5 players who are trolled more than they deserve

In the social media era of football, no player can escape intense scrutiny. Every good thing, every bad thing, every sensational trick, every embarrassing mistake is immediately seized upon by millions worldwide. While one wouldn't mind their successes being examined in this way, the same can't be said for those players who receive more abuse than compliments.

Perhaps the first truly trolled footballer was James Milner, with his comical 'Boring James Milner' parody twitter account; it envisaged his formidable but dull playing style as meaning Milner had a boring personal life. This was funny and fair and taken in good spirits by the player himself. However, some receive more trolling than they perhaps deserve to do.

This may be due to a run of poor form, against their usual standards, or because of their off-field personality. Whatever the reason, here are 5 players who don't deserve to be trolled to the level they currently do.

#5 Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)

Ronaldo has routinely been mocked by opposing fans, especially those of a Barcelona persuasion, for years now: his large ego, his preening personality, his selfishness have long made him an easy target. In the first half of this season, though, his outstanding talent no longer provided a solid answer to provocations.

Ronaldo, simply, was terrible in that period. He couldn't score, he couldn't assist, he couldn't do anything right seemingly; his troubles are a big reason why Real Madrid had no chance of winning the league title so early in the season. People said he was finished, his career was over. Videos were made of his embarrassing moments in key games.

Ronaldo, to his immense credit, has turned it around since January. After that uncharacteristically slow start, he now has 22 league goals, putting him second in the scoring charts behind rival Lionel Messi. He's still comfortably Madrid's best scorer, 13 goals ahead of the nearest challenger Gareth Bale.

In the Champions League, Ronaldo has 12 goals in just 8 games, a freakish tally. He isn't the player he once was - the electric speed has gone, the trickery is no more - but Ronaldo deserves far more respect than he receives on social media sites like Twitter. He may be on the decline but he's not finished just yet.

#4 Mesut Ozil (Arsenal)

Ozil starred as Arsenal knocked AC Milan out of the Europa League

Some players will always infuriate fans with their on-field attitude, and Ozil is certainly one. Often, he can appear uninterested in the game around him, not bothered by what's happening to his team. After each big game where he's been somewhat anonymous, Ozil has been quickly on the receiving end of mocking and teasing, sometimes even by Arsenal fans. He's an easy target though, an easy scapegoat for the team's troubles.

In the Premier League this season, the German has contributed 8 assists, the highest in the squad. It's no surprise that Ozil's greatest moments have come playing for either Germany or previous club Real Madrid: a world-class playmaker needs world-class talent around him in attack to finish off the myriad of chances he inevitably creates. Whereas he had Ronaldo and Gonzalo Higuain at Madrid, he has had players like Danny Welbeck and Theo Walcott struggling to match his levels for a few seasons now.

When Alexis Sanchez, the only one on par with him at the club, departed for Manchester United in January, Ozil was again mocked for staying, but with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang joining at the same time, it would appear like Ozil now has an excellent striker capable of finishing his chances off. His body language may not be what fans want to see, but they should never doubt his immense talent and ability to turn a game on its head.

#3 Mario Balotelli (Nice)

Balotelli has scored in any league he's played in

The tales of the crazy Balotelli are a modern-day legend by now: he fired air pistols in Milan with friends; he threw darts at a youth player at Manchester City; he set his own house on fire the day before a Manchester derby. While these and his persona have helped the Italian to gain a cult following, Balotelli is equally derided in the media for being highly overrated as a footballer. He frequents lists of overrated players consistently; he's often mocked for the downward spiral in his career.

These ignore his statistics, which back up Balotelli's talent. The only truly poor season he's had come at Liverpool in 2014/2015, when he scored just 1 league goal, but he had a troubled relationship with his manager Brendan Rodgers during that time.

He now plays in France for Nice, perhaps a side below his ability level, but Balotelli has delivered anyway. He scored 15 league goals last season and has 14 this campaign so far, both great returns. The relative quiet of Nice has allowed Balotelli to focus more on his football and it shows.

At 27, he still has his peak years ahead of him to return to the true top of European football and one wouldn't bet against him. He may not have truly lived up to the immense expectations on him since he burst onto the scene at Inter Milan but his career is far from the joke many made it out to be.

#2 Paulinho (Barcelona)

Paulinho battles with Chelsea's N'Golo Kante in a key Champions League game

Perhaps no transfer has shocked more in recent years than Paulinho's move to Barcelona last summer. His time in the Premier League with Spurs was still fresh in the mind, when he struggled to play at the level required. He couldn't tackle, he couldn't score, and he just couldn't perform.

When he left for China most thought his career on the top level of Europe was certainly over but then Barcelona came calling and took him from Guangzhou Evergrande. People found this hilarious and few said he would be a success with the club. What was often ignored was Paulinho's excellent form for his country, Brazil.

In 2017, he scored 5 goals from the midfield, helping them to World Cup qualification. He was a different beast from the player at Spurs, a powerful and confident box-to-box midfielder.

This season, he's stepped up for Barcelona when needed. He's not been graceful, he's not been delightful to watch, but he has contributed 8 goals in just 17 starts. In key games, Paulinho has been the strong and effective midfielder Barcelona has needed, when craft and flair haven't been as important. He's never going to be a legend at the club, but he'll be remembered for his part in their inevitable league triumph this season.

#1 Romelu Lukaku (Manchester United)

Lukaku has 14 league goals in a decent first season at Manchester United

Similar to Ozil, Lukaku has been abused for his lack of effort in games for a few seasons now. At Everton, he was often called out for going missing in big games, but these people conveniently ignored his lack of service from teammates in these contests. When he moved to Manchester United for the large fee of £75 million, there were many who laughed at the fee, and it seemed like many wanted the Belgian to fail immediately.

After a very strong start when he scored 10 goals in his first 9 appearances - breaking Sir Bobby Charlton's record - the goals dried up for a period and the criticism started. He was mocked for his first touch, for his attitude on the pitch, and for being an expensive flop. It was all premature and unfair on the striker.

Manchester United have struggled as a team throughout this season and Lukaku is still trying to striker up understandings with his fellow attackers like Jesse Lingard and new arrival Alexis Sanchez.

He's also notably provided the second most league assists, with a credible 7. He'll never be everyone's favourite player, with his tendency for clumsiness and hulking frame, but no one can deny that Lukaku is a powerful and fearsome forward.