In the world of sports, we idolise many athletes. We look up to them for their achievements on the pitch, in the ring, or on the track. However, these stars sometimes remind us that greatness in sport doesn’t automatically translate to being a role model off the field. Here, we examine 50 prominent sports personalities who share one common trait – they’ve all been convicted of crimes.
George Best
The Manchester United legend was sentenced to three months in prison in 1984 for drink-driving and assaulting a police officer. This incident marked another chapter in Best’s troubled relationship with alcohol.
Kurt Zouma
The West Ham defender was convicted of animal cruelty in 2022 after a viral video showed him kicking his cat. He was sentenced to community service and banned from keeping cats for five years.
Mike Tyson
The former heavyweight boxing champion was convicted of rape in 1992, receiving a six-year prison sentence for attacking 18-year-old Desiree Washington. Released after serving three years, the conviction marked a turning point in Tyson’s career and permanently damaged his reputation.
Paul Gascoigne
The England football icon was found guilty of racist harassment in 2016 during a live show in Dudley. He was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay £1,000 in compensation to the victim.
Jan Ullrich
The 1997 Tour de France winner was convicted in 2014 of causing a car accident while under the influence of alcohol. He received an 18-month suspended sentence.
O.J. Simpson
The NFL Hall of Famer was convicted of armed robbery and kidnapping in Las Vegas in 2008. He was sentenced to 33 years in prison but was released on parole in 2017.
Diego Maradona
The football legend was convicted of cocaine possession in Italy in 1991. He received a 15-month suspended sentence and was banned from football for the same period.
Marion Jones
The Olympic sprinter was sentenced to six months in prison in 2008 for perjury related to steroid use. She was stripped of her five Olympic medals from Sydney 2000 after admitting to using performance-enhancing drugs.
Ryan Giggs
The Manchester United legend was convicted in 2022 of domestic abuse and controlling behaviour towards his former girlfriend. He received a suspended sentence and community service.
Boris Becker
The German tennis legend was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison in 2022 for hiding assets during his bankruptcy proceedings. He served eight months before being deported to Germany.
Tony Adams
The Arsenal captain was sentenced to four months in prison in 1990 for drink-driving. Upon release, he became a prominent advocate for tackling alcoholism in sport.
Oscar Pistorius
The South African Paralympic champion was convicted of murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in 2015. After several appeals, he was sentenced to 13 years and five months in prison. He was released on parole in January 2024.
Rulon Gardner
The Olympic wrestling champion was convicted of tax fraud in 2012, leading to bankruptcy. He received a suspended sentence and was ordered to repay millions.
Eric Cantona
The Manchester United striker was convicted of assault in 1995 for his infamous ‘kung-fu kick’ on a Crystal Palace fan. He received 120 hours of community service and was banned from football for eight months.
Michael Vick
The NFL quarterback was convicted in 2007 of running an illegal dogfighting ring. He served 23 months in prison and lost millions in sponsorships and salary.
René Higuita
The Colombian goalkeeper was imprisoned for seven months in 1993 after being convicted of acting as an intermediary in a kidnapping case.
Joey Barton
The English footballer was sentenced to six months in prison in 2008 for assault following an incident in Liverpool city centre.
Patrick Kluivert
The Dutch football star was convicted of causing death by dangerous driving in 1995. He was sentenced to community service following a fatal car accident.
Tiger Woods
The golf legend was convicted of reckless driving in 2017 after being found under the influence behind the wheel. He received community service and a fine.
Bruno Fernandes
The Brazilian goalkeeper was sentenced to 22 years in prison in 2010 for the murder of his former girlfriend.
Floyd Mayweather
The boxing champion was sentenced to 90 days in jail in 2011 for domestic violence. He has faced multiple allegations of violence against women throughout his career.
Nicolas Anelka
The French footballer was convicted by the FA in 2014 for making an antisemitic gesture. He received a substantial fine and a playing ban.
