There are some sports where being selfish and greedy is important: tennis, golf and F1 all spring to mind. But, unlike those, football is a team sport made up of 11 different individuals – not excluding those in the dugout and the thousands of supporters – who are all working towards a common goal. But that’s not to say the beautiful game is completely excused from self-obsessed players.

But is it necessarily a bad thing? It depends on how you perceive greatness and the lengths that players go through in order to become the best of the best – or at least in said conversations.

The success of many footballers – of past and present – has been built on a self-imposed resilience and greed. As frustrating as it can be, especially when it comes as a detriment, the mavericks of the footballing world are commonplace. Some players can’t resist the urge to make it all about themselves; and we’ve enlisted the help of AI to whittle it down to the 15 most selfish players in football right now.

15

Sadio Mane

What AI said: “Tantrums over subs and low assists (just 2 in a poor 2022/23); his Liverpool fallout with Salah cemented the rep.”

Sadio Mane, now 33 years of age, was immensely talented at the apex of his powers at Liverpool. Combining with Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino was a joy to watch on a week-by-week basis for the Anfield faithful – but his contributions on the pitch only pushed his selfishness aside, some would claim. Was he altruistic, though? Many would disagree.

Often viewed as a teamplayer during his spell at trophy-laden Anfield, there are some who point towards his tantrum in December 2020 after being substituted by Jurgen Klopp. His tensions with the aforementioned Salah, too, can be attributed to how he may be seen as being selfish, though whose side you are/were on is objective. Nonetheless, AI also pointed to his low number of assists in the 2022/23 season.

14

Matheus Cunha

What AI said: “Hoards possession like a ‘selfish CR7 clone’; previous games show him ignoring open runs for low-percentage shots.”

Having made a name for himself while spearheading the attack for a weakened Wolverhampton Wanderers side, Matheus Cunha was often required to put the Old Gold on his back in the pursuit of getting a result – and, inevitably, the selfish tag quickly followed the Brazilian. He’s now in the spotlight for Manchester United.

Since his transfer, he’s brought a much-needed sense of get-up-and-go to Ruben Amorim’s front line, but that is easily misconceived as being selfish. Not afraid of picking up the ball and threading through the opposition with ease, Cunha often opts for letting off a shot rather than passing to a teammate. A fantastic player nonetheless.

13

Mario Balotelli

What AI said: “Off-pitch antics (e.g., contract disputes) and on-pitch showboating continue; Jamie Carragher cites his self-interest as ongoing.”

Football’s archetypal bad boy, Mario Balotelli was one of the beautiful game’s most exciting players during his breakthrough period – but that never did the Italian striker any justice. Instead, he turned to greed as a way of making it to the top, and that doesn’t always refer to his on-pitch antics. His off-the-pitch stunts made him a household name, but not in a good way.

Never too far away from controversy, Balotelli eventually faded into obscurity once many realised that he wouldn’t live up to the hype. He often put his clubs – such as Manchester City and Liverpool – into a spot of bother because of how he acted. A loose cannon, for sure, the 35-year-old’s downfall has been entirely self-inflicted.

12

Rafael Leao

What AI said: “Endless dribbles without payoff; called ‘most selfish athlete’ seen, prioritising flair over team progress.”

Playing for a team that has fallen from being one of the most dominant sides in Europe to a mere afterthought is tough, of course, but Rafael Leao‘s unwillingness to pass in opportune moments earns him a place on this star-studded list. Incredibly, though, he believes that he could reach Cristiano Ronaldo’s level if he was more selfish.

If the Portuguese wideman was scoring bucketloads of strikes, the feeling surrounding Leao’s perceived selfishness – especially in the final third – would diminish quickly, but that isn’t necessarily the case. That’s because scoring goals, based on the fact that he’s plundered 73 strikes in 264 AC Milan outings at the time of writing, is not his forte.

11

Jeremy Doku

What AI said: “Runs counters solo for 30+ yards, losing possession; labelled ‘worst and most selfish’ by fans for amateurish ball retention.”

