Nothing compares to the excitement and joy of watching the greatest football players perform on the pitch in order to score more goals and win the match. Some footballers are not only remembered for their skills and tricks but they are also notable for their tempers when they are on or off the field. Here, we have compiled players who are remarkable in football history for their short tempers.
Regarded as the greatest player of all time, Cristiano Ronaldo has shown a short-tempered character. The Portuguese superstar has been known for suppressing his emotions and often loses his temper too quickly on the field, quarrelling with the referees or other players.
The Portuguese defender Kepler Laveran de Lima Ferreira, known as Pepe is reputed for his physicality and his defensive duties. Diving, feigning injury, and even headbutting opponents have led to him being sent off on multiple occasions.
The Irish midfielder who played for Manchester United during the 1990s and 2000s was known for his aggressive style of play. However, Roy Keane was also known for his dramatic outbursts, which included kicking a water bottle and walking out of a press conference.
The former Senegalese winger, El Hadji Diouf is one of the finest players, displaying remarkable performances at the 2002 FIFA World Cup for Senegal. In spite of being the best striker in the history of Senegalese football, Diouf was involved in a series of incidents when he spat at some opposing players and rival fans.
The French footballer Zinedine Zidane is one such player, whose technical ability and fiery personality made him a legend of the game. His infamous headbutt on the Italian player Marco Materazzi, during the 2006 World Cup final, is perhaps the most dramatic moment of his career.
The Italian forward, who has played for elite clubs such as AC Milan and Manchester City, is known for his unpredictable behaviour both on and off the pitch. Balotelli has been labelled as a troublemaker and has also been criticised for his lack of discipline and his tendency to lose his temper.
The English best player of all time spent most of his time in Liverpool. Despite his popularity as the greatest footballer, the central midfielder was accused of assault at a nightclub in 2008.
The Brazilian forward is known for his dazzling skills on the pitch, but he is also remembered for his dramatic antics. Neymar has been accused of diving, feigning injury, and play-acting, which has earned him a reputation as a “Drama Queen”.
Widely known as one of the talented midfielders of his generation, the former French player Patrick Vieira stood out for dominating games. Due to his strong physique, Vieira often spat, kicked, and fought against opposing players.
The English midfielder has a rather terrible disciplinary record and gained notoriety in the football world due to a bit rash behaviours, which include numerous red cards and altercations with opponents.
Ibrahimović’s impressive physical presence and outrageous confidence have made him a fan favourite, but he has also been known to let his emotions get the better of him on occasion. One particularly memorable incident was when he was sent off for slapping an opponent during a game.
The former Dutch winger Arjen Robben is memorable for his speed and dribbling skills but also for faking a foul that resulted in a penalty over Mexico in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
The Spanish footballer Sergio Busquets plays for FC Barcelona as the best midfield in the club. In the Champions League semi-finals in 2010, Busquets was pushed by Inter Milan's player, Thiago Motta, and exaggerated his reaction with a high hand, pushing the referee to give Motta a second yellow card.
The Ivorian player, Didier Drogba was a hugely important member of the Ivory Coast national team and other elite clubs like Chelsea. Drogba often tended to be quick-tempered in some matches.
The former Italian player, Gennaro Gattuso is mostly remembered as the best defensive midfielder in the AC Milan club. Gattuso's hot temper has forged a long history in world football, mainly when he pushed away by the throat the coach of Tottenham, Joe Jordan, in the 2011 Champions League.
Wayne Rooney is probably the most talked about English footballer of all time, one of the record goalscorers for the England national team. Rooney often showed his ill temper, the most notorious scene was in 2009 during the match against Fulham when he punched the corner flag after being sent off for throwing a ball.
How can we forget the former captain of Chelsea and the England national team, John Terry? The astute defender was shown a straight red card and sent off for violent conduct after driving a knee into FC Barcelona's forward Alexis Sánchez during the 2012 Champions League.
Another Brazilian player who has made a name for himself through his dramatic performances on the pitch is David Luiz. The defender is known for his flamboyant style of play, but he is also notable for his emotional outbursts.
The Argentine winger and attacking midfielder who has played for some of the biggest clubs in the world is known for his ability to score goals. During the 2021 Copa América final over Brazil, Di Maria sprained his ankle in the first half but the Argentine hero still performed on the pitch until the 79th minute.
