Footballers behaving badly: When talent comes with notoriety

In football, attention is not only paid to magical moments on the pitch but also to the controversial actions of players. “Footballers behaving badly” is a phrase describing football stars who disappoint fans with unsportsmanlike behavior, arrogant attitudes or negative playing style. Despite their undeniable talent, these players attract attention with controversial tricks, from diving, diving, to problems off the pitch. The list of 10 footballers behaving badly below by Kingsoccertips will show the combination of talent and “unbearable” actions that have left an unwanted mark in the hearts of fans.

Top 10 footballers behaving badly

10. Antony

Antony has it all. A big ego, a bad temper, a ridiculous price tag and a lack of talent. Everything you don’t want, but usually have, in a winger. He’s a show-off, a player who can look either angry or cocky at times.

Antony’s trick—cutting inside to score with his left foot—isn’t bad. It worked for Arjen Robben, and it baffled defenders in the Dutch league for a couple of seasons, as Antony scored 25 goals in 82 games for Ajax.

Sadly (for him), English defenders could read him like a children’s picture book. After Manchester United paid £82m for him, his next 82 games yielded just 11 goals, with eight in his first season and three in his second.

Pundits and fans finally lost patience with Antony when he spun the ball twice (a “skill” that got him nowhere) before overplaying a pass out of bounds (see video). To cap it all off, Antony was accused of domestic violence by three women in 2023.

9. Sergio Busquets

Like many of his Barcelona teammates during their heyday (including Dani Alves and Pedro), Sergio Busquets was also known for his on-field “acting”. However, while other players were only occasionally criticised, Busquets took the act of mimicry to a deeply unpopular “art”. His excessive diving and exaggerated actions not only tarnished his personal image but also caused global fans to underestimate Barcelona, ​​a team known for its beautiful play. Such unsportsmanlike behaviour is not easily forgiven, especially when it goes against the true values ​​of football.

Of all the players who have been criticised, Busquets is often considered the worst, due to his constant ridiculous diving and unnecessary fouls. Many videos have captured situations where he was clearly cheating to gain an advantage, leaving fans disappointed. Despite having won many major titles in his career, Busquets’ image is still overshadowed by unsportsmanlike antics. As of 2024, Sergio Busquets has left European football to play for Inter Miami in the United States, continuing his career in a less pressurized environment but still unable to erase criticism from the past.

8. Dele Alli

Dele Alli has been notorious for diving since the start of his career. Between 2015 and 2018, he was booked three times for diving (more than any other player) and was even warned by his manager at the time (Mauricio Pochettino) to stop. In 2017, he also appeared to give the middle finger to a referee while playing for England.

Dele Alli’s form has declined rapidly since 2019, with a move from Spurs to Everton followed by a move to Turkish club Besiktas. This has frustrated fans of both club and country, and led to the belief that he doesn’t want to work for the huge wages he receives. Still on Everton’s books, Alli recently spent the entire 2023-24 season injured.

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7. Ashley Young

Ashley Young may have signed for Inter Milan in 2020 to escape his reputation in England, and that’s because poor Ashley has a lot of trouble keeping his balance. Maybe he has a persistent inner ear infection? More likely, he has a tendency to cheat disgustingly whenever he gets the chance.

The stats speak for themselves. Young had won 11 penalties in 200 Premier League games by the end of 2012, and he continued to “lose his balance” in the following seasons. Even Young’s then manager, Alex Ferguson, said he “fell hard” for a penalty in 2012.

He was also warned by David Moyes about his diving behaviour in 2013. Other managers and pundits weren’t careful with their words, publicly calling him a cheater and a diver.

Young eventually returned to the Premier League and spent two seasons with Aston Villa (2021–2023) before moving to Everton. Due to his age, he now plays as a right-back, which helps him stay out of the opposition penalty area.

6. Diego Costa

Diego Costa is known for his hot temper and his tendency to lose his temper with other players, leading to numerous allegations of violent behaviour, including stamping on opponents.

Costa appears to engage in psychological warfare during matches, trying to create confrontations in which he is involved. Indeed, Kurt Zouma (Costa’s Chelsea teammate) admitted in 2015 that Costa enjoys cheating.

