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Diving has become more of a common occurrence in football, and at this point, it's really just a part of the game. It's now an art that requires training and plenty of practice to produce falls that can trick even the best referees in the sport.
Rolling on the ground while grimacing in pain and clutching the ankle (even though the opponent made slight contact with the upper thigh) can be the difference between one point and three points. Whether you're annoyed by footballers who circumvent the rules by getting a spot-kick with a dive, or you find it funny, there's no argument that even the best players in the world can be caught partaking in such antics.
Football legends like Pele and Diego Maradona weren't notable for rolling around in the grass when a defender got close to them, but it didn't matter too much. After all, the latter had his "hand of God" moment that brought a goal rather than a freekick or a penalty.
Many former footballers have enjoyed their fair share of diving in recent decades. Jurgen Klinsmann notably made fun of his diving by creating a goal celebration out of it. Robert Pires also managed to annoy Arsenal's opponents with a couple of dives, alongside all his goals and skills.
Without further ado, let's take a look at five top players who have been accused of diving in more recent years.
#5 Mohamed Salah | Liverpool
Call him what you will, the Liverpool talisman is arguably one of the best players ever to grace Anfield. His dribbling is electric and his goals have been brilliant, but he's been accused of diving a fair few times over the years. In fact, Premier League fans have argued that Mohamed Salah is the worst diver in the league's history. While that might not be true, the Egyptian international is clearly capable of hitting the ground at any touch.
Earlier this year, Mohamed Salah notably went down hard in the penalty area after making contact with Leicester City's Ricardo Pereira. The referee (and VAR) saw through the ruse and ignored the calls for a penalty. His opponents haven't always been so lucky though: West Ham conceded a penalty that brought Liverpool a win last season, and Salah's dive was so controversial that Jurgen Klopp had to speak in the star's defense.
#4 Harry Kane | Tottenham Hotspur
The embattled Spurs striker might be struggling to find his form this season, but his efficiency in front of goal last season was unparalleled. But it was his ability to sneakily snatch up the occasional spot-kick that stole a few headlines last year. The star has even managed to trick VAR as well!
Harry Kane's most notable diving event came during a controversial penalty call during Tottenham's game against Brighton last December. He notably initiated the foul by bending over slightly - rather than jumping for the ball - and allowing Adam Lallana to jump on him. His goal from the spot gave Tottenham their first home win in the Premier League last season.
#3 Luis Suarez | Atletico Madrid
The current Atletico Madrid star has been diving successfully since his early days at Liverpool, before moving to Barcelona. While Luis Suarez was in the Premier League, he was constantly criticized by the English media for his antics in the penalty area. Notably, he admitted to diving after a match against Stoke when former Stoke manager Tony Pulis called Suarez an embarrassment.
Barcelona's UEFA Champions League game against Paris Saint-Germain in 2017 saw the star make a brilliant dive deep inside the penalty area, which led to a penalty that helped Suarez's side secure a comeback. More recently, his diving antics at Atletico Madrid pissed off his former teammate Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who barely touched him inside the penalty area in a La Liga encounter last season.
#2 Cristiano Ronaldo | Manchester United
The Portuguese maestro is almost unrivaled in his attacking presence in any team he stars in, but his remarkable antics in the penalty area are a great source of criticism and angry debates. It's quite clear to everyone that Cristiano Ronaldo does everything it takes to win, and there are countless videos on the internet that showcase his controversial skill.
It caused discord and problems for fans in La Liga and Serie A while he was at Real Madrid and Juventus, but Cristiano Ronaldo hasn't dropped those antics for his Manchester United return. Just a few weeks ago, West Ham fans were quite upset after the star dove during a game against the Red Devils. Some even argued that he dove up to three times during the game! While that is questionable, Ronaldo's sneaky diving can be rather obvious at times.
#1 Neymar | Paris Saint-Germain
Similar to Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar's antics have been collated in numerous videos on the internet, but the former Barcelona star is likely the only player in the world to have an entire article from the New York Times dedicated to his diving. Clearly, there are levels to this art, and Neymar has excelled and become a diving master. His skill and flair on the ball are almost unmatched, but so is his diving.
Neymar once explained that he dives during matches to limit injuries but admitted that people wouldn't understand. However, football legends like Pele have said that Neymar's diving is difficult to defend from criticism. Nobody has perfected the art of diving like Neymar has, with the star successfully winning two penalties against Peru during last year's World Cup qualifiers with his antics.
