10 Funniest Players in Football History [Ranked]

Academic research suggests that while the average adult laughs just 15 times a day, children giggle around 400 times daily. Roy Keane would argue that football shouldn't contribute to either statistic, but for many, the sport is as much a spectacle as it is a competition.

Sure, you don’t tune in to a match expecting a comedy show—you watch for the excitement and unpredictability. But over the years, football has gifted us with some of the game’s biggest jokers—players who thrive on winding up opponents, entertaining fans, and embracing the lighter side of the sport.

Marseille’s Neal Maupay has taken football’s "clown" status to another level, using social media to rattle fans worldwide. But how does he stack up against Zlatan Ibrahimovic, whose sheer arrogance is so over-the-top, it’s hilarious?

We’ve scoured football history to find the players who never fail to make us laugh and ranked the top 10 funniest footballers based on:

• On-pitch antics – Do they bring their humor to the game itself?
• Off-pitch personality – How do they entertain in interviews and on social media?
• Wind-up factor – Just how easily do they get under the opposition’s skin?

10. George Best

Northern Ireland

Looking back at the 1968 Ballon d'Or winner, George Best, is the easiest way to find a mix of wit, charm, and pure footballing brilliance. Fans adored him for his dazzling skills on the pitch, but it was his larger-than-life personality off it that cemented his legendary status.

Best's life became a whirlwind of empty bottles, flashy cars, and reckless spending. A true Northern Irishman at heart, he lived life to the fullest and made sure everyone around him enjoyed the ride. His former teammates have countless stories of his antics, proving there was never a dull moment in his presence.

Best was well aware of his own reputation, embracing it with a smile. As he famously put it: "I spent a lot of money on booze, birds, and fast cars. The rest I just squandered.”

9. Bruce Grobbelaar

Zimbabwe

To witness the comedic genius of Liverpool goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar, you only need to watch the highlights of the 1984 European Cup final. With the game locked at 1-1 after 120 minutes, the match was decided by a penalty shootout—and all eyes turned to the eccentric Zimbabwean.

With continental glory on the line, most keepers would focus on staying composed. Not Grobbelaar. Instead, he resorted to his now-iconic "spaghetti legs" routine, wobbling his knees to unnerve AS Roma’s penalty takers. What seemed like a ridiculous tactic on paper turned out to be a masterstroke, as Liverpool emerged victorious to claim their fourth European Cup in seven years.

Beyond his antics in Rome, Grobbelaar was a beloved figure in England, known for his flamboyant personality and tendency to swing on the crossbar during matches—much to the delight of the Anfield faithful.

8. Paul Gascoigne

England

Paul Gascoigne, better known as 'Gazza,' was one of football’s most charismatic and entertaining figures. Raised in the North East, he mastered the art of English humor long before stepping onto the pitch and carried that infectious energy into his professional career. His antics were legendary—none more so than the time he brought an ostrich to training at Tottenham just to prove he wasn’t a dull character.

While his off-field behavior often bordered on the bizarre, fans never minded because Gazza always delivered when it mattered. His unforgettable free-kick in the 1991 FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal helped propel Spurs toward their most recent FA Cup triumph. Though injury forced him off in the final, Gascoigne’s spirit remained unbreakable, as doctors recalled how he masked his pain with his trademark humor.

@TheGazza_: "You ever tried catching an ostrich?"

A sentence you'd only hear from Paul Gascoigne  pic.twitter.com/xmC2FM14Yz

— The Rest Is Football (@RestIsFootball) June 4, 2024

7. Mario Balotelli

Italy

"Why Always Me?"—a celebration that instantly became Premier League folklore. Mario Balotelli’s iconic undershirt reveal in the 2011 Manchester Derby was the perfect response to his critics, an arrogant yet fitting statement from a player who thrived in chaos. The timing made it even better—just days before the game, reports emerged that the Italian had set off fireworks in his own bathroom.

Balotelli was a walking headline, dividing opinion among teammates, staff, and fans alike, but there was no denying he was the league’s ultimate troublemaker. His antics at Manchester City’s training ground became the stuff of legend, including a so-called "harmless prank" that involved throwing darts at youth players out of boredom. No one was safe from his mischief, and his reputation as football’s ultimate wildcard was cemented when cameras caught him hilariously struggling to put on a training bib.

