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Football, the most popular sport in the world, is a celebration of contrasting characters. The skills and goals are only a part of the story; the erratic personalities are what make the game unpredictable and exciting.
Today, we will talk about the men that rule football. These players are not only exceptional with the ball at their feet, but they can also tip the scales in their favor without it. Today, we are giving you a list of leadership, unnecessary on-field feuds, and intimidating figures. Here are the
5 most menacing footballers in the world right now
#5 Diego Costa - Atletico Mineiro
Diego Costa is one of the very few strikers in world football who possess a one-track mindset. He does not try to do too much, he just gets on the ball and does his best to hit the back of the net. Being a lethal striker is not the only reason why he is intimidating, though. His off-the-ball antics are just as noteworthy.
Diego Costa, who has won multiple titles with Chelsea and Atletico Madrid, has drawn a lot of fire over the course of his career. Not only does he tend to be in the middle of on-field feuds, but he is also known to instigate them.
Costa infamously received a three-match ban following a stamping incident on Liverpool players in January 2015. Costa, who considers himself a noble footballer, claimed that he did not hurt his opponents deliberately.
#4 Zlatan Ibrahimovic - AC Milan
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is a man of many talents. He can score outrageous goals, shake off injuries quicker than most of his contemporaries, and become a nightmare for his opposition defenders. Standing at 6 ft 5 inches, Zlatan Ibrahimovic is a daunting opponent as it is. Add his angry and trigger-happy personality to the mix and you get one of the most intimidating men out there.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is not one to play dirty. However, it does not take much time for him to make a mountain out of a molehill. He has gone toe-to-toe with many opponents for even the slightest of infractions.
In his early days, he used to have regular confrontations with opponents, managers, and even journalists, which drew much criticism. He has become a lot more grounded over the last few years, but he is still far from a man of peace.
#3 Cristiano Ronaldo - Manchester United
Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the best football players the world has ever seen. The man from Portugal is an insane striker of the ball, can wiggle his way out of trouble, and is a fearless leader even without the captain’s armband. Ronaldo is also one of the very few footballers you would not want to mess with.
Thanks to his reputation as one of the best strikers in the world, Cristiano Ronaldo draws a lot of fouls. And as expected, many of them are a little too harsh. Ronaldo usually loves to ride the challenge, but he never leaves the opportunity to tell a defender off when required.
Ronaldo famously butted heads with Barcelona players during Jose Mourinho’s stint as Real Madrid manager. The former Real Madrid number 7 even pushed Pep Guardiola for time-wasting during El Clasico in 2010. His recklessness saw him pick up a yellow card.
#2 Pepe - FC Porto
Since its inception, football has seen many hot-heads, but very few have been as merciless as former Real Madrid man Pepe. As a defender, Pepe has been nothing short of world-class throughout his career. Had it not been for his temper, he would have been hailed as one of the best defenders of this generation.
Pepe, who enjoyed 10 years at Real Madrid, struggled with anger issues for most of his spell. He was suspended for 10 matches following the tussle against Getafe players in April 2009. He does not have such fits these days, but he is still one of the most unpredictable and intimidating figures in world football.
#1 Sergio Ramos - Paris Saint-Germain
Former Sevilla and Real Madrid player Sergio Ramos is notorious for being an intimidating figure on the football pitch. He has a personality that very few people can stand up to, which is not a surprise considering the violent streak he has. Sergio Ramos has butted heads with pretty much every opponent there is, including former rival and current team-mate Lionel Messi.
Sergio Ramos, who won four Champions Leagues with Real Madrid, spent 16 seasons in the Spanish capital. He not only established himself as one of the best centre-backs in the history of La Liga, but also as the most-carded player in the league. He picked up a total of 214 yellow cards and 26 red cards for Real Madrid across all competitions, which is nothing but astonishing.
Ramos has always been a violent protector of his friends and is known to come charging out whenever the situation demands him to.
