While the world celebrates the hard work of Cristiano Ronaldo and the genius of Lionel Messi, other players will be remembered for their controversial contributions to the sport. Controversy is a big part of soccer, as some players have made a name for themselves due to their antics on and off the pitch.
Players like Mario Balotelli and Joey Barton will always be remembered for their controversial moments rather than their on-field accomplishments (there aren’t too many of those, anyway), but there are some of the biggest names in the sport on this list too.
In this article, we’ll be ranking the top 10 most controversial players in soccer history who took the world by storm during their occurrence.
#10. Marco Materazzi
If you take a stroll to Materazzi’s Wikipedia page, you’ll see where he’s cited as being best known for being headbutted by Zinedine Zidane in the final of the 2006 World Cup between France and Italy, which the latter won.
While Zidane got a red card for his action, Materazzi didn’t get much sympathy from the soccer community as he allegedly insulted the Frenchman’s sister, leading to the unfortunate headbutt.
In general, Marco Materazzi was already a controversial figure in soccer before the 2006 incident. He once punched Bruno Cirillo in the dressing room, causing the former Siena man to have a busted lip.
#9. Joey Barton
Barton would have been a Premier League legend if he had been more disciplined on the pitch. The Englishman accrued 269 appearances playing for the likes of Manchester City, Newcastle United, and QPR.
Barton’s career was marked by several controversial incidents, including two different convictions for violent crimes. He once assaulted Ousmane Dabo during a training session, which effectively ended his Manchester City career.
Barton’s career ended altogether in 2017 after admitting to betting, with the former QPR player resuming in 2018, only this time as a manager for Fleetwood Town.
#8. Gerardo Bedoya
Who’s better suited to being on the list than the man with the poorest disciplinary record in soccer history? Gerardo Bedoya holds the title of the soccer player with the most red cards. Bedoya received 46 red cards in his career, which is two times more than his closest rival, Sergio Ramos.
Bedoya was nicknamed “The Beast” for his ferocious nature, and in 2012, he elbowed Jhonny Ramirez before kicking him in the head, which led to an immediate dismissal and a 15-game suspension.
#7. Roy Keane
Roy Keane is why Erling Haaland will never like Manchester United. The controversial United captain effectively ended Haaland’s father’s career, leading to a lifetime of resentment for Manchester United by the Haaland family.
Apart from several on- and off-field clashes with players, managers, and officials, Roy Keane will go down as the only man who ever stood up to the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson, which eventually led to his exit from the club.
The Sky Sports pundit was a fierce competitor, even if it meant criticizing his own players in the press, which was the beginning of his issues with Sir Alex Ferguson.
#6. John Terry
John Terry is a Chelsea legend and probably the most controversial figure in the history of the club. Terry spent a good part of his career at Chelsea, winning several Premier League titles and the UEFA Champions League in 2012 as club captain.
However, the affair the legendary captain had with his former teammate’s ex-wife will forever be a stain on his illustrious career. John Terry had an affair with Wayne Bridge’s ex-girlfriend when he was still a Chelsea player, which caused a rift between them. Wayne Bridge also rejected a handshake offer from Terry during an encounter between Chelsea and Manchester City.
Terry was also found guilty of racially abusing Anton Ferdinand, something that is extremely unwelcome and unsportsmanlike.
#5. Mario Balotelli
Jose Mourinho once said he could write a whole book about Mario Balotelli as he told the story of his level of indiscipline some years ago.
Mario Balotelli is the absolute master of mischief. The Italian fell out with Roberto Mancini so severely that he had to force his way out of Manchester City after a silly attempt at goal in a pre-season friendly.
While Balotelli remains one of the most talented players in the world, his indiscipline has cost him a lot at the highest level, and even spells at Liverpool, AC Milan, and Inter Milan couldn’t help salvage his career.
The Italian will be remembered for his infamous goal celebration in a 6-1 rout over Manchester United, where he lifted his shirt to display a message that said, “Why Always Me?”
#4. Eric Cantona
Eric Cantona helped get Manchester United back to the summit of English football, but disciplinary problems marred the Frenchman’s career. The United legend once kicked a Crystal Palace supporter in a kung-fu style in 1999, resulting in an eight-month suspension and a 120-hour community service.
Cantona also controversially retired from football in 1997, aged just 30, where most footballers are usually judged to be in their prime. Cantona cited a potential exploration of the movie industry as his reason. He has since been involved in several movies, including Elizabeth, Looking for Eric, and, most recently, AKA.
#3. Sergio Ramos
Ramos may not have been one of the most celebrated defenders when he was in his prime had he not been that tough. One of the most controversial players of the 21st century, Sergio Ramos embodies every quality of a top defender and a little more.
The Real Madrid legend broke Mo Salah’s arm in the 2018 UEFA Champions League final, although he claimed it was unintentional. Ramos is the most red-carded player in La Liga history, with the Spaniard only trailing Gerardo Bedoya on the list of the players with the worst disciplinary record in the world.
#2. Luis Suarez
Luis Suarez and controversy were not far from each other, especially when he was a Liverpool player. The Uruguayan bit at least three opposition players in his career, including Giorgio Chiellini in the 2014 World Cup group stage game against Italy.
In his otherwise decorated career, Suarez missed a total of 26 games due to bans, but none was as high-profile as the eight-match ban he got in 2011 for racially abusing Patrice Evra. He also refused to shake the Frenchman’s hand when he returned to the ground, leading to even more press hatred.
#1. Diego Maradona
There are many controversial moments in soccer history, but nothing beats Diego Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ goal against England in the 1986 World Cup. The Argentine appeared to have headed the ball into the net, but replays showed the ball had come off his hand, which the Argentina legend later admitted.
“It was a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God,” he said.
Apart from this, Maradona’s career was filled with problems, especially with the use of drugs. He once tested positive for cocaine, leading to a 15-month ban. He was also linked to some criminal groups later in his playing career.
Maradona passed away in 2020 after years of battling health problems. The 1986 World Cup winner died of a heart attack at the age of 60.
History has proven that controversy is a big part of soccer, and while some may not admit it easily, it helps keep the sport entertaining for fans and viewers all across the globe. From the mischief of Mario Balotelli to the drug history of Diego Maradona, we’ve ranked the 10 most controversial players in soccer history in this article.
Did we miss someone who should have made it to the list? Don’t forget to tell us in the comments.
