That's not the point. Its the combination of attitude and acts that make you see him on TV and say "What a Fvcking tool!!!" And then he starts talking his usual Cr@p and it just makes you want to punch the guy. Sitting there all smug, and fat and acting as if he were god's gift to Argentina and the world of football. I'm sorry, for me it is pretty easy to despise a person like him. But, yes, you are right...when I heard of his drug use, I was dissapointed at first, nothing more. It was just hearing about all his sad and pathetic issues that kept going on and on. I live in South America and we have a sports chanel that is call Fox Sports Americas (which should be call Fox Sports Argentina cause it's ALL they show) and he'd be there all the time crying about one thing or the other, weather it was losing in italy 1990, his drug and woman trouble and Boca and the Argentine national team and to top it all of POLITICS!!! And all with such an arrogant fashion. Sure, if you are from Argentina you see him as a bad ass, and not a cocky son of a bitch. They cheer this behavior on. Trust me, when I mentioned drug-use in my post, I was clear it was not THE REASON, but one of the many. I hope that it is now clear to you why Maradona could possibly be one of the most hated soccer players and why. Cris
No offense, but while MJ is without compare on offense, his defense was a little lacking. Now Dennis Rodman was the bomb on D. I hate Alexi Lalas and Marcello Balboa. Two more overrated defenders have never been born. To those that haven't a clue about MLS or USMNT they are the equivalent of Beckham...good at one aspect of the game, and adored for unknown reasons by those that are cosmetically fans of football.
On 2nd thought my vote goes to the Brazillian bastard that elbowed Tab Ramos in the face while across the touch line back in '94. What was that cowards name??? $hith&@d should never show it's face around here.
Leonardo. A quality player and that incident was really out of character. I think he was thoroughly ashamed of himself, as he should have been, but he learned from his mistakes and last I heard he was back at Milan as a scout. Very highly regarded. Anyway, I would say Savage is possibly the most hated player in the UK, closely followed by Bellamy. Both are just Welsh mouthpieces. I don't have a great deal of time for Jackie McNamara, Neil Lennon, Bobo Balde, Stilian Petrov, Alan Thompson, Chris Sutton and John Hartson either, but they're pretty insignificant in the grand scheme of things. Did everyone not really hate Edmundo? I remember when Flavio Zandona of Velez gave him a right good punch to the head while he was playing for Flamengo.
You might aswell just say you don't like any Celtic players, instead of just naming out the whole team....
Contrary to what you think about Jordan's "lacking" defense it's easy to make the argument that he should be considered one of the best if not the best defensive player ever... To go with his 1987-88 Defensive Player of the Year award, his air-ness has a RECORD 9...count em' 9 NBA All-Defensive First Team selections(1987-88 to 1992-93,1995-96 to 1997-98). He is also ranked 2nd in NBA history with 2,391 steals......yeah sounds like someone who is lacking defense eh?
got to be craig craig bellamy la la la la la for me. has to be the biggest nob in the world, not just in football. well i suppose people responsible for mass genocide are worse, but only just.
Now I have to disagree there, c'mon there are fellow legends that call him the greatest ever. Even Brazilians such as Roberto Carlos and Rivaldo have said he's the best ever. However on the topic of Argentina here's a player I'm surprised no one (especially England fans) have mentioned: DIEGO SIMEONE. Gosh I'm not a Englishman nor a Beckham fan, but this guy makes me sick. After the WC98 England/Argentina thriller he confessed to reporters that he simulated to have Beckham sent off. Also was seen at the press conference smiling at the admission. Fast forward to WC02 and here he was whispering in Beck-sucks ear during the penalty shot. I wish he'd retire, I dare to find a non-Argentine fan of his, I'm sure I'll have to look hard.
Ah forget him. Gilles Grimandi sorted him out. I love the "who-me?" look on his face, 10 seconds after he had just levelled the argie-twat with a forearm smash to the temple. Typical Frenchman!
I completely agree with this. He is slightly annoying. Slightly more annoying than anyone else, including Lothar Matthaeus. I would punch him, if I ever found him asleep and thought I could run away fast enough.
I can't stand Craig Bellamy. I think he is a cocky, big mouthed arsehole. He slagged Cov off after he left by saying there were bigger teams inthe Third division. ******** head!
Pippen always, ALWAYS, guarded the opposing team's best player, giving Michael Jordan more freedom to invade passing lanes, hence the steals. Jordan was a superior defender, but he was not going against the best wing players in the league night in night out, like Pippen. Hate to break it to you, but All-Defense teams are vastly overrated as a measure of quality. Gary Payton is still getting on them, and he is not the best, or second best defensive point guard in the league. Any one with quicks destroys him. He can guard the post, but he is a friggin' point guard. Sorry, but while Jordan's defense might not have been lacking per se, he was not the best defender of his time, and the qualifications you use are misrepresentative. As for footie, I hate John Terry, Mateja Kezman, and Craig Bellamy, and Lee Bowyer.
You state Dema as most hated because of a hard tackle resulting in a broken leg. But praise Cantona for jumping into the crowd to kick a fan? Typical Dallas prick, continue to enjoy the bottom of the league.
Since some old-timers have been brought up... from a historical perspective, the two of the most hated players have to be Claudio Gentile and Nobby Stiles.
personally it is rivaldo, he is the biggest cheat i have ever seen. on a whole tho beckham is the most hated (but also the most loved), but now his time has come PLZ RETIRE FROM INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL SO SWP CAN PLAY.
I'd say Jose Luis Chilavert. But it was no fun to hate him, because he loved to be hated. He cultivated hatred and he thrived on it. He took being hated and made it into an art form.