This lack of honour and integrity is perhaps why Costa mocked Seamus Coleman for his own goal in 2014, and why, despite his “tough guy” image, he pretended to be injured after only minor contact.

5. Raheem Sterling

At the age of 20, Raheem Sterling was quick to cash in and leave the club that made him a star (Liverpool). After initially rejecting Manchester City’s offer, Liverpool forced the move when Sterling appeared to feign illness to skip training. He was booed by fans of all stripes after the move.

Sterling also grabbed England teammate Joe Gomez by the neck in 2019 and asked Gomez if he was “still the big man”. He claimed that “emotions got the better of me” but was dropped from the squad.

While there have been worse (or should we say good?) actors, Sterling is a well-known diver. He has also been charged twice with assaulting women, although he has not been convicted. Finally, he has an M16 rifle tattooed on his leg, because why wouldn’t you?

4. Sergio Ramos

Sergio Ramos has had a long and distinguished career as Real Madrid’s dirtiest player before moving to Paris Saint-Germain (2021–2023) and Sevilla (2023–2024). For Real Madrid, Ramos has been sent off 26 times, a record in La Liga. His red card record is extraordinary and currently includes two for PSG and one for Sevilla.

Ramos is a notoriously tough defender with a nasty temper and a penchant for kicking and elbowing opponents. Anything goes for this ‘bullfighting fan’, and Ramos will even use his hands to stop opponents from scoring. This has made him a widely hated player, leading to laughter when he accidentally kicked a penalty into the stands.

3. Luis Suárez

Where do we start with this bastard? For most fans, Luis Suarez first became infamously obnoxious when he tackled the ball on the line to prevent a sure goal against Uruguay at the 2010 World Cup. With Ajax, he bit an opponent.

After moving to the Premier League, Suarez was repeatedly accused of diving after winning several penalties for Liverpool. He was later banned for racially abusing Patrice Evra.

This was followed by two more “bites,” when the Uruguayan vampire bit Branislav Ivanovich against Chelsea in 2013 and Giorgio Chiellini against Italy at the 2014 World Cup (see video below).

In 2021, Suarez was named in the Pandora’s Files for holding offshore accounts (often used to evade tax).

2. Cristiano Ronaldo

Apart from constantly diving in for fouls and penalties and a tendency to whine, Ronaldo doesn’t do much wrong. However, there are three things that may have added to his faults.

• He made his name at Manchester United, so he’s always had a lot of hate from the rest of the football world.
• He looks like a Ken doll with his earrings and hair gel, so his boy band-style grooming is despised by many football fans.
• He’s just a very good footballer who can make opponents commit fouls.

However, his diving, especially in his early days, is what has earned him the reputation he has today, even though he dives less than before.

1. Neymar

Neymar is a divisive player, but it’s safe to say that many football fans despise him, and not just because he scored against their team.

Despite his fouls, Neymar has been known to dive, exaggerate contact and writhe in fake pain before returning to full fitness and playing at his best just minutes later.

Neymar’s questionable character first emerged in 2010 when he had an argument with Santos coach Dorival Junior, which led to the coach’s dismissal. He has continued to disrespect players, coaches and referees throughout his career, racking up several red cards.

After four years with Barcelona, ​​Neymar moved to PSG to play in the non-competitive French league. The 2017 transfer appears to have been motivated more by money than football. This view is reinforced by his move to Saudi Arabia at the age of 31.

Finally, Neymar’s style of play is particularly selfish. He prefers to do things himself rather than involve his teammates, and sometimes he does, but these decisions can cost his team and frustrate his fans.

With just a few years left before his peak, Neymar has yet to win a European title since moving to PSG, and he hasn’t won a trophy for Brazil either. We shouldn’t expect any Ballon d’Ors either.

In summary

Although football is a beautiful sport, “footballers behaving badly” have tarnished this image with their unworthy actions on and off the field. The prominent names on this list remind us that talent cannot replace ethics and sportsmanship. Unprofessional behavior not only damages personal reputations but also affects the team and the trust of fans. However, these stories are also valuable lessons for the younger generation of players, that respect and fair play are always the core elements to reach the top of a football career. For football to remain beautiful, players need to be clearly aware of their responsibility to the sport that millions of people love.

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