The football players suffering and committing the most fouls in Europe’s top leagues
| Updated: May 8, 2025Physicality remains a cornerstone of the modern footballer’s game. Speed, endurance, and technical skill under pressure are essential – but so is facing the game’s darker side. Sportingpedia‘s latest report focuses on the players who have been suffering and committing the highest number of fouls across Europe’s top 5 leagues during the 2024/25 campaign. Under the spotlight are the 25 footballers who have made and drawn the most fouls this season, including a breakdown of how often they are illegally stopped per minute of play.
Bruno Guimaraes stands out as the defining figure in this analysis, leading all players as the most fouled footballer this season while also featuring among those who commit the most fouls. His relentless involvement at both ends of the pitch highlights his key role for Newcastle. Only one other player, Yangel Herrera, appears in both rankings, though he does not top either list.
Another curious revelation is that Newcastle is the only team with two players in each category. Anthony Gordon joins Guimaraes among the most fouled, while Joelinton appears alongside his compatriot among the most frequent foulers. Beyond Newcastle, three other teams – Wolverhampton, Torino, and Venezia — also have players represented in both rankings.
- Newcastle is the only team with two players in each category, while Wolverhampton, Torino, and Venezia also have players in both
- Bruno Guimaraes is the most fouled player in Europe’s top 5 league, drawing 99 fouls so far
- Mattia Zaccagni is Serie A’s most fouled player and 2nd in Europe
- RB Leipzig’s Lois Openda has been the most fouled Bundesliga player with 74 fouls suffered
- Strasbourg’s Dilane Bakwa leads Ligue 1 in fouls drawn with 69
- Vinicius Junior has been the most fouled player in La Liga with 67 fouls suffered
- Bologna’s Dan Ndoye has been the most frequently fouled player in Europe’s top 5 leagues, drawing a foul every 21:25 minutes on the pitch
- Liam Henderson of Empoli has committed the most fouls in Europe’s top 5 leagues – 77
- Lucas Torro tops the ranking in La Liga with 73 fouls
- Tim Kleindienst and Ibrahima Sissoko share the top spot in the Bundesliga with 73 fouls each
- Liam Delap and Joao Gomes are the players with most rules infringements in the Premier League – 67
- Liam Henderson leads all players in Europe’s top 5 leagues, committing a foul every 28 minutes spent on the field
Key Takeaways:
Bruno Guimaraes leads the European top 5 leagues in fouls suffered, drawing 99 infractions during the current campaign. The Brazilian playmaker has been a focal point of Newcastle’s midfield and, much like last season, finds himself frequently brought down as he dictates the tempo and transitions.
Serie A is heavily represented at the top of the ranking. Lazio’s Mattia Zaccagni comes second, suffering 95 fouls so far, continuing his reputation as a constant target in Italy’s top flight. Right behind him is Bologna’s Dan Ndoye with 92, whose breakout season has come with both flair and bruises.
Premier League sides dominate the overall top 10 with five players. Patrick Dorgu, Omar Marmoush, Matheus Cunha, and John McGinn all rank highly alongside Guimaraes, with each drawing between 67 and 75 fouls. Marmoush, now playing under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, has transitioned from his Eintracht Frankfurt role to one that remains just as physically demanding.
La Liga’s top contributor is Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior, who has been fouled 67 times, equal to Aston Villa’s McGinn. The Brazilian winger’s dribbling-heavy style continues to draw the ire of defenders. He is joined by Takefusa Kubo and Chrisantus Uche among Spain’s most-fouled trio.
Ligue 1 also makes its mark with Strasbourg’s Dilane Bakwa and Nice’s Evann Guessand, while the Bundesliga has three entries — Lois Openda, Frank Onyeka, and Michael Olise, showing a growing physicality in Germany as well.
