Top 10 Worst Players To Win The Champions League in Football History (Ranked)

The 10 Worst Players That Somehow Won A Champions League

The Champions League is viewed by many as the very pinnacle of club-level football, at least certainly to those in Europe.

As the highest-rated competition across the contintent, the Champions League (formally known as the European Cup) is steeped in history and highly prestigious, with the final of each instalment in the competition being amongst the most revered dates on the worldwide football calendar.

Watching the Champions League, as us mere mortals, is special enough. So with that in mind, one can only imagine the level of pride taken within making a full-blown appearance in the competition. Or better yet - winning the lot.

Some legendary players have missed out on 'Big Ears' over the years; Zlatan Ibrahimovic played for some of the greatest teams ever and never collected the trophy, and the man largely regarded as the best player in the world - Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe - is yet to add Europe's premier prize to his ever-growing CV, hoping to avoid entrance to a list that involves the likes of Gianluigi Buffon, Cesc Fabregas and Dennis Bergkamp.

So with some sensational players having collected a winning Champions League medal in their times on the pitch, it seems almost unfair when considering some of the players that (somehow) managed to achieve a Champions League victory in their careers. So, join us as we break down the lot.

Who Is The Worst Ever Player to Win the Champions League?

10 – Dida (AC Milan 2007)

Not talking about the prime of his career, but instead the back end of his career, where his level had dropped significantly. The once elite keeper just couldn’t reach close to the same levels that made him one of the best goalkeepers in Europe at the time. His advancing age saw his reflexes decline a lot and subsequently caused a lot of issues for Milan; however, with Kaka at his best, they were carried to the final, where they would end up triumphing over Liverpool.

9 – Jose Bosingwa (Chelsea 2012)

Someone who was very much carried by his pure speed - Bosingwa's defensive ability wasn’t anything special and his positioning was very poor. He had to come in and cover for an injured Gary Cahill at the Camp Nou against a very strong Barcelona team, and somehow, he survived and ended up getting a medal once Chelsea had conquered Bayern in their own back yard.

When Bosingwa literally kicked a Liverpool player out of play and won a free kick 🤣pic.twitter.com/FQQcBUu786

— PurelyFootball ℗ (@PurelyFootball) November 16, 2025

8 - Jeremi (Real Madrid 2000 & 2002)

Jeremi was an exceptionally versatile player and someone who would work relentlessly; however, that doesn’t make him someone who is Champions League quality, and especially not winner-worthy. With the players around him, it is no shock that Real Madrid won the UCL - just by being part of the squad he was given a medal; however, he still wasn’t at the level to be close to that.

7 – Anderson (Manchester United 2008)

Someone who had a vast amount of technical and natural talent for the game, but Anderson never achieved his true potential thanks to a lack of fitness and professionalism. While he was a very good player when talking about his raw ability, as a whole player, he never reached the level of a Champions League-worthy player - it goes to show how strong that United team truly was.

6 – Kleberson (Manchester United 2008)

Another member of that amazing United team and someone who once again wasn’t at the level that the team needed or deserved. He had joined United off the 2002 World Cup success, but was never able to truly find himself in England, where the midfielder was too lightweight for the league. He never truly fitted in at Man United, on the UCL stage. It was only thanks to his cohorts that he received that iconic winner's medal.

5 – Carlos Alberto (FC Porto 2004)

While he had an amazing final for Porto in 2004, even scoring in the final, Alberto was never able to reach those heights seen in that final again. At the time, he was 19, so he had his entire career to improve and develop; however, he never did that, despite playing for 10 different sides after leaving Porto - he could never find that ability again and therefore, deserves a spot on this list.

4 – Ryan Bertrand (Chelsea 2012)

Remarkably, Bertrand made his European debut in the Champions League final as a sub for Chelsea. He is the definition of someone you wouldn’t have ever expected to have won a Champions League medal. However, he did just that, and he did the job well, taking a up a makeshift injury on the wing as Chelsea battled a host of injuries that night in Munich.

While he did do well, having never played a game in Europe before and only making his debut on the grandest stage of them all, he wasn’t the highest level of player and therefore, deserves a spot on this list.

At just 22, Ryan Bertrand became the first player in history to make his Champions League debut in the final… and win it!

But his football journey was far from smooth.

260+ Premier League games, 19 England caps, and that Champions League medal:

🏆 What it really felt like to… pic.twitter.com/vglMBQnOgv

— Business of Sport (@bizzofsport) July 22, 2025

3 – Alvaro Odriozola (Bayern Munchen 2020)

A player who never really reached a high level of play despite playing for two of the biggest teams in Europe, Odriozola was part of the Bayern super team in 2020 that won the UCL; however, he wasn’t at that level and this has been shown by his career since, which has seen him sent on multiple loans, and never managing to play for one of Europe’s elite clubs again, excluding his short time back at Madrid.

2 – Jesus Vallejo (Real Madrid 2022)

Another player from that 2022 Madrid team and yet another defender. Someone who only made appearances as a sub and made the fans worried when he came on, Vallejo was definitely not at the level of an elite club, especially one with the reputation of Real Madrid. Certainly not a player who you would’ve expected to be walking around with a Champions League winners medal.

🚨🇪🇸 𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋 | Jesus Vallejo (28) will be a free agent this summer. His contract at Real Madrid is expiring. 👋

Having signed for Real Madrid in 2015, he won 10 trophies and made a total of 35 appearances. 🥇 pic.twitter.com/v6TZoiNjMS

— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) May 31, 2025

1 – Djimi Traore (Liverpool 2005)

The undisputed worst player to have won a UCL, Traoré was known for being extremely erratic, making such a host of errors in his time playing for Liverpool - it was a miracle that he actually started in the final in 2005, let alone was part of the side that would end up winning the game. With his lack of technical and natural ability, it is a wonder how he played for Liverpool, let alone was part of the team that won one of the most dramatic finals ever.