A ranked list of the biggest divers in football history

A ranked list of the biggest divers in football history

Kevin Omuya
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:28 PM

There are no worse players in soccer than divers, floppers, or simulators to use your preferred pejorative term. Seeing these adults writhing and screaming in pain while being untouchable horrifies any half-decent onlooker. Read on to find the biggest divers in football history.

Biggest divers
Neymar #10 of Brazil looks on during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 quarter-final match between Croatia and Brazil at Education City Stadium on December 09, 2022, in Al Rayyan, Qatar. Photo: Zhizhao Wu
Source: Getty Images

For a variety of reasons, footballers can dive. It frequently happens that opposing defenders genuinely make contact, but the incident is dramatised, causing officials to notice and take action. Others could attack to give their team scoring opportunities during a game when chances have not been plentiful.

The best and worst divers in football history

Diving can be one of the worst offences you can commit and is worth a yellow card. These ten gentlemen would excel on the diving board at the Tokyo Summer Olympics in 2020.

10. Cristiano Ronaldo

Biggest divers in world cup
Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 quarterfinal match against Morocco at Al Thumama Stadium on December 10, 2022, in Doha, Qatar. Photo: ANP
Source: Getty Images

When discussing the finest football players and the worst divers, how can we forget about Cristiano Ronaldo? This superstar from Portugal is nothing short of a masterpiece. He is always present on these lists.

Diving is about timing, deceit, and practice, just like dribbling. Perhaps for this reason, Ronaldo is the world's worst diver. Ronaldo invites a challenge by leaving his legs behind while dribbling to earn a free kick. He is one of the divers in 2023.

9. Sergio Busquets

Biggest divers in soccer
Sergio Busquets of Barcelona and Spain, during the Copa Del Rey Quarter Final match against Real Sociedad at Spotify Camp Nou on January 25, 2023, in Barcelona, Spain. Photo: Jose Breton
Source: Getty Images

Sergio Busquets, a Barcelona captain and international for Spain. Even though he is notorious for playing dirty, most admirers support him. The opposing fans despise his behaviour. Sergio dove during a Champion League match, but the camera captured him looking through his fingers to observe the referee's verdict.

8. Neymar Jr

Biggest divers in football 2023
Neymar Jr of Paris SG during the Ligue 1 match between Paris Saint-Germain and Lille OSC at Parc des Princes on February 19, 2023, in Paris, France. Photo: Sylvain Lefevre
Source: Getty Images

One of the top players and dribblers in the world is Neymar Jr. He always has a strategy for taking down the defence. He frequently receives criticism for having the propensity to push the ball very readily. Although Neymar was able to convince Barcelona of his brilliance while playing for Santos, his name was disqualified owing to his dive. He is one of the biggest divers in world cup history.

7. Angel Di Maria

Biggest divers
Angel Di Maria of Juventus Fc looks on during the UEFA Europa League round of 16 legs one match against Sport-Club Freiburg at Juventus Stadium on March 9, 2023, Turin, Italy. Photo: sportin_foto
Source: Getty Images

Angel Di Maria is a passionate diver who commits the worst jumps. In 2015, as Argentina entered the final phase, Maria dribbled by Aaron Ramsey, who attempted to halt him by cutting in from the right wing. He prevented a foul, but his response resulted in a booking. Oliver had no choice but to wait as he went to the referee. He received a second yellow card and was then dismissed.

6. Luis Suarez

Worst divers in La Liga
Luis Suarez of Atletico de Madrid in action during the La Liga Santander match against FC Barcelona at Estadio Wanda Metropolitano on October 02, 2021, in Madrid, Spain. Photo: Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno
Source: Getty Images

Luis Suarez always makes it to our list of athletes who act in amusing or inappropriate ways. Luis, a striker for Uruguay, works in his team's best interest. His diving during the encounter against Liverpool has drawn criticism. Undoubtedly, he is the worst diver, and his dives are the strangest.

