Carlos Tevez and the 10 Most Difficult Players in World Football

Carlos Tevez's refusal to come on as a substitute against Bayern Munich on Tuesday night has shocked the football world.

The Argentinian made his point in the most defiant of manners at the Allianz Arena in a display of petulance that may never be surpassed again. But as the recrimination process begins in earnest, it may surprise you to know that Tevez is not the first player to turn his nose up at a manager's order to get on the pitch.

Here's 10 of the most difficult players to manage in terms of super-size egos and enormous wage demands, although it must be said that Tevez's actions puts this lot in the shade.     

Cristiano Ronaldo: Real Madrid

The Real Madrid winger is renowned for his sulking ability, no more so than when his personal grief at fluffing his own penalty in the shootout caused him to miss out on the celebrations when Manchester United won the Champions League in 2008.

The Portuguese pouter has racked up an astonishing catalogue of strops since the start of his career and is in possession of what surely must be the biggest ego on the planet. Last week, Ronaldo claimed he is booed by opposition fans because he is "rich, handsome and famous" but his ex-girlfriend Nereida Gallardo risked the 25-year-old’s wrath by describing him as "not intelligent."

Samuel Éto'o: Anzhi

The world’s best-paid player is great to have in your team when things are going well. But not so great when they’re not.

Russians Anzhi Makhachkala have picked up Africa’s most prolific goalscorer, although they should beware he comes with a reputation as a bit of a prima donna. One of most notorious incidents in his career came in 2007 when, like Tevez, he refused to come off the bench after being summoned by then-boss Frank Rijkaard.

Eto’ o eventually stayed at the Camp Nou but still demanded almost £3 million from the Catalans when he joined Inter in 2009.

Ashley Cole: Chelsea

The Chelsea left back has had a quiet few months in the tabloids but his inclusion is a must.

From firing airguns at youth team players to cheating on his wife, Cole has done it all. But his finest hour came back in 2005 as he considered a new contract worth £55,000 a week from Arsenal.

“I nearly swerved off the road,” Cole wrote in his autobiography. 'He is taking the piss Jonathan!' I yelled down the phone. I was so incensed. I was trembling with anger. I couldn’t believe what I’d heard.”

Robinho: AC Milan

The Brazilian famously ended a short-lived stint at Manchester City by going AWOL on a club trip and remains a challenge for any manager.  

He was no stranger to scandal in his homeland either, having allegedly held an orgy at a hotel with teammate Ronaldinho back in 2007. Also accused of sexual assault in a Leeds nightclub during his stay in England, Robinho is now at AC Milan and has found a natural home on the city’s numerous dance floors.

William Gallas: Chelsea

Now seeing out his career at his third London club, Gallas gained his reputation as a feisty customer when he threatened to score own goals if Chelsea didn’t allow him to leave back in 2006.

The Frenchman eventually joined Arsenal as part of the deal that brought Ashley Cole to Stamford Bridge and famously vented his frustrations with a sit-down tantrum on the pitch after a draw with Birmingham City. Stripped of the captaincy after publicly criticising his teammates in another incident, Gallas won yet more friends when he opted to join Arsenal’s arch-enemies next.  

Mario Balotelli: Manchester City

Where do you start with crazy old Mario? Offensive T-shirts, winking at Rio Ferdinand, arguing with managers, fighting with teammates, hating Manchester (the city) and unnecessarily back-heeling.

As if Roberto Mancini hasn’t got enough on his hands with Carlos Tevez, Balotelli has also recently been summoned to explain why he was pictured in the company of a major Mafia boss on a recent trip to a Naples slum. And he’s under investigation for allegedly playing with his iPad during a recent international match for Italy — surely not the best way to warm up?

Joey Barton: QPR

Now plying his trade at QPR, Barton was such a nightmare that Newcastle United allowed him to leave for free in the summer.

They shouldn’t have been surprised given that Barton’s previous indiscretions have included stubbing out a cigar in a youth team player’s eye and spending 77 days in prison following an assault outside a McDonald’s and another assault on former Manchester City teammate Ousmane Dabo. He has redeemed his reputation slightly as a Twitter phenomenon but remains a powder keg just waiting to explode.

Dimitri Payet: Lille

The Frenchman has had a long history of bad behaviour since being thrown out of Le Havre’s academy at the age of 16 because of his "bad attitude."

He resurrected his career at St Etienne and has since become a full international, but it seems he is still on a knife-edge. Payet punched his own captain during a match for Les Verts last season and then went on strike in a bid to secure a transfer to Paris St Germain before eventually joining Lille.

Nicolas Anelka: Chelsea

"The Incredible Sulk" picked up his nickname in his early days at Arsenal and doesn’t seem to have mellowed with age.

A series of spats with managers over the years eventually saw him end up at Chelsea, but the striker made sure of his place in bad boy history at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. With France trailing to Mexico, Anelka reacted to being substituted at halftime by calling boss Raymond Domenech "the dirty son of a whore" and was sent home the next day, with the French players opting to go on strike in protest.

Wayne Rooney: Manchester United

The Manchester United striker seems settled right now, but his tantrum this time last year about signing a new contract showed just how difficult he can be.

His much-publicised extra-marital problems and awful disciplinary record in his younger days meant a firm hand was needed to guide him away from danger and, luckily for Rooney, Sir Alex Ferguson was the perfect man. But even though he seems a lot happier these days after restoring his hairline to its rightful position, you just never know with Wayne.