Never forget when Mario Balotelli got angry at a bib  pic.twitter.com/CKbUilvpN3

— Football Daily (@footballdaily) October 12, 2019

6. Jimmy Bullard

England

Jimmy Bullard embodied the classic British footballer—a hardworking midfielder who gave his all on the pitch but never lost his mischievous charm. An Essex lad through and through, he brought a lighthearted energy to every club he played for and was adored by teammates and fans alike.

His most memorable moment? That infamous finger-wagging celebration against Manchester City. In a stroke of genius, Bullard mimicked Hull City manager Phil Brown’s infamous halftime team talk from the previous season, where he had made the entire squad sit in a circle on the pitch for a public dressing-down. The playful jab could have gone either way, but Brown took it in good spirits, even applauding Bullard’s antics from the touchline.

5. Thomas Muller

Germany

A one-club man at Bayern Munich, Thomas Müller has long been a familiar figure in the Bundesliga, known not just for his footballing brilliance but also for his dry wit and down-to-earth personality. Unlike many modern footballers who revel in self-importance, Müller thrives on self-deprecating humor, never taking himself too seriously.

His most iconic comedic moment came after Bayern’s stunning 8-2 demolition of Barcelona in the Champions League. Trying to emphasize Robert Lewandowski’s prolific goalscoring ability, Müller proudly coined the nickname ‘Robert LewandGOALski.’ When the journalist interviewing him failed to react, Müller doubled down and repeated the joke, turning an awkward moment into an internet sensation.

"Mr Lewangoalski, see you soon in Munich."

Thomas Muller is a big fan of the UCL draw 

(via esmuellert/IG) pic.twitter.com/xrqcVc4BYY

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) August 25, 2022

4. Neal Maupay

France

Opinions on Neal Maupay largely depend on which team you support. Throughout his time in the Premier League, he has embraced the role of a classic "wind-up merchant" – a player who thrives on irritating opponents and riling up fans, both in stadiums and online. Whether it's taking jabs at the England national team or trolling Everton, his social media antics have consistently drawn attention.

But Maupay doesn't just limit his mischief to Twitter. On the pitch, he’s just as cheeky, as James Maddison discovered firsthand during a clash between Tottenham and Brentford in January 2024. After giving the Bees the lead, Maupay taunted Maddison by mimicking his signature darts celebration. However, celebrating so early in the match proved risky, as Spurs had the last laugh, overturning the score and throwing his antics back in his face.

3. Peter Crouch

England

At 6ft 7in, Peter Crouch was always destined to stand out. But rather than letting the attention overwhelm him, he embraced it, turning himself into one of football's most endearing characters. His lighthearted nature shone through with his now-iconic ‘robot’ celebration—an intentionally awkward dance that became a fan favorite. Seeing a towering, lanky striker attempt robotic moves was never going to be the smoothest sight, but that only added to its charm.

A proud member of the Premier League’s 100-goal club, Crouch carried his down-to-earth, self-deprecating humor into interviews, earning admiration from fans. His witty Twitter comebacks frequently went viral, with one of his most legendary TV moments coming when he cheekily admitted that, without football, he’d probably still be a virgin.

2. Jamie Vardy

England

Neal Maupay may be a modern-day wind-up merchant, but he’s simply following the blueprint laid out by Jamie Vardy. The Leicester City legend’s rise from non-league football to Premier League champion gave him a unique perspective on the game, and despite his success, he never lost his mischievous edge.

With a trophy cabinet that few could rival, Vardy never shied away from reminding others of his achievements. During both clashes against Tottenham in the 2024/25 season, he wound up Spurs fans by pointing to the Premier League badge and holding up a single finger—a cheeky nod to Leicester’s title triumph and a not-so-subtle jab at Spurs’ decades-long trophy drought.

After scoring  Tottenham both home and away, Jamie Vardy pointed to the Premier League badge twice to indicate he’s won more titles  pic.twitter.com/KGNo9VQuNz

— 433 (@433) January 26, 2025

1. Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Sweden

Zlatan Ibrahimovic would undoubtedly relish topping this list. The Swedish icon thrived on attention, carrying an ego that few in football could match—perhaps only Cristiano Ronaldo came close. Whether his over-the-top confidence was a carefully crafted persona or his genuine belief, it didn’t matter—his antics were pure entertainment.

One of his signature quirks was referring to himself in the third person, reinforcing his larger-than-life character. As his career progressed, he leaned even further into the humor of his self-assurance, famously likening himself to a lion.

During his stint at Manchester United, when asked why he didn’t consider himself the best striker in the Premier League, his response was classic Zlatan: “Lions don’t compare themselves to humans.”