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The last couple of years have magnified the importance of fans in football games, as the spectators function as the proverbial twelfth man. Sometimes, teams achieve greater success away from home, as they do not have to deal with the boos and jeers of their home fans.
A case in point was Manchester United in the 2020-21 Premier League season, as they accumulated 43 points away from home, but only 31 at Old Trafford. While fans' support can make a massive difference in the outcome of games, some fans have been notorious for booing their own players and team.
On that note, here's a look at five legendary players who got booed by their own fans.
#5 Neymar | PSG
Neymar shocked the footballing world when he made a move to Paris on a whopping €222 million transfer fee in 2017. That made him the most expensive player of all time.
However, in the summer of 2019, reports emerged that the Brazilian was unsettled at PSG, and was trying to force a move back to Barcelona. Neymar also missed the opening five games of the season, and it was no surprise that the PSG faithful were unhappy with their star player.
On his return to the first team against Strasbourg in the 2019-20 Ligue 1 season, PSG fans booed the Brazilian forward on several occasions.
They booed and jeered when Neymar's name was read out in the starting lineup. They also did so when he touched the ball, shot wide, and pretty much at every opportunity to heckle him.
An acrobatic volley from Neymar in injury-time sealed all three points for PSG, but his winner received a mixed reaction of cheers and jeers.
However, PSG fans have surely warmed up to the Brazilian superstar in the past few years. Neymar played a key role in the Parisians reaching their first Champions League final in 2019-20.
#4 Gareth Bale | Real Madrid
Gareth Bale is arguably the most underrated Real Madrid player of the 21st century. He has drawn the irk of Real Madrid fans on several occasions.
The Welshman's £90 million transfer from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2013 remains Real Madrid's most expensive transfer of all time, eclipsing Cristiano Ronaldo's. The now-32-year old formed a lethal attacking trio alongside Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, accumulating 16 trophies and 106 goals for Los Blancos.
Bale has scored some of the most key goals for Real Madrid in the last decade. That includes goals in two Champions League finals, and an astonishing solo effort against Barcelona in the 2014 Copa Del Rey title match.
For most other clubs, Bale would have been an undisputed legend, but Real Madrid fans can be notoriously difficult to please. The Welshman could never meet the exceptionally high standards at the Santiago Bernabeu, despite his exploits.
Following reports in the Spanish media that Bale was more interested in golf than playing for Madrid, the fans turned on him. He was regularly booed by large sections of the Santiago Bernabeu crowd.
However, Bale did not hold back, and took a dig at Real Madrid fans following an international game . He held up a flag that read 'Wales. Golf. Madrid. In that order'.
It's safe to say that the relationship between Bale and the Los Blancos faithful remains a fractured one.
#3 Wayne Rooney | England
Wayne Rooney is regarded by many as one of the most gifted English players of the century. But he remains somewhat of a polarising figure in English football.
One of the most infamous booing incidents in the game occurred at the 2010 FIFA World Cup when English fans turned against their team. England, back then, had a long history of coming up short in international tournaments. But Fabio Capello's side were among the favourites heading into the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
England were expected to top their group, but could only manage a 1-1 draw against the USA in their opening fixture. The Three Lions desperately needed a win against Algeria to secure their passage through to the knockout stage. However, England's star-studded outfit failed to pose any real threat to an unfancied Algerian side.
The match ended in a goalless draw, and the English fans relentlessly booed their team off the pitch at the final whistle. Rooney, a Manchester United legend, felt betrayed by his own fans as he launched an x-rated rant at a TV camera while heading off the pitch.
England managed to make it out of the group stage, but faced a 4-1 drubbing against Germany in the Round of 16.
#2 Zinedine Zidane | Real Madrid
Zinedine Zidane is indisputably a Real Madrid legend in every sense of the word. He has achieved unprecedented success with Los Blancos as a player and manager.
The Frenchman is regarded by many to be one of the most elegant and talented midfielders in the history of the game. However, even Zidane had to face criticism from the Real Madrid faithful. He was booed by the home fans at Santiago Bernabeu on numerous occasions.
The Frenchman enjoyed a dream start to life in Madrid, winning the UEFA Champions League title in his very first season at the club. Zidane would only win one other trophy during his 5-year stint at the Santiago Bernabeu, though, turning the fans turned against him.
The love he received in the first few seasons was replaced with boos and catcalls. That was especially the case as Zidane became a shadow of the player he once was in the later stage of his career. The jeers from Real Madrid fans only got worse with time before the legendary Frenchman hung up his boots in 2006.
When Real Madrid fans jeered Cristiano Ronaldo during a home game, Zidane remarked:
"I don't understand the jeers for Ronaldo, but at the same time, I look at it and note that it even happened to me (too)."
#1 Cristiano Ronaldo | Real Madrid
Cristiano Ronaldo is Real Madrid's most successful and decorated player in the club's illustrious 119-year history. The Portuguese accumulated a remarkable tally of 16 trophies during his nine-year stint at the Spanish capital. That includes four Champions League trophies and two league titles.
The Manchester United man is Real Madrid's all-time leading goalscorer, netting 450 goals in 438 competitive appearances for the Spanish powerhouse.
A whopping £84.6 million was paid to acquire Ronaldo from Manchester United in the summer of 2009. The Portuguese was unveiled in front of a packed Santiago Bernabeu by Real Madrid greats Eusebio and Alfredo Di Stefano. He turned out to be undoubtedly Real Madrid's most successful transfer in history, as the five-time Ballon d'Or winner paid dividends on and off the pitch.
However, Ronaldo's ridiculous goalscoring record and contributions were not enough to satisfy the Real Madrid faithful. He received boos and catcalls on numerous occasions. That eventually forced Sergio Ramos to speak up in defence of his illustrious teammate.
Despite a good performance in Real Madrid's 2-0 win against Napoli, Ronaldo was booed by the home fans for missing an easy opportunity. In a post-match interview, the then-Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos said:
"I would tell the fans to think a little first... He's a historic player for Real Madrid; he keeps proving that year after year; look at what he has achieved."
The Portuguese was also booed following Los Blancos' 3-0 win against Real Sociedad, in which he found himself on the scoresheet. This time though, the legendary forward responded, as he shouted "sons of b******" to the fans booing him.
