Football's Worst Ever Cheating Divers

2. Juergen Klinsmann

Very few players come to mind as easily when this issue is on the table as Juergen Klinsmann, and it is true that the German striker took the criticism against him and used it to his benefit, adding a little self-mockery to his goal celebrations by diving to the grass when he hit the net.

That whole celebration came from an incident in the 1990 World Cup final, when Klinsmann rather comically won a free-kick on the right hand side of the penalty area. He collected the ball, and as Argentinean defender Pedro Monzon came to tackle him, dived and twisted his body in the air, adding three somersault-rolls to his performance.

The referee was suitably conned and Monzon was sent off, cruelly becoming the recipient of the first red card in a World Cup final ever. Germany meanwhile went on to win the tournament. And they say cheaters never prosper.

Clearly the referee decided to get in on the action, adding his own flamboyant touch to proceedings with one of the most unnecessarily ostentatious card awards in the history of the sport.