23 of the most memorable dives in football: Ramos, Suarez, Gerrard…

Planet Football • 11 Sep 2018

Like it or not, simulation is part of football. And Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United, Barcelona and Real Madrid players are among the many to have stuck in our memory for diving.

In a sport in which players are actually told by referees that they must make any foul as clear as possible, there is never a shortage of theatrics.

Here is just a small selection of the best, worst and most utterly ridiculous dives that have been seen on a football pitch.

Chico Flores

Big Sam saw the funny side of Flores’ attempt, here.

Louis Van Gaal

Right in front of the official and everything. Disgraceful.

Kyle Lafferty

There was contact, honest.

David Luiz

Luiz later claimed that his smile was for Manchester United supporters calling him Sideshow Bob.

Alberto Gilardino

You can almost hear the sound of the sniper being fired.

Gordon Watson

Yes, somehow the referee gives the penalty Sheffield Wednesday’s way for this effort.

Sergio Ramos

They say centre halves are supposed to be big and strong…

Pepe

Anything Ramos can do…

"When you go to bed and close your eyes all you see are balls being pinged and Pepe’s deeply embarrassing but entirely unsurprising dive…"https://t.co/EW2VspZC5I pic.twitter.com/GYOtDYaFxR

— Unusual Efforts (@UnusualEfforts) June 22, 2018

Neymar

Against the club who later chose to pay £200million for him.

Morten Gamst Pedersen

A Premier League classic.

Dele Alli

Some people have wanted to see more gamesmanship from English players for years. To others, Alli is “shameful”. You can’t please everyone…

Because it seems to have been taken down AGAIN… heres Dele Alli’s shameful dive earlier on! I know it wasn’t given, but surely he’s got to be punished for persistent diving? It’s every game now! pic.twitter.com/051pVOYAi9

— Realistic Irons (@RealisticIrons) February 25, 2018

Steven Gerrard

Well, Alli did say Gerrard was his role model when he was younger.

Didier Drogba

Busted.

James Rodriguez

This was in a friendly.

Ashley Young

The classic flailing legs.

Leroy Sane

Quite astonishing that a dive can win a penalty, spark a mass brawl, and get two opposition players booked as well as yourself. The pure rage from Middlesbrough’s players too is something to behold.

Shane Long

Long’s goal somehow won Ireland the match, and this somehow won Mats Hummels a yellow card.

Luis Suarez

There were, ahem, a few Suarez dives we could pick from. But this was the best.

Arjen Robben

Oh, he thought he was going to get left out.

Nelson Oliveira

Just incredible.

Cristiano Ronaldo

Another one with a plethora of options, but a derby, the pure distance from the defender and the fact that the referee is so close and does nothing makes this exemplary.

Pascal Dupraz

Yep, managers dive too. Wouldn’t see Pards going down like this.

🔞 Âmes sensibles s'abstenir, Pascal #Dupraz heurté violemment par un avion en papier de 80 grammes #SRFCTFC pic.twitter.com/YqVkh5TdWk

— Wayne RennaisⓇ (@WayneRennais) November 25, 2016