Football: 5 players who are fan favourites but hated by rival fanbases

Football is a highly emotive sport. In fact, many would say there isn’t a more allegiance-dividing sport in the world. Some treat football as a passion, while millions adopt it as a religion. Many a person has lost family and friends over the round-ball sport, leading outsiders to question whether it’s a healthy way to pass the time.

Regardless, we all love football and because of the teams we support, we dislike players of opposing teams by default.

Although everyone has their opinions in regard to their favourite players at their respective clubs, it’s undeniable that some players are heralded as fan favourites due to their star player status.

However, a star player for one team is public enemy for a rival fanbase.

Without further ado, here are 5 players who are fan favourites but strongly hated by rivals.

Also See : La Liga Transfer News, EPL Transfer News, Manchester united Transfer News.

#5 Gerard Pique

Gerard Pique has made over 400 appearances for Barcelona

After an unsuccessful stint in Manchester, Pique returned to his homeland to become a national legend. Shakira’s husband has been a mainstay in Catalonia for over a decade now. At Barcelona, the 32-year-old has won an unprecedented 3 UCL titles, 8 La Ligas and 6 Copa Del Reys, that’s what you call dominance. At the heart of all that success, Gerard Pique has emanated as a leader, taking over the reins from the immortal Carlos Puyol.

Pique’s resemblance of Barcelona’s success goes beyond his ability on the pitch. The Spaniard has been known to be very vocal on Twitter, often acting as a voice for the Catalonian people. Famously, in 2017 he did his best on social media to persuade the world that Neymar would indeed be staying at Barcelona, but the Brazilian left.

With that saga, Pique reaffirmed himself as the face of Barcelona. Even when he’s played for the national side, Spanish Real Madrid fans have viewed him as a Barca player rather than one of their own.

#4 Mohamed Salah

I don’t think there are many nicer guys in football than Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian king doesn’t have a bad bone in his body and all football fans can see that. However, star players, regardless of how nice they are, will always be despised by rival fans. Today, Mohammed Salah is Liverpool’s talisman and can be pinpointed as the catalyst for the Reds’ recent successes. Since arriving at Merseyside, the 27-year-old has scored a whopping 70 goals in 101 games, whilst adding 24 assists in the process.

The Merseyside derby is one of the longest-running derbies in England’s top flight, first played in 1962. The rivalry was initially friendly with the two clubs using the opportunity to poke fun at the Manchester clubs instead. However, since the inception of the Premier League, no match has had more red cards.

Such is the intensity of this rivalry, a nice guy like Mohamed Salah is now despised in the blue half of Merseyside just for the sole fact that he plays at Anfield.

#3 Dele Alli

The North London derby is one of the most heated local rivalries in world football. It was birthed when the Gunners moved from Woolwich to Islington all the way back in 1913. Since then, there have been 198 meetings between the two. The derby goes deeper than a competitive edge, as fans have taken this personal. That’s why a player like Dele Alli can never be appreciated by Arsenal fans, even if they’re English.

There isn’t a player on the planet that winds up Arsenal fans more than Dele Alli. It’s not just that he plays for Tottenham, it’s that he goes out of his way to antagonise the Arsenal faithful. Not only that, he often scores against the Gunners in crucial moments. Dele Alli epitomises everything Gunners fans don’t like about Tottenham. He’s a reminder to them how much better Spurs are than them in today’s climate.

#2 Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi has represented Barcelona over 400 times

Catalonian cult hero and the bane of every Real Madrids fan's life, Lionel Messi is one of the most talked-about players in world football. In fact, some consider the 31-year-old to be the best player that’s ever lived. So, it makes sense as to why Barcelona fans literally worship the ground he walks on. In Madrid's eyes, however, he can do no right.

Messi is despised not just for what he represents, but his exceptional ability too. There’s not a player alive that best represents Barcelona’s dominance over Madrid over the past decade more than Lionel Messi. The Argentine has been a thorn in the side of Los Blancos for so long, winning eight La Ligas in Spain.

You’ll be hard-pressed to find any Madrid fan that’ll admit the greatness of Messi. Instead, they go out of their way to downplay his achievements and ability.

#1 Sergio Ramos

Sergio Ramos has scored 59 goals for Real Madrid

Ask any Barcelona fan, they cannot stand the sight of Sergio Ramos. So much so, that it even hurts them to support Spain whilst he’s playing. That’s how deep tensions run in Spain. As with Gerard Pique, Barcelona fans struggle to get behind the nation’s captain at international tournaments. In fact, when Spain fail, they often attach the blame to Ramos instead of others more culpable.

The Madrid legend has been a mainstay at the Bernabéu for the past decade, epitomising everything the club stands for. He’s a clutch player that was designed and moulded for the bright lights and big occasions. Since putting on the famous white shirt for Real Madrid, the 30-year-old has won 20 trophies, a total that includes an unprecedented four Champions League titles. Ramos will go down as Madrid’s greatest ever CB, not only for his achievements but for how much Barcelona fans hate him.

Edited by Nnanna Mba