Eric Cantona (Manchester United and France)
Brilliant, yet highly controversial footballer with United and les Bleus in the late Eighties and early-to-mid Nineties, and like so many of the other figures on this list, the Frenchman will always be associated with an off-the-field incident as opposed to any number of brilliant on-pitch highlights from what was a glittering career at Old Trafford.
That moment, of course, came in January 1995 at Selhurst Park when after having been sent off, Cantona then reacted to being abused by a Crystal Palace fan by hurling himself feet first at the home supporter in the crowd with a kung-fu kick that subsequently saw the forward banned from English football for eight months.
Diego Maradona (Napoli and Argentina)
Perhaps the most controversial football of all time, as well as being one of the greatest too.
Whether it be the Argentinian’s suspensions for cocaine use, supposed involvement with the mafia during his time in Serie A with Napoli, being thrown out of the 1994 World Cup finals in the USA after testing positive for a banned substance, or shooting at members of the press waiting outside his house, Maradona just could not keep himself out of trouble during his playing career.