Worst Champions League Team of the Season: Bellingham and Salah flop

Cameron Smith

• 30 May 2025 16:00 BST
• 6 min read

Analysis

The 2024-25 Champions League season is almost over, with Paris Saint-Germain or Inter Milan set to be crowned as the new winners on Saturday.

However, while the final will be a chance for the best players in the competition to deliver once again, a host of stars have disappointed so far this campaign.

Below, FootballTransfers runs through the Worst Champions League Team of the Season.

GK: Anatoliy Trubin (Benfica)

Anatoliey Trubin made 12 Champions League appearances for Benfica this season, en route to the last-16 stage, and he conceded 19 goals during that time.

In the process, he conceded 5.0 goals more than xG predicted he should’ve - the third-worst rate of any goalkeeper in the competition and the worst of anyone with over 10 appearances.

RB: Konrad Laimer (Bayern Munich)

Konrad Laimer hasn’t quite lived up to expectations since moving from RB Leipzig to bayern Munich and many fans believe he is only good enough to be a squad player at the Allianz Arena.

However, he was a regular starter at right-back during their run to the Champions League quarter-finals

Laimer didn’t make any catastrophic errors, however he has been included as it’s clear Bayern need to sign a new right-back if they want to win the Champions League.

Current ETV

Konrad Laimer

D (R), M (C)

Bayern

Konrad Laimer

D (R), M (C)

Bayern

€24.6M

ETV Range

€22.1M - €27M

View full profile

CB: Ronald Araujo (Barcelona)

Ronald Araujo cost Barcelona in last season’s Champions League and he was at fault for their exit yet again this year.

He was brought on against Inter Milan in the closing stages of the semi-final second-leg, but he failed to stop Francesco Acerbi beating him to Denzel Dumfries’ late cross, despite the 37-year-old being a central defender, while he was unable to close down Davide Frattesi for the eventual winner.

Araujo is no longer one of Barcelona’s best centre-backs and while others can hold some responsibility for their Champions League exit, he is considered to be at fault by the majority of Blaugrana fans.

CB: Manuel Akanji (Man City)

Manuel Akanji only played 46 minutes of Manchester City’s last-16 exit to Real Madrid so his inclusion may be seen as harsh, however he racked up the highest number of minutes of any centre-back at the club during their dismal Champions League campaign.

The Switzerland star was on the pitch during their 4-1 defeat to Sporting CP, their 4-2 loss to Paris Saint-Germain and their humiliating late collapse against Feyenoord - in which Man City squandered a 3-0 lead to draw 3-3.

Their entire backline was below par in Europe this year and Akanji is the unfortunate one who has been included in this team.

LB: Theo Hernandez (AC Milan)

AC Milan exited the Champions League after a defeat to Feyenoord in the knockout play-offs and Theo Hernandez was widely blamed for the Rossoneri’s premature departure from the competition.

He was shown a red card during the second-leg against Feyenoord after two cautionable offences, the second of which came after blatant simulation in the penalty area. Milan then conceded a 73rd minute goal to lose 2-1 on aggregate.

In addition to his actions at San Siro, Hernandez also failed to provide a goal contribution in the Champions league, despite his advanced role from left-back.

CM: Teun Koopmeiners (Juventus)

Teun Koopmeiners enjoyed a stellar stint at Atalanta and he established himself as one of the best midfielders in Serie A during his time under Gian Piero Gasperini.

However, his move to Juventus has been somewhat of a disaster and his form during their underwhelming 2024-25 Champions League campaign was a real concern.

Koopmeiners didn’t register a goal or an assist in nine games as Juventus were knocked out by PSV in the knockout play-off round.

CM: Bernardo Silva (Man City)

Bernardo Silva has been a reliable Champions League performer for years, but the Man City superstar delivered a disappointing European campaign this time around.

The Portugal international was unable to provide a single goal or an assist in nine appearances in the Champions League before Pep Guardiola’s side were dumped out of the competition by Real Madrid.

City failed to reach the heights expected of them this term, and Bernardo’s form in the Champions League suggests a replacement may need to be signed this summer.

CM: Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid)

Jude Bellingham set such high standards during his debut season at Real Madrid that a small drop-off inevitably leads to criticism.

As a result, he has been included in this team after scoring just three goals in 13 Champions League games.

The England star did net a stoppage-time winner during Real Madrid’s first-leg victory over Manchester City in the last-16, however he was completely anonymous as Los Blancos succumbed to a humiliating 5-1 defeat to Arsenal in the quarter-finals.

RW: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)

Mohamed Salah actually had a decent Champions League campaign all things considered, but he has been included thanks to two hugely underwhelming performances versus PSG.

The Egypt legend was completely nullified by Nuno Mendes during the first-leg and although he fared slightly better at Anfield, he was still a shadow of the player who was dominating the Premier League at the time.

In fact, Salah’s display against PSG is a major reason why he is extremely unlikely to win the 2025 Ballon d’Or.

Current ETV

Mohamed Salah

F, M (R)

Liverpool

Mohamed Salah

F, M (R)

Liverpool

€38.5M

ETV Range

€34.6M - €42.3M

View full profile

ST: Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)

Ollie Watkins enjoyed yet another productive season in the Premier League this year, however his fortunes in the Champions League were vastly different.

He only scored one goal in 12 appearances in the competition - during a 4-2 win over Celtic - and he was hugely outshone by Jhon Duran in the league phase.

Marcus Rashford was then selected ahead of Watkins in both legs versus PSG, with the England striker reduced to just 25 minutes of action across the two matches.

LW: Xavi Simons (RB Leipzig)

Xavi Simons is regarded as one of the most exciting attacking midfielders in world football and somebody who could cost €100m if he leaves RB Leipzig this summer.

However, suitors will have been put off by his performances in the Champions League this season.

The Netherlands international failed to register a single goal contribution in five appearances in the competition as Leipzig fell to a shock exit in the league phase after losing seven of their eight fixtures.

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