When it comes to how frequently players are stopped by illegal means, Dan Ndoye sits comfortably at the top. The Bologna winger has been fouled every 21:25 minutes, making him the most frequently targeted footballer in Europe’s top 5 leagues this season. Giovani Lo Celso follows closely with a foul every 21:46 minutes — although the Betis midfielder doesn’t rank high in total fouls, his limited minutes make him a standout in terms of frequency.
Mattia Zaccagni, already featured for his raw foul count, proves even more impactful under this lens. Drawing a foul every 26:44 minutes, the Lazio man is a persistent problem for defenders across Serie A.
Tottenham’s James Maddison ranks 4th, suffering a foul every 28:24 minutes. His elegant style and central role in Spurs’ attack make him one of the most tightly marked players in the Premier League. Bruno Guimaraes appears again, averaging a foul every 30:29 minutes, followed by John McGinn, Manu Kone, and Tomas Suslov, who all suffer a foul roughly every 31 minutes. Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior and Real Sociedad’s Takefusa Kubo are not far behind, each falling roughly once every 31:50 minutes — expected numbers for dribblers operating on the flanks.
Lower down, Michael Olise (Bayern Munich), Matheus Cunha (Wolverhampton), and Frank Onyeka (Augsburg) all rank inside the top 20, suffering a foul around every 33 to 35 minutes. Anthony Gordon, Chrisantus Uche, and Omar Marmoush also fall into this group, showing the heavy attention they receive despite playing in different leagues and roles.
Some players spend most of their time avoiding tackles, while others are heavily involved in breaking up play — often at the cost of committing fouls. This section focuses on the players who have committed the most fouls during the 2024/25 season across Europe’s top five leagues.
Liam Henderson of Empoli leads all players with 77 fouls in Serie A, using his physical approach to disrupt opponents. Close behind, three players share 73 fouls each: Lucas Torro (Osasuna), Tim Kleindienst (Borussia Monchengladbach), and Ibrahima Sissoko (Bochum).
The Premier League also features prominently, with Ipswich’s Liam Delap and Wolverhampton’s Joao Gomes committing 67 fouls each. Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo and Monza’s Armando Izzo follow with 65 each. Newcastle’s midfield duo, Joelinton (58) and Bruno Guimaraes (57), both appear among the most frequent foulers.
La Liga’s most aggressive player is Lucas Torro, while Antonio Blanco (Alaves) also appears with 63 fouls. Ligue 1 sees Ludovic Ajorque (Brest) and Valentin Edoa (Reims) in the top 20, with 57 and 55 fouls, respectively.
Serie A’s physical style is further highlighted by Armando Izzo (65), Lorenzo Lucca (59), Roberto Piccoli (54), Kike Perez (53), and Saul Coco (53), reflecting the league’s intense defensive battles.
In the Premier League, Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Moises Caicedo (Chelsea), and Will Hughes (Crystal Palace) also make the list, each surpassing 60 fouls. Their high foul counts reflect their combative midfield roles.
Liam Henderson of Empoli is unmatched for foul frequency in Europe’s top five leagues, committing a foul every 28 minutes. He is followed by Crystal Palace’s Will Hughes, who commits a foul every 31 minutes and 50 seconds.
La Liga’s most frequent foulers include Pol Lozano of Espanyol, who commits a foul every 33 minutes and 18 seconds, and Yangel Herrera of Girona, averaging a foul every 33 minutes and 35 seconds.
Ibrahima Sissoko of Bochum combines high foul totals with regular disruptions, averaging a foul every 34 minutes and 18 seconds.
Ryan Yates (Nottingham Forest) and Sasa Lukic (Fulham) also feature prominently, with a foul every 35 minutes.
Lower on the list, Liam Delap (Ipswich), Joelinton (Newcastle), Joao Gomes (Wolverhampton), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Antoine Semenyo (Bournemouth), Moises Caicedo (Chelsea), and Bruno Guimaraes showcase their physical presence in the Premier League, committing fouls at intervals ranging from 37 minutes and 33 seconds to 53 minutes.