Football players with attitude: From Ronaldo to Neymar, who’s the no. 1?

You don’t become one of the most sought after footballers in the world, and achieve what these players have, without an uncompromising and unapologetic attitude towards doing whatever it takes to win.

You might love or hate their attitude but there is no denying that these players are built differently, from a footballing standpoint and when it comes to their mental makeup.

Attitude matters nothing if you can’t back it up with performance and this lot are ample in both departments.

Check out the list of 9 footballers with most attitude below –

9 – Lionel Messi

Perhaps the only list where you would find Messi at the bottom of the rankings. The Argentine comes across a nice bloke but don’t be mistaken, Messi has a mean streak on him.

As Martin Samuel said in his article for Daily Mail back in 2015, there isn’t a low maintenance genius on the planet.

8 – Virgil van Dijk

The Liverpool defender plays with an air of arrogance you love to hate at times but it comes part of being a great world class defender.

The Dutchman is the biggest reason Liverpool have managed to play with such an outrageous high line in defence in the last few seasons.

7 – Paul Pogba

A flashy player with flair for days.

Along with his obsession for showing off absurd hairstyles on social media and over the top celebrations, Pogba remains one of the divisive figure in the world of football but rest assured, the boy can change the game when he is on song.

6 – Kylian Mbappe

Kylian Mbappe is the next big thing in the world of football and plays the game with an absolute belief and borderline arrogance on the ball.

But the Frenchman can also be a bit full of himself, case in point his unnecessary showboating when PSG were 6-1 up against Saint Etienne in a Coupe de la Ligue fixture.

5 – Erling Braut Haaland

The former Borussia Dortmund forward holds the forefront of Norway’s golden generation but also comes across very condescending in his interviews.

Haaland was also mocked by PSG players because of his arrogant Snapchat before the Round of 16 match between the two sides in the Champions League last season.

4 – Mohamed Salah

Former Liverpool captain Graeme Souness had slammed the Egyptian for being too greedy for goals but that is the kind of arrogance that also makes him the best.

Mohamed Salah was the top Premier League goalscorer in 2020 with 23 goals – the second time that he had topped the calendar year charts, following his 28 PL goals in 2018.

3 – Neymar