5. Dani Alves

Biggest divers in football 2023
Dani Alves of Pumas UNAM during the 5th round match against Mazatlan FC at Olimpico Universitario Stadium on July 27, 2022, in Mexico City, Mexico. Photo: Hector Vivas
Source: Getty Images

In this ranking, Dani Alves is in sixth place. Although he doesn't frequently dive during games, certain guconfidentThe Brazilian footballers attempted it in the El Clasico game, but the results were worse. The former Barcelona player attacked in reaction to the opponent's challenge and was carried off the field on a stretcher. He is one of the worst divers in La Liga.

4. Didier Drogba

Biggest divers in soccer
Chelsea's Didier Drogba celebrates scoring the opening goal of the game. Photo: Mike Egerton
Source: Getty Images

Didier Drogba is a football player from Ivory Coast. He plays forward for the Canadian Major League Soccer Team as well. He is one of the best football players in the world and a fantastic diver. You would be in awe of his dives. He was one of the biggest divers in the Champions League.

3. Ashley Young

Biggest divers in Premier League
Ashley Young of Aston Villa during the Premier League game against Brighton & Hove Albion at American Express Community Stadium on November 13, 2022, in Brighton, England. Photo: Neville Williams
Source: Getty Images

British Ashley Young is included on this list as well. He finished second in the event for the worst divers. While in the penalty area, the Manchester United striker frequently dives. Many of his football followers disapprove of and criticise his actions. Yet he always makes sure that his supporters appreciate and enjoy his efforts.

Even after his insane moves, he has a sure touch that prevents people from ending their relationships with him. Someone once inquired of his former teammate Darren Fletcher on Ashley Young's best move. He is one of the biggest divers in the Premier League.

2. Dele Alli

Worst divers in La Liga
Dele Alli of Everton during the pre-season friendly between Arsenal and Everton at M&T Bank Stadium on July 16, 2022, in Baltimore, Maryland. Photo: James Williamson
Source: Getty Images

Dele Alli may be referred to as a serial diver because he is occasionally unaware of his jumps. The Tottenham Hotspur midfielder's behaviour has become so ingrained that his boss has criticised him. Nonetheless, he continued to repeat himself despite that. Mauricio Pochettino has warned him for performing these types of careless dives. He is one of the best divers in soccer.

Mauricio forewarned him, stressing that he needs to learn after witnessing his dramatic jump against Huddersfield in 2017. This kind of action harms the athlete, the team, and the competition. They have spoken about playing by the rules and being trustworthy in prior years.

1. Arjen Robben

Biggest divers in Champions League
Arjen Robben of Munich gestures during the Bundesliga match between Bayern Muenchen and 1. FSV Mainz 05 at Allianz Arena on April 22, 2017, in Munich, Germany. Photo: TF-Images
Source: Getty Images

Dutchman and Holland player Arjen Robben. Without question, he is one of the greatest football players in the world and a player of the highest calibre. He sparked controversy during the 2014 World Cup match between Mexico and the Netherlands. He was shown to be one of the biggest divers in soccer.

Three times, the Dutch winger attempted to tap into the penalty area. He succeeded on his third attempt and enjoyed was awarded the penalty. He enjoyed flying to the earth and was known as a flying Dutchman. The Dutch player apologised to Mexico after acknowledging his dive.

Contrary to popular belief, diving is acceptable in the beautiful game of soccer. Unfamiliarity with the sport is frequently attributed to controversy, which is undoubtedly a deciding factor. While it is unsportsmanlike behaviour committed by the biggest divers seeking an unfair advantage over their rivals, it occasionally makes the difference between winning a game and taking a point.

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Authors
Kevin Omuya photo
Kevin Omuya
Kevin Omuya is a Content Writer with 4 years of experience who joined Sports Brief in 2022. In 2019 he held a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism & Digital Media from KCA University.