn't have won otherwise.
What makes Vegeta's rivalry with Goku even stranger is the fact that Goku has never defeated Vegeta in a one-on-one battle. Almost all of their matches ended ambiguously, except for the sparring match they had during the Dragon Ball Super: Superhero film. Although the vast majority of the fight is stopped, in the end, Vegeta narrowly manages to beat Gokuand he even brags about it in the manga. However, despite this, Vegeta remains obsessed with surpassing Goku, acting as if he is perpetually second.
Vegeta has a tendency to exaggerate the intensity of his rivalry with Goku, especially considering the results of their one-on-one battles. However, that's what makes the rivalry as compelling as it is. Vegeta is not driven by crushing defeats, but rather by his own flawed perception of Goku as an unattainable ideal. He views Goku's strength as something he could never truly achieve due to Goku's carefree nature, willingness to rely on others when necessary, and his ability to perform transformations first. However, in reality, Vegeta is equal to Goku, but his pride blinds him to that fact.
Vegeta's illogical jealousy makes perfect sense for his character
Vegeta wouldn't be the same without his jealousy of Goku
Vegeta's jealousy towards Goku may not make much sense when analyzed closely, but makes perfect sense for Vegeta's character. Having been born into Saiyan royalty, Vegeta was raised to believe in his own superiority, and this was ingrained in his identity. The idea of ​​being surpassed by Goku, who would have been a low-class warrior on Planet Vegeta, destroys the very foundations of his self-esteem. Goku's achievements act as a constant reminder that strength does not come from birthright or arrogance, and defies everything Vegeta has been taught to believe, which explains why Goku's strength feels so personal to him.
Even when Vegeta matches or surpasses Goku, he still finds himself behind because Your jealousy isn't rooted in truth, it's rooted in pride. Goku never intentionally provokes Vegeta, but tends to treat Vegeta more as a friendly competitor than a threat, which only worsens Vegeta's frustration. Every loss, whether perceived or literal, makes Vegeta feel like a stain has been left on his status as a Saiyan Prince. Goku's laid-back personality only deepens Vegeta's resentment because it suggests that Goku can achieve greatness effortlessly, while Vegeta puts everything he has into training to surpass him.
However, this jealousy is also what makes Vegeta as fascinating as he is. Beneath his pride and rough exterior, Vegeta is desperate to prove that he is the Prince of the Saiyans, even long after his people have been eradicated by Frieza. His rivalry with Goku pushes Vegeta forward and motivates him to become greater than he already is. Without Goku, Vegeta loses interest in training like he did after the Cell Games. Even though Vegeta refuses to admit it, his jealousy of Goku is what drives him, and without his jealousy, Vegeta simply wouldn't be the same character.
Toriyama revealed his genius in making an illogical rivalry feel so personal and iconic
Vegeta's rivalry with Goku runs deeper than fans might expect
Akira Toriyama proved his own brilliance through his ability to make Vegeta and Goku's rivalry feel so personal despite it being illogical under scrutiny. In most shonen rivalries, one character is clearly more powerful, and the narrative tends to revolve around another trying to close the gap. Toriyama, however, keeps Goku and Vegeta on roughly equal footing while shifting the story's focus to how they reach new heights. For Goku, strength is a path of endless excitement and a challenge that he pursues with joy, and for Vegeta, is fueled by pride and self-esteem that is blinded by ideals.
As irrational as Vegeta's jealousy may be, Toriyama managed to present their rivalry in a way This is less about Goku and more about himself and its internal conflicts. Goku's rise to power challenged Vegeta's entire worldview and forced him to confront the flawed ideologies that were implanted in him, allowing him to grow as a character. What makes the dynamic even more ingenious is that, in this sense, Goku becomes not just a rival, but a mirror that leads Vegeta to reevaluate his beliefs and reflect on his growth throughout the series.
The rivalry between Goku and Vegeta is more based on their characters than on any external risks and that is what prevents it from becoming old or repetitive. When fans root for Vegeta to defeat Goku, they are really rooting for him to overcome his own pride and recognize his own progress and power. This is because it's difficult to take note of Vegeta's victories and achievements when he's constantly comparing himself and thinking he's behind, when that couldn't be further from the truth. Although illogical, Vegeta's rivalry with Goku all along Dragon Ball It's what makes the series so iconic.