5. Gareth Bale
The world’s most expensive footballer of all time, Gareth Bale, has not curbed his habit of falling to ground too easily, even in the white of Real Madrid. The Welsh winger will, however, feel at home in La Liga where diving is common practice. In his last season at Spurs, Bale received no less than four yellow cards for play acting, earning a reputation for himself in the process. The penalty he won against Sevilla a couple of weeks back was just the latest example of his diving.
4. Cristiano Ronaldo
There is no doubting the quality of the man. He is easily one of the top two footballers of the last decade and he will probably continue in that fashion for a few more too. There is a darker side to his game, however, and he has constantly been called a diver throughout his career. There were instances of it during his time in the Premier League with Manchester United, and while the Portuguese winger was targeted by defenders, he certainly did not help himself by falling too easily to the ground far too often.
3. Sergio Busquets
The Barcelona holding midfielder is the only player on this list who is not a skilful winger or forward. Busquets has gathered a knack of saving his best acting performances for matches against Barca’s biggest rivals, and is easily one of the most hated figures in in the Spanish capital. Although he is not the sole culprit when it comes to causing controversy in the “El Classico”, getting competition from the likes of Pepe and Sergio Ramos, the Spanish international is the master of holding his face in agony even when barely touched.
2. Luis Suarez
Suarez is certainly a contender for top spot when it comes to the kings of diving. The canny Uruguayan is never far from controversy; whether racially abusing an opponent or trying to bite their arm off or admitting to diving in order to win a penalty against Stoke, the Liverpool striker always seems to make it into the headlines. The latest in his diving collection contains a terrible fall when playing for his native Uruguay in a World Cup qualification match against Argentina last month.
1. Ashley Young
It is no surprise that the Manchester United winger tops this list of the biggest divers in football. With neutrals from England in uproar over his antics, public opinion is starting to go against him. Even the United faithful now seem to have a bitter taste in their mouths every time he goes to ground in and around the penalty box. Young is prone to leave a trailing leg out before hurling himself towards the ground, normally resulting in the Red Devils earning a spot kick. However, his team mate Robin van Persie may be trying to take justice in his own hands; he has missed the last two penalties that Young has earned!!!