Tonya Harding
The American figure skater was convicted in 1994 for her role in the attack on rival Nancy Kerrigan. She received three years’ probation and was banned from figure skating for life.
Adam Johnson
The English footballer was sentenced to six years in prison in 2016 for sexual activity with a minor.
Lionel Messi
The football superstar was convicted of tax fraud in Spain in 2016. Along with his father, he was found guilty of defrauding the Spanish state of €4.1 million. He received a 21-month suspended sentence and a €2 million fine.
Lawrence Taylor
The NFL legend was convicted of drug possession in 1996 and attempted to purchase crack cocaine. He has had multiple legal issues throughout his life.
Sepp Blatter
The former FIFA President was convicted of fraud in 2022 over FIFA payments, though he was later acquitted in Swiss courts.
Lance Armstrong
The cyclist received a lifetime ban in 2012 for extensive doping violations. He was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles.
Robinho
The Brazilian footballer was convicted of sexual assault in 2017 for his role in a gang rape in Milan. He received a nine-year prison sentence in Italy.
Pete Rose
Baseball’s all-time hits leader was convicted of tax evasion in 1990, receiving a five-month prison sentence and a $50,000 fine. This came after his lifetime ban from baseball for gambling.
Michel Platini
The former UEFA President was convicted of fraud in 2022 over suspicious payments, though he was later acquitted in Swiss courts.
Karim Benzema
The Real Madrid star was convicted in 2021 for his role in blackmailing teammate Mathieu Valbuena. He received a one-year suspended sentence.
Jack Tatum
The NFL legend was convicted of tax evasion in 1997. He received a suspended sentence and a fine.
Neymar
The Brazilian football star was convicted of tax fraud in Brazil in 2016. He was ordered to pay a substantial fine.
Lee Hughes
The English footballer was sentenced to six years in prison in 2004 for causing death by dangerous driving.
Javier Mascherano
The Barcelona player was convicted of tax fraud in Spain in 2016. He accepted a fine and a suspended prison sentence.
Luke McCormick
The English goalkeeper was sentenced to seven years and four months in prison in 2008 for causing two deaths by dangerous driving while under the influence.
Samuel Eto’o
The Cameroonian football star was convicted of tax fraud in Spain in 2016. He accepted a large fine and a suspended prison sentence.
Radja Nainggolan
The Belgian footballer was convicted of drunk driving in 2021. He lost his driver’s license and received a fine.
Paolo Rossi
The Italian football legend was convicted of match-fixing in 1980. He served a three-year ban but returned to become Italy’s hero in their 1982 World Cup victory.
Alexis Sanchez
The Chilean footballer was convicted of tax fraud in Spain in 2018. He accepted a fine and a suspended prison sentence.
Uli Hoeness
The Bayern Munich President was sentenced to three and a half years in prison in 2014 for tax evasion totalling €28.5 million.
Aaron Hernandez
The former NFL tight end was convicted of first-degree murder in 2015 and sentenced to life without parole. He later committed suicide in prison.
Xabi Alonso
The Spanish midfielder was convicted of tax fraud in 2019. He accepted a fine and a suspended prison sentence.
John Terry
The Chelsea captain was convicted by the FA in 2012 of racist abuse. He received a playing ban and a substantial fine.
Diego Costa
The Atlético Madrid striker was convicted of tax fraud in Spain in 2020. He accepted a fine and a suspended prison sentence.
Cristiano Ronaldo
The football superstar was convicted of tax fraud in Spain in 2019. He accepted an €18.8 million fine and a 23-month suspended prison sentence.
Ricardo Carvalho
The Portuguese defender was convicted of tax fraud in Spain in 2018. He accepted a fine and a suspended prison sentence.
Marcelo
The Real Madrid defender was convicted of tax fraud in Spain in 2019. He accepted a fine and a suspended prison sentence.
Jérôme Valcke
The former FIFA Secretary General was convicted of corruption in 2020. He received a 120-day suspended prison sentence.
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