Hated, adored, never ignored. That's the mantra to follow for football's very best players, who simply cannot escape scrutiny.

In a sport that means so much to so many, heroes and villains are natural, and make the game all the more endearing to us fans.

Football needs these characters to keep entertainment high, to feed the quirks of tribalism and to give us memorable moments.

There are a select few players, though, who simply cannot fly under the radar and enjoy a quiet period without being either adored, despised or both at the same time.

Be it for the goals they score, the fouls they commit, or the way they conduct themselves on the pitch, there's always a crowd of haters swarming. Often, it's those who have found a way to the top of the game in some aspect, and cause fans of other clubs grief as a result.

Simply put, football would be quite boring if we had to like everyone within the game. A 90 minute contest is much more fun when the handbags are being thrown around in the form of dives, taunts, scraps and the like - unless you're a referee.

Anyway, in honour of those endearing characters who give the beautiful game all the colour and character it needs, GIVEMESPORT lists 12 of the most polarising players in football.

Arsenal line up two major signings (Football Terrace)

12. Lionel Messi

Perhaps an unexpected call at a glance, the status quo for most is that Messi is the greatest ever.

But, with statements as big as that come disagreements. Messi has his haters. A simple scroll through Twitter on a regular football weekend will confirm it, as the comments about 'Pessi' being a fraud come flooding in. Only the best insults online, these days.

Messi is a polarising man

BARCELONA, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 02: Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona reacts during the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and SD Huesca at Camp Nou on September 2, 2018 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

11. Pepe

A trailblazer in the art of football s***-housing, Pepe's defensive exploits were matched by an incredible pantomime villain character arc in his peak.

Rolling around on the floor, tactical bookings, getting up in players' faces, he'd do it all to secure a win at Real Madrid. Was also partial to a crunching, red card worthy challenge rather often, which didn't always go down well.

10. Diego Maradona

Beyond England's more senior population of football fans, there aren't many people anymore who hold a grudge against the late, great Diego Maradona. But back in the day after his 'hand of god' exploits against the Three Lions at the 1986 World Cup, he was public enemy number one.

He still is in the eyes of Peter Shilton. Let it go Peter. Please.

Maradona was a magician

LIMA, PERU - JUNE 23: Argentina player Diego Maradona in action during a 1986 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Peru at the National Stadium on June 23, 1985 in Lima, Peru. (Photo by David Cannon/Allsport/Getty Images/Hulton Archive)

9. Bruno Fernandes

Despite a dip in form throughout the 2021/22 season, Fernandes is still comfortably one of Manchester United's best players and, at his best, one of the most creative outlets in football right now.

United fans love him; most other English football fans do not. If it's not his 'stat-padding', it's the whining with referees and desire to hit the deck when tackled. Fernandes is a serious blood pressure raiser.

8. Luis Suarez

We love to hate him, but we also hate that we love him. Suarez in his peak was just too undeniably good in front of goal, knocking them in for fun alongside Messi and Neymar at Barcelona, and giving Liverpool hope before that.

His racism rows and several biting incidents over the years have unfortunately made it rather difficult for neutrals to like him, though.

Suarez Barcelona
BARCELONA, SPAIN - MAY 01: Luis Suarez of Barcelona celebrates after he scores his sides first goal during the UEFA Champions League Semi Final first leg match between Barcelona and Liverpool at the Nou Camp on May 01, 2019 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)

BARCELONA, SPAIN - MAY 01: Luis Suarez of Barcelona celebrates after he scores his sides first goal during the UEFA Champions League Semi Final first leg match between Barcelona and Liverpool at the Nou Camp on May 01, 2019 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)

7. David Luiz

While Pepe was holding the fort for the dark arts out in Europe, Luiz was mastering the craft in the Premier League with Chelsea in the 2010s.

When not putting in match-winning displays or scoring obscene goals, he was doing anything else he could to get over the line. Manchester United fans will never forget him smirking on the floor as he managed to get Rafael sent off in 2013.

6. Diego Costa

Prime Costa was the absolute pinnacle of strikers you don't want your defender to have to deal with in a big game.

The man was an absolute menace. As well as being very good at scoring goals, he was constantly on the wind up and made it living hell for any opposition he faced. Great fun in the Premier League.

Costa is a nuisance

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - MARCH 11: Diego Costa of Atletico Madrid kicks a bunch of water bottles as he reacts to being subbed during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg match between Liverpool FC and Atletico Madrid at Anfield on March 11, 2020 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

5. Carlos Tevez

You could not buy this man's loyalty, because he had none of it. You simply have to admire Tevez's mindset.

As well as being one of the game's best forwards in the late 2000s, he was a complete mercenary. He swapped Manchester United for City, then forced his way to Juventus, and has had three spells with Boca Juniors, split up by a move to China which he confessed was purely about the paycheque, calling the tenure a 'holiday'.

4. Cristiano Ronaldo

There's two sides to the coin of football. 'Pessi' or 'Penaldo'. There is no inbetween.

A man who has pushed Messi to the absolute limit of his superhuman powers, won five Ballon d'Or awards and helped create football's most unworldly rivalry based on pure talent, we'll never see levels like Ronaldo's again. Of course, though, he is a massive fraud if you believe what is said online.

Ronaldo is a polarising player

NORWICH, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 11: Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United celebrates after scoring their side's first goal during the Premier League match between Norwich City and Manchester United at Carrow Road on December 11, 2021 in Norwich, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

3. Paul Pogba

Fans of Manchester United will forever remain split on Pogba's exploits during his time at the club, solidifying his place as one of the most polarising footballers ever.

Immensely talented but endlessly mercurial and never one to hide his personality, the jury will forever remain out on just how good the World Cup winning Frenchman actually is.

2. Sergio Ramos

Is there any length this man won't go to to win? Ramos is undoubtedly football's biggest serial winner, and has become a polarising figure in the process.

While at Real Madrid, rivals such as Barcelona and Atletico Madrid despised his work, from late goals to professional fouls and simulation. The tables have turned again, though, and now Real fans aren't all that fond of the fact that he swapped them to join Paris Saint-Germain.

Ramos is the king of the dark arts

MADRID, SPAIN - JULY 02: Sergio Ramos of Real Madrid celebrates his team's first goal during the Liga match between Real Madrid CF and Getafe CF at Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano on July 02, 2020 in Madrid, Spain. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

1. Neymar

Coming in at number one, Neymar is of course football's most polarising player.

For everyone that loves his endless trickery and unique yet exceptional style of play, there are just as many people adamant that football's world record signing is a complete fraud, who's 'wasted' his years in Ligue 1. Earning loads of money, scoring loads of goals for club and country and lifting lots of trophies? Yeah, whatever.

QUIZ - The ultimate 2021/22 Man Utd quiz