Top 3 divers in modern football

The dark arts have been part of football from time in memorial. These are basically tricks and antics that go against the rule book. Footballers and managers have intentionally used the lighter dark arts to give their sides some sort of advantage in a match.

Have you ever watched a neatly played match that has one team with countless 'injuries' at the death right after they score? It is common in football to see goalkeepers take a little bit of time to deliver goal kicks especially when their team is leading.

Managers have also been notorious for using the 'legal' dark arts such as making substitutions to take some few seconds off the clock. Others such as Jose Mourinho has perfected the art of game management.

At one time, it was revealed that Mourinho instructed one of his players to be intentionally booked so as to serve a one-match suspension. Sergio Ramos was then eligible to play in the second match which was of course key.

Darks arts stretch into the 20th century when pint-sized Diego Maradona somehow out-jumped England goalkeeper Peter Shilton to score with his hand in the 1986 World Cup. Argentina won that semi-final match 2-1 en route to winning the title.

Diving has always been a dark art in football and has paid off for some players. Diving is basically when a player goes to the ground with seemingly little or no contact from the opposing player. The primary goal is to win a penalty or free kick and by doing so deceives the match referee. These three players have been notorious for taking a tumble too easily over the years.

#3 Neymar Jr.

Neymar rolls theatrically after a foul at against Serbia

The Brazilian superstar is known for his impeccable skills on the ball and ability to score goals. Over the years, he has been the target of many fouls and contact from opposing players. In fact, in the 2018 FIFA World Cup, he became the most fouled player since the 1998 edition. There is no doubt that his talent and speed genuinely attracts contact. However, he has at times made the most out of situations.

In the just concluded World Cup, he attracted a lot of criticism for his diving and general theatrics even when little contact was applied. This was common in the matches against Costa Rica, Mexico, and Belgium.

In the Belgium match, he went down too easily in the box after a challenge from Thomas Meunier. Maybe if one is used to being fouled so much then taking advantage of the situation can often come to mind right? Only Neymar knows even as he recently mocked his own theatrics at the World Cup on social media.

#2 Arjen Robben

Robben threw himself to the ground to win a penalty against Mexico

On February 10, 2016, Robben was guilty of a shameful dive during Bayern's match against Bochum in the DFB-Pokal Cup. The tricky winger attracted contact in the box but went down too easily and it led to Jan Simunek's sending off. The referee gave the penalty that Thomas Muller could not convert but they still won 3-0.

The biggest dive of his career that he eventually admitted to was during the 2014 World Cup last 16 match against Mexico. The Bayern Munich star and Dutch veteran are without a shroud of doubt one of the best attackers of his generation.

He has played for the biggest clubs in Europe including Bayern Munich and Chelsea. Robben has in the past been involved in simulation to try and get undue advantage. The Netherlands had been given a tough time by Mexico in that match.

Robben won his side a penalty after theatrically going to the ground following a simple challenge from Rafael Marquez. This penalty enabled the Netherlands to prevail 2-1 and qualified for the semi-final.

#1 Ashley Young

Young goes to the ground after minimal contact

Before Young developed a solid reputation as the versatile wingback and fullback he is today, he was a speedy winger with a knack for delivering sumptuous crosses. Young had built another reputation as a serial diver. He has been called out over 10 times for diving in his career for Manchester United and England.

On October 12, 2010, he was booked for diving during England's Euro 2012 qualifying match against Montenegro. He strongly denied taking a tumble despite his habit of doing so. More notably, on April 8, 2012, he got Queen Park Rangers' Shaun Derry sent off inside 15 minutes. Young was in an offside position when Wayne Rooney played the ball with very little contact with Derry. Young did the rest by falling down theatrically.

Barely a week later, he was involved in another incident against Aston Villa in United's 4-0 win. Young made the most of the contact with Ciaran Clark to win the penalty inside ten minutes. Even his own manager Sir Alex Ferguson called him out for the repetitive simulation he was associated with.