The 25 most controversial sports stars of the 20th century – ranked

The 20th century was a golden era for sports, marking the start of the professional era – but it also brought its fair share of controversy. From scandals to outrageous behavior, these athletes etched their names into history not only for their performance but also for the chaos they caused. Here's our ranking of the 25 most controversial sports stars of the 20th century.

The Sultan of Swat loved home runs almost as much as hot dogs and booze. Ruth’s larger-than-life personality made him the first superstar—and the first scandal magnet, especially when it came to his relationships with women.

The NBA legend claimed to have slept with 20,000 women, which didn't exactly endear him to much of the population. While the conspiracy theory around his 100-point game also seems to have made Chamberlain a bit of divisive character in some basketball circles.

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With rainbow-colored hair and absolutely wild behaviour, which included cross-dressing and week-long parties, Rodman’s antics made him a global curiosity. On the court, his rebounding was unmatched – off it, he was a walking tabloid headline.

The German tennis prodigy’s rise to fame was matched by his off-court scandals, including paternity lawsuits, tax fraud, and financial woes. Becker’s life became as dramatic as his Wimbledon triumphs.

"The Fifth Beatle" dazzled fans with his skills but battled alcoholism off the field. This ultimately led to him needing a liver transplant, and despite the seriousness of this he still continued to drink, which was deeply unpopular with the public, as the Evening Standard reported. His penchant for, erm, romance also added to his chaotic life. Best was a walking cocktail of brilliance and self-destruction.

On a similar note, we have Mickey Mantle. Mantle’s heroics on the field were matched only by his hard-partying lifestyle. The Mick’s antics made him both adored and notorious, with many fans feeling like they never got the best out of the Yankees star.

An entry that's definitely of its time. The first black heavyweight champion defied racial barriers and societal norms. His relationships with white women and defiance of segregation made him a huge target for controversy in the early part of the 20th century.

The all-time home run leader became the face of baseball’s steroid era, despite never being officially caught cheating. Bonds’ relationship with fans soured as his records came under scrutiny, making him one of the most polarizing figures in MLB history.

Breaking barriers for LGBTQ+ athletes at a time when these things were taboo, Navratilova was as outspoken as she was dominant. Her boldness on and off the court sparked admiration and controversy in equal measures.

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"Money" Mayweather’s undefeated boxing record is rivaled only by his flair for controversy. From domestic violence allegations to flaunting his wealth and taunting rivals, Mayweather thrives on being the bad guy fans love to hate.

"The Shark" was as famous for his meltdowns as his triumphs. Few golfers had the swagger of Norman, despite having a reputation for choking in the big moments. His high-profile failures in majors and business ventures kept him in the spotlight, often for the wrong reasons.

From the "Hand of God" goal to his struggles with addiction, Maradona lived as wildly as he played. The Argentine legend’s career was breathtakingly brilliant and and an absolute train wreck at times. Maradona was never apologetic for any of it.

Known for his artistry on the pitch, Cantona delivered his most famous kick in 1995 – to a heckler in the stands! The kung-fu incident earned him a suspension and a mixed reputation among fans.

The NFL linebacker was as infamous for his aggressive play as he was for his dirty tactics. Known for spitting in opponents’ faces, throwing punches at teammates, and even using performance-enhancing drugs, Romanowski made chaos his calling card. His unapologetic behavior left him both hated and feared on the gridiron, securing his place as one of the sport’s most controversial figures.

"You cannot be serious!" McEnroe’s infamous temper tantrums made him a legend as much as his backhand did. He turned tennis courts into theater stages of rage. Some loved it, some hated it – but everyone had an opinion on McEnroe in the 80s.

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Caught in the 1919 Black Sox Scandal, Jackson’s involvement in throwing the World Series remains debated. His legacy is as murky as the backroom deals that defined the scandal.

The face of wrestling in the 80s and a movie star in the 90s, Hulk Hogan has had no shortage of divisive moments. From his steroid scandal in the 90s, things have only gotten worse for the Hulkster with his leaked sex tape and racist tirades caught on camera.

Baseball’s original bad boy had a temper hotter than the Georgia sun. Cobb reportedly prone to violent outbursts, which were in some cases directed at fans, and sometimes at workers on his house. He was also outspokenly racist, as ESPN reported, which admittedly wasn't unusual in the early part of the 20th century, but it really hasn't made him a pin-up figure for modern baseball.

Betting on baseball while managing his team – a cardinal sin in most sports but especially in baseball – earned Rose a lifetime ban from MLB. Rose also didn't handle the situation well either, doubling down on lies over the situation for years, which really put him on the outs with fans.

Ali’s refusal to serve in the Vietnam War and his brash personality made him a polarizing icon. "The Greatest" didn’t just fight in the ring; he fought the system, but it ultimately saw him become a social pariah for many years of his life.

From hero to zero, Armstrong’s doping confession destroyed the legacy of his seven Tour de France wins. It wasn't just that he cheated either, it was the overly defensive approach he took to any claims of him cheating, only to be found out gloriously. His fall from grace was as steep as the Alps.

The Canadian sprinter’s was once a national hero – until his 1988 Olympic gold medal was stripped after a positive steroid test. Johnson ran fast, but his fall was even quicker. He would fail drug tests three times in his career, which included a lifetime ban issued after failing a test in 1993, as Sport Law reported.

She’s the original ice queen of scandal, allegedly masterminding the infamous 1994 attack on rival Nancy Kerrigan. Though she became one of the most vilified athletes in the US in the 90s, Harding made figure skating dangerously entertaining.

Few athletes have a rap sheet like Tyson’s, from biting the ears of Evander Holyfield to his prison sentence. His redemption arc is compelling, but his past controversies remain unforgettable at the very least, and unforgivable to some.

Who else could it be but the man at the centre of the trial of the century. Simpson was an American hero, but his trial for double murder, and the furore around that, certainly saw his stocks plummet, while he didn't do himself any favours in the following years with his 'If I Did It' book.

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