Football's most controversial stars

While some footballers get headlines for their brilliant on-pitch performances, others seem to find themselves as tabloid fodder due to their poor behavior off it – and sometimes on it! Here are 10 of the most controversial stars in football history.

A man known for all sorts of controversial things on and off the pitch is Mario Balotelli. The former Manchester City star set fireworks off out of his bathroom, and his former manager at Inter Milan, Jose Mourinho, labeled him as 'unmanageable.'

This goalkeeper is known for his scorpion kick save. Rene Higuita had a troubled football career, having ties with Columbian drug lord Pablo Escobar. Higuita was jailed in 1994 for profiting off a kidnapping and tested positive for recreational drugs in the later years of his career, as the Mirror reported.

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Joey Barton created quite a reputation for being a hothead during his career. He was imprisoned for six months after a fight in Liverpool, he was banned for 12 matches for random attacks on opposition players. He also put a cigar out in a youth player's eye, as The Guardian reported.

Former Manchester United player Eric Cantona is one of the best signings in United history. However, a karate kick toward a fan in a game against Crystal Palace resulted in him being banned for eight months.

Former Real Madrid defender Pepe was never short of heated moments on the pitch, earning himself a reputation for being one of the most feared defenders in history. An example is back in 2009 when he stamped and kicked a Getafe player, resulting in a ban.

In 2022, the defender was close to facing a two-year ban due to accusations of him hiding a bullet after causing a 40-man fight in a game for Porto.

Former England and Chelsea defender John Terry had a career full of controversial incidents on and off the pitch. Among the most notable was when he heard mocking Americans at Heathrow Airport after 9/11. Another was that he had an affair with teammate Wayne Bridge's wife, as The Independent reported.

The former Manchester United captain Roy Keane had a reputation as a hard man in his football career, known for his constant brawls with former Arsenal player Patrick Vieira.

In April 2001, Keane took revenge on Manchester City player Alfie Haaland. The father of son Erling injured Keane in a previous game, so the United player viciously attempted to hurt Haaland. He was banned for three games and then suspended for a further five, admitting it was deliberate.

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The former Italian striker had quite the career in England. However, his controversial and hot-tempered streaks overshadowed his brilliance on the pitch.

Di Canio was banned for 11 matches after pushing a referee when he was sent off for Sheffield Wednesday in 1998. When he returned to Italy to play for Lazio, he created a bond with the team's ultras and provoked controversy, doing a fascist salute.

The Uruguayan Luis Suarez has had his fair share of controversy during his career, being widely known for doing some of the most child-like things on a football pitch.

From a handball on the line at the World Cup to biting Branislav Ivanovic and racially abusing Patrice Evra, Suarez will go down as one of the most controversial football players in history.

Diego Maradona is seen by many as both the greatest football player ever and the most controversial player to ever live.

He will mostly be remembered for his 'Hand of God' goal, which saw him score a goal with his hand, knocking England out of the World Cup. Despite that, he tested positive for drugs, had a drug addiction, and was involved in a mass brawl, playing for Barcelona.

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