The 5 most unsporting moments in World Cup history

#4: Rivaldo feigns being struck in the face, World Cup 2002

In his prime, Brazilian forward Rivaldo was a truly world-class performer, capable of spectacular feats on the pitch that few other players could match.

Unfortunately, despite some excellent showings in the World Cup during the 1998 and 2002 tournaments, he’s most remembered by fans for a seriously unsporting moment in 2002 that eventually saw him fined around £5000.

In a meeting with Turkey in the opening fixture of the group stages, Brazil were leading 2-1 as the game’s dying minutes ticked away.

Rivaldo had actually scored Brazil’s second goal from the penalty spot in the 87th minute, and as Brazil were awarded a corner with minutes remaining, he decided to stall for time and made no attempt to fetch the ball, which sat on the edge of the Turkish penalty area.

Annoyed by this, Turkish defender Hakan Unsal – who had already been shown a yellow card – decided to kick the ball towards Rivaldo, and despite it clearly striking him lightly on the thigh, he fell down like he’d been shot, clutching his face in apparent agony in the process.

The referee, convinced by the Brazilian’s play-acting, drew out a second yellow card and sent Unsal off.

Despite being slapped with the £5000 fine for his actions Rivaldo seemed unapologetic after the game – claiming that while the ball hadn’t hit him in the face, he was “still the victim”.

Granted, Unsal probably shouldn’t have kicked the ball towards him, but there could be no doubt that Rivaldo’s play-acting – and shameless attitude afterwards – was amongst the most unsporting actions in World Cup history.