Diego Costa was the MASTER of the dark arts. Biting, stamping, elbowing, pulling hair, scratching faces, provoking defenders until they snapped — this man did it ALL. Costa didn't just want to score goals, he wanted to make every defender's life a living nightmare. And he was very, very good at both!
Country: Spain / Brazil Position: Striker Career: 2006-2021 Clubs: Braga, Penafiel, Celta Vigo, Rayo Vallecano, Valladolid, Atlético Madrid, Chelsea, Wolverhampton
The Rap Sheet
- Appeared to bite Chelsea's Branislav Ivanović and Atlético's Gabriel during separate incidents
- Stamped on Liverpool's Emre Can during a League Cup semi-final in 2015
- Received a 3-match ban for violent conduct against Arsenal's Laurent Koscielny
- Regularly provoked defenders with scratching, hair-pulling, and secret elbows off the ball
- Was sent home from Chelsea after a text message from manager Antonio Conte told him he was not wanted
The Verdict
Costa scored 59 goals in 120 games for Chelsea and won two Premier League titles. But watching him play was like watching a villain in a movie — you knew something terrible was coming, you just didn't know WHAT. The ultimate wind-up merchant with serious goals to back it up!
Tomorrow: #13 — Stay tuned for the next villain!
