9 villains of 2016: Arsene Wenger, Ryan Lochte and Joachim Low’s hand sniff

Updated 21/12/2016 at 14:43 GMT

2016: the year of the villain.

Ryan Lochte's conduct is likely to damage his earnings.

Image credit: Eurosport

1. Hope Solo

Was there a more contemptuous hashtag in 2016 than #zikaproof?

United States women’s goalkeeper Hope Solo took the unwanted title of Rio’s biggest villain after her ridiculous tweets about Zika in the build-up to the Olympics.

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However, her stash of repellent could not protect her from the Brazilian public. The hosts hissed ‘Zeeee-KAAAAA’ every – and we mean every – time she kicked the ball downfield, while she was subjected to endless booing.

And her quest for global rejection didn’t end there.

Solo elected to change her gloves during the US’s quarter-final penalty shootout with Sweden – a futile time-wasting tactic as she conceded the next spotkick to lose the match – before branding her Scandinavian vanquishers "a bunch of cowards". A six-month ban followed. Conclusion: not a strong 2016.

[Eurosport Stars of 2016 Awards: Vote now!]

2. Arsene Wenger

Arsène Wenger (Arsenal)

Image credit: AFP

Does anyone know an Arsenal fan who hasn’t uttered the phrases 'this is our year' and 'sack Wenger' within the same match?

Of course you don’t. Arsenal have an unrivalled aptitude for crushing the soul just as victory seems certain. It’s nothing new, but 2016 saw them sink to even murkier depths.

Arsene Wenger's task was simple: lead Arsenal to the Premier League title, with only Leicester City – a team almost relegated the season previous – blocking their path. Surely they couldn't bottle... oh wait, this is Arsenal.

The title drought goes on. The #WengerOut brigade are in full voice. Surely this is the end.

3. Jonathan Nicola

Jonathan Nicola was a basketball aficionado. The 17-year-old got a dream athletic scholarship in Canada, leaving his native South Sudan to compete with fellow teenagers for a shot at becoming a pro baller.

One problem: he wasn’t actually 17. Oh no. Canadian immigration officials uncovered he was actually... erm... 29. TWENTY-NINE.

We don’t want to be too cruel on Nicola – in fact, we almost included him on our heroes list given the sheer audacity – who insists he did not know his personal information. But come on...

4. Ryan Lochte

US swimmer Ryan Lochte holds a press conference on August 3, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro

Image credit: AFP

Our award for biggest moron in 2016 goes to… Ryan Lochte.

The six-time Olympic champion was suspended for 10 months after inventing a tale about a gun-point robbery at a Rio gas station, which included a chapter about how he played the hero:

They pulled out their guns, they told the other swimmers to get down on the ground — they got down on the ground. I refused, I was like we didn't do anything wrong, so — I'm not getting down on the ground.

It was fictional, of course. Lochte and three fellow swimmers were actually stopped by security guards after committing vandalism. They were ordered to pay a small fee for damages. And that was pretty much it.

Even more disgraceful was ABC’s decision to reward his web of lies with a spot on 'Dancing with the Stars' this past autumn. What has the world come to?

5. Mauro Icardi

Mauro Icardi

Image credit: AFP

When your own fans cheer you missing a penalty, it’s probably time to find another club.

Inter Milan captain Mauro Icardi has had to contend with ill-treatment from the club’s ultras after publishing some negative comments about them in his autobiography.

It was an unwise move.

Inter Milan supporters deploy a banner against Inter Milan's forward and captain from Argentina Mauro Icardi

Image credit: AFP

Ultras have since unfurled a banner at the San Siro calling him a ‘vile piece of s***’ and gathered outside his home after that penalty miss in October.

Note to footballers: never criticise your own fans.

6. Maria Sharapova

Sharapova

Image credit: AFP

*pause for tears*

How many sports stars get to stage-manage their own failed drugs test? It’s a luxury afforded to few, but one Maria Sharapova enjoyed after testing positive for meldonium. The Russian broke the news at a press conference, reading from a written statement and saying she took full responsibility.

It plunged tennis into the abyss. Although it was far from her nation’s biggest problem…

7. Russia

WADA investigator: Russia corrupted the London Olympics on unprecedented scale

Thought the London 2012 Olympics were good clean fun?

Think again. A shocking (read: not that shocking) report by Richard McLaren on behalf of WADA revealed over 1,000 Russian athletes benefited from a state-sponsored doping programme, covering at least 30 sports, between 2011 and 2015.

"It was a cover-up that evolved from uncontrolled chaos to an institutionalised and disciplined medal-winning conspiracy," said McLaren, adding that London 2012 was "corrupted on an unprecedented scale".

8. Joachim Low

Germany head coach Joachim Low

Image credit: Reuters

Everyone likes a good scratch.

But Germany manager Joachim Low took that to extremes at Euro 2016 when he was caught on camera having a rummage downstairs and then sniffing his hand.

Yuck.