They may be decent at playing football, but getting behind the wheel is a different story. Below, we take a look at some of football’s worst drivers.
Cristiano Ronaldo - 2009
Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano worth £200,000
Where should we start? How about with the man that many argue is currently the best player in the world: Cristiano Ronaldo. Back in 2009, The Portugal and Real Madrid striker (then of Manchester United) crashed his Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano into a tunnel wall just outside of Manchester. The accident took place on a stretch of road on the A538, which takes traffic under the runways of Manchester Airport between Wilmslow, Cheshire, and Hale.
Ronaldo was thought to have lost control of the rear-wheel drive vehicle whilst on his way to training at United's training base in Carrington. The car then crashed into a roadside barrier before bouncing off a wall. Back then the car was thought to have a top speed of 205mph, sprinting from 0-60mph in a blistering 3.7 seconds. Ronaldo reportedly purchased the Ferrari new in 2008, paying in the region of £200,000. It’s safe to say that he had a lucky escape and remarkably emerged without a scratch.
Arturo Vidal - 2015
Ferrari 458 worth £300,000
Next, we move onto a man who is no stranger to headlines: Arturo Vidal. In 2015, the Bayern Munich star was then signed with Juventus when he was involved in a crash in his newly-purchased Ferrari 458.
At the time, Vidal was in his home country Chile as he was on international duty. The accident was thought to have happened on a highway just outside the Chilean capital, Santiago. Early reports suggested that there may have been alcohol in his bloodstream; although this was never confirmed. He later took to Twitter, tweeting ‘luckily we are all alright.’ He was later treated at a local hospital for minor injuries.
Jeffery Schlupp - 2016
Lamborghini Huracan worth £190,000
A perhaps unexpected name on our list is current Crystal Palace and Ghanaian International Jeffery Schlupp. Although he has been around the Premier League for a few years now, he is probably best known for being part of the 5000-1 underdog Premier League winning squad: Leicester City, during the 2015-2016 season. Maybe not as high profile as some of the other players featured on the list, and perhaps a name you would not expect to feature.
However, in 2016 Schlupp crashed his £190,000 Lamborghini Huracan on the M1 Motorway, causing significant damage to the vehicle. There was damage to the roof, front windscreen and front right bumper. Much of the right-hand side of the vehicle was either dented badly or smashed.
At the time, Schlupp was on his way to training, but was driving in some pretty poor conditions during Storm Angus as the car spun out onto an embankment on the side of the M1. Emergency services arrived at the scene shortly after the incident had occurred near Lutterworth, Leicestershire. Luckily, Schlupp escaped unscathed.
Wayne Rooney - Multiple Crashes
£170,000 Aston Martin, and £40,000 Cadillac Escalade
The current England and Manchester united captain has had numerous crashes throughout his career, however most of these occurred when he was a youngster. He has reportedly crashed numerous expensive cars including more recently an Aston Martin, and a Cadillac Escalade in 2004. It’s fair to say that Wazza has been a lucky boy!
M'baye Niang - 2014
Ferrari 458 Spider worth £200,000
Currently on loan at Waford FC, the AC Milan player M’Baye Niang had a bad crash in 2014. Niang reportedly crashed his Ferrari 458 Spider which was then worth £200,000. The Ferrari was left abandoned at the roadside with extensive damage to the bodywork at the front and back end of the vehicle, after smashing into a tree.
However, this was somewhat of a mysterious accident. It’s safe to say that this one could have been a whole lot worse.
Karim Benzema - 2009
Lamborghini Gallardo worth £220,000
As one of Europe’s elite players, Karim Benzema is no stranger to headlines. Unfortunately back in 2009 this was for all the wrong reasons. Whilst celebrating his 22nd birthday on the French island of Reunion, his yellow Lamborghini Gallardo was involved in a crash whilst he was reportedly racing a Porsche 911 Turbo.
A month prior to this, the French and Real Madrid striker crashed a 4X4 into a tree near his home in Madrid, and again he walked away unscathed.
Mario Balotelli - 2012
Bentley Continental GT worth £140,000
Without doubt, someone you certainly would have expected to feature on this list, Mario Balotelli. Whilst at Manchester City, the Italian striker never seemed to be out of the headlines. This was the case on two occasions in 2012 and 2010. In 2012, Balotelli was involved in a car crash in his £140,000 white Bentley Continental GT. The accident took place on a busy road in Manchester city centre. Why always you Mario?
Diafra Sakho - 2016
Lamborghini Huracan worth £200,000
In 2016, the Senegalese and West Ham striker Diafra Sakho crashed his £200,000 Lamborghini Huracan into another vehicle and then through a garden wall. Sakho’s Lamborghini was seriously damaged and was declared a write off following the accident.
The accident took place in Hornchurch in Essex when Sakho collided with a Mini and into a garden wall. Witnesses at the scene had reported Sakho was ‘driving like a lunatic’ however sources closer to the player said that ‘this was purely an accident’ and that ‘he had simply lost control of the car.’ Sakho was not injured following the incident and took to Twitter saying: 'Thank you for the messages. Was involved in a small car accident this evening. Thankfully no one was hurt.' Judging from the pictures it looks like he was extremely lucky!
Nicklas Bendtner - 2009
Aston Martin DBS worth £170,000
The former Arsenal and Denmark striker was involved in an accident back in 2009 when he was driving to Arsenal’s training ground. The striker’s Aston Martin DBS (worth £170,000 at the time) was a complete wreck not long after purchasing the vehicle. It wasn’t long after he bought it that he wrote it off after crashing into a tree. The Danish forward was lucky as he only sustained minor injuries but was quite shaken up after the accident. It could have been a lot worse for Lord Bendtner.
Andre Wisdom - 2013
Porsche Panamera Turbo worth £100,000
In 2013 whilst on loan at Derby County, Andre Wisdom was forced to abandon his £100,000 Porsche Panamera Turbo after driving it into a swamp. Wisdom was thought to be using a Sat-Nav after he had got lost on the way to Derby’s stadium. At the time he had only been at the club for two weeks and was still unfamiliar with the local area. He entered the postcode of Derby’s ground into his Sat-Nav and took somewhat of a de tour down a woodland track. His car was then stuck and later on in the day it was recovered. At least it wasn’t a write off!