Jeremy Doku is one of those players who can leave defenders in the dust. With relative ease, too, as fans have seen on many occasions when members of the opposition side are left chasing the Belgian down the wing as a means of not getting embarrassed. With pace to burn, it’s a regular feature when watching the 23-year-old for Manchester City or Belgium.

With that, however, comes the criticism. He’s keen to hold onto the ball – often for too long – as he looks to create an opening for him to run into, but when his gamble doesn’t pay off, he’s often left with egg on his face. That happens way too often for him not to be considered as selfish.

10

Cole Palmer

What AI said: “Hoards penalties and set-pieces, frustrating teammates; compared unfavorably to unselfish creators like Hazard or Messi.”

What with being Chelsea’s go-to man for the majority of their forward-thinking play, Cole Palmer is inevitably going to be selfish. A cut above the rest in terms of his quality, the Englishman – commonly viewed as one of the best penalty takers in world football – has proven why Pep Guardiola was naive to let him go in the summer of 2023.

Where Chelsea would be without his set-piece brilliance remains unknown, but Palmer has stepped up to the plate on countless occasions when the Blues needed him most. One of his favourable characteristics is his ability to take games by the scruff of the neck, but his air of self-importance does raise questions about whether his form, and blossoming relationships with teammates, is sustainable.

9

Noni Madueke

What AI said: “Awful decision-making—dribbles into dead ends instead of passing; criticised as the “most selfish” in PL for lacking end product.”

Noni Madueke looks like a player re-born under Mikel Arteta at Arsenal – but he made quite a name for himself at fellow London outfit Chelsea. Questionable decision-making, which was encapsulated by opting for needless runs down the line while ignoring calls from teammates, was at the forefront of his Stamford Bridge career.

Hitting the nail on the head, AI cited his end product – or lack thereof – as a contributor to why many believe he is selfish on the pitch. Rarely a goal threat, Martin Keown outed the now-Arsenal man by suggesting that he was worried by his arrival thanks to his selfish traits. Whether he can prove his compatriot wrong, however, remains to be seen.

8

Alejandro Garnacho

What AI said: “Refuses simple passes (e.g., ignoring overlaps from full-backs); young but already notorious for selfish counters that fizzle out.”

Once regarded as the next big thing in Manchester United’s ranks, Alejandro Garnacho moved to Chelsea in the summer of 2025 as he felt that he was worthy of earning more minutes. It’s a move, thus far, that hasn’t worked out for him; but his selfishness got the best of him when better options were on the cards.

Remarkably, from an on-the-pitch perspective, there have been countless times when the youngster has ignored a marauding full-back and decided to go alone. The outcome, typically, doesn’t work out. The Argentine’s breakthrough at Old Trafford came during a period where excitement was needed; Garnacho provided that, but he soon slipped down the pecking order, and that’s also the case in west London.

7

Bruno Fernandes

What AI said: “Takes every set-piece and shot, even suboptimal ones; his frustration when benched exposes a “me-first” approach in tight games.”

Bruno Fernandes is, without question, the most important signing of the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era at Manchester United. Where they’d be without the talismanic attacking midfielder is not worth thinking about – but he is certainly a divisive figure among the fanbase, especially when he reverts to playing speculative balls.

A top chance creator, Fernandes has also been outed for his petulance – throwing his arms up in the air when things don’t go his way, for example – in the past. For that alone, he can be considered selfish at times. What cannot be thrown into disrepute, however, is the 31-year-old’s gold-standard work-rate.

6

Erling Haaland

What AI said: “Pure poacher mentality. Often bypassing link-up play; it’s effective but alienates creators around him.”

Although Erling Haaland is not merely a rampant goalscorer, hitting the back of the net is the Norway international’s most attractive trait. Irrespective of which club he has led the line for, the Leeds-born striker has been a guarantee of goals – and teams, including Pep Guardiola’s side, have often set up to cater for the bagsman’s tendency to shift and shoot on sight.

And, well, would he be such a brilliant record-breaker if he wasn’t so selfish? The answer is simple: no. Haaland knows exactly what he’s great at, as do his teammates, and using him in a certain way so that all parties benefit is the perfect way to win trophies. If the robotic, free-scoring frontman wasn’t so rampant in front of goal, it would be regarded as more of an issue.