20 Biggest Divers in World Football

Some in football call simulation a "cancer" that higher powers must do all they can to cure. Others call it an "art form" that merely adds to the drama of the greatest game on the planet.

One thing is for sure: Despite efforts, diving has increased in frequency in recent times despite media attention vainly pleading for referees and officials to stamp down on it with harsher punishments.

But as Mark Clattenburg learned the hard way last month, terrible things can happen when a ref gets the call wrong.

Here are 20 of the worst (or best) divers in world football today—most are high-profile players, while one or two make the list for a single act of lunacy that was surely deserving of a Razzie for worst acting.

As always, this list is intended to spark debate rather than end it.

Angel Di Maria

Club: Real Madrid

Reputation: The Repeat Offender

We kick things off with an obvious one—Real Madrid's flopping salmon Angel Di Maria.

The flying Argentine winger may be one of the trickiest players in the game, but his dubious antics overshadow his obvious talents.

Branislav Ivanovic

Club: Chelsea

Reputation: Falling Slowly

One look at the towering Branislav Ivanovic and you'd never guess he goes down easier than a depleted Jenga tower.

His most recent claim to fame in the diving department came in a game against Stoke City—a dive which opposing manager Tony Pulis called "laughable" (via Daily Mail).

Peter Wisgerhof

Club: FC Twente

Reputation: The Assassinated

Let me start by saying that Peter Wisgerhof's brilliant piece of overacting in a game with Ajax earlier this year is probably one of the greatest footballing moments ever caught on film.

Reacting to non-contact like he'd been shot in the shin, the Dutch central defender subsequently earns a place in this list for this one legendary dive alone.

Milos Krasic

Club: Fenerbahce

Reputation: Milos the Terrible

Serbian speedster Milos Krasic is another worthy entrant onto this list—his dives in the Serie A reached legendary status whilst he was at Juventus.

Now hitting the deck on a regular basis for Turkish club Fenerbahce, Krasic has been compared with Czech great Pavel Nedved for his style of play, just without the honesty.

Pedro

Club: Barcelona

Reputation: The Diva

The first Barca player on this list but certainly not the last, Pedro's antics may not have been as prolific as some of his teammates', but he is nonetheless a worthy candidate.

He's such a terrible cheat, he's even programmed to dive in video games!

Arjen Robben

Club: Bayern Munich

Reputation: The Dutch Dandy

Not the only winger on this list, Arjen Robben has earned plenty of scorn and criticism for his tumbles over the course of his career.

The Bundesliga is not as renowned for its theatrics as the Premier League and La Liga, but players like Robben still do their best to change that perception.

Nani

Club: Manchester United

Reputation: Nani the Ninny

Manchester United's Portuguese winger must have been tutored by Cristiano Ronaldo in the art of diving while the two were together at Old Trafford.

Though neither are as prolific in the art these days, the footage of their early career flops can never be deleted.

Dani Alves

Club: Barcelona

Reputation: The Samba Salmon

Barca's full-back Dani Alves is one of three Brazilians on this list—recognition for the nation's proud history of diving.

Though not as notorious as some as La Blaugrana's other superstars, he is a proven, bona fide master in the art.

Luis Suarez

Club: Liverpool

Reputation: The King of Flailing Limbs

The man, the myth, Luis Suarez has become almost synonymous with diving thanks to his theatrical tumbling in recent seasons.

Undoubtedly a world-class player, his controversial ways have somewhat overshadowed his abilities throughout his career.

Norbert Meier

Club: Fortuna Dusseldorf

Reputation: The Bad Boss

An oldie but a goodie—then-MSV Duisburg coach Norbert's Meier's faux-headbutt and subsequent hilarious piece of play-acting in 2005 has gone down in the annals of unbelievable cheating in the sport.

Needless to say, Meier didn't last long after that moment of lunacy at the helm of Duisburg, but he is now proving a great success at promoted Fortuna Dusseldorf.

Doesn't mean he'll ever live it down, though.

Bryan Carrasco

Club: Dinamo Zagreb

Reputation: The Masochist

Whilst playing for the Chilean U-20 side earlier this year, Bryan Carrasco's legendary grab of his marker's hand and punch to his own face was a true highlight-worthy moment.

His genius didn't earn his opponent a card, though—disappointing considering the thought and effort that went into the act.

Gareth Bale

Club: Tottenham Hotspur

Reputation: The Flying Welshman

Gareth Bale is quickly moving up the ranks of world football's biggest divers.

The pride and joy of Wales may be one of the best natural wingers of his generation, but he is also becoming one of the best natural floppers of his generation too.

Marcelo

Club: Real Madrid

Reputation: The Bumbling Buffoon

Poor Marcelo, does he not realise that all La Liga games are taped?

In the aftermath of a recent clash between Real Madrid and Barca during which the Brazilian had won a dubious penalty, Dani Alves of all people revealed that "Marcelo told me it was simulation" (via ESPN).

Nice to know that Pot and Kettle get on well on the pitch.

Neymar

Club: Santos

Reputation: L'Enfant Terrible

With great talent comes great responsibility—to dive.

Dubbed the future of Brazilian football by some, Santos prodigy Neymar may also be the heir apparent to Rivaldo's throne as the biggest play-actor in the football-loving nation.

Emir Spahic

Club: Sevilla

Reputation: Spahic the Simulator

In a match between Sevilla and Valencia earlier this season, Emir Spahic's rather pained reaction to a simple tap on the foot deserves to be recognised as an instant classic in the pantheon of great diving moments.

Full marks go to his outraged teammate too.

Ashley Young

Club: Manchester United

Reputation: Young and Foolish

Known as a prolific diver even before making the move from Aston Villa to Manchester United, Ashley Young easily cracks a top 20 list of the best practitioners of the art of simulation.

He does his best, but he always ends up proving the age-old adage that English footballers make for terrible divers.

Oleksandr Aliyev

Club: Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk

Reputation: The Soviet Softy

They supposedly bred them tough in the old Soviet Union. Not so according to the antics of this ninny.

Having waited for the referee to pay him some attention in the clip of a match between Dynamo Kyiv and Arsenal, the supposedly injured Oleksandr Aliyev is clearly just in need of some attention.

Sergio Busquets

Club: Barcelona

Reputation: The Drama Queen

Sergio Busquets has become a byword for play-acting. So much so that more people search "Sergio Busquets Dive" on YouTube than "Sergio Busquets."

His peek-a-boo routine in a Champions League match with Inter Milan a couple of years ago is one of the great moments in simulation history.

Although to be fair to the holding midfielder he has since toned down the antics, but one or two moments can permanently stain a career.

Emmanuel Eboue

Club: Galatasaray

Reputation: The Ivorian Lawbreaker

Emmanuel Eboue has always played with an infectious passion for the game of football that we can possibly excuse him the odd theatrical fall.

The Ivorian full-back is one of many stocky players who could just as easily stay on their feet yet somehow feel the need to hit the deck at the slightest threat of contact.

Cristiano Ronaldo

Club: Real Madrid

Reputation: The Legend

Though he may have toned down the theatrics a notch in recent times, Cristiano Ronaldo has dived more times in his career than Tom Daley.

He is a genuine legend in this regard—those who hope to one day flop as convincingly as he no doubt study hours of tape of the Portuguese superstar's past crimes against football.

Who do you think needs to be added to this list? Are any included here undeserving?

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