List of top 8 worst midfielders in football

Throughout football history, the midfielder position has always played an important role in connecting the lines and organizing the team’s play. However, not everyone can succeed in this position. Some midfielders, despite possessing certain qualities, have not been able to maximize their abilities when playing in top leagues. This has led to disappointing performances, making them listed as worst midfielders. These players, despite having the opportunity to play for big teams, have been unable to make a name for themselves due to their lack of consistency and poor form. Let’s learn more about these worst midfielders with Premiumsoccertips!

Top 8 worst midfielders ever

Top 8: Denilson (Arsenal)

Denilson joined Arsenal from São Paulo in 2006, touted as the next big thing in midfield. However, despite some bright moments, he failed to live up to his potential for the Gunners. In particular, Denilson lacked decisiveness and often lost possession in important matches. His lack of creativity prevented him from making a difference in matches. He failed to play the important role that fans expect from a central midfielder at a big club like Arsenal.

Denilson was also one of the players who was often criticized for his lack of consistency during his time in the Premier League. Despite possessing good passing skills and good basic technique, he failed to make a breakthrough and failed to make an impact in big matches. Denilson’s lack of control and lack of flair have seen him go down as one of Arsenal’s most disappointing midfielders.

Top 7: Moussa Sissoko (Tottenham Hotspur)

Moussa Sissoko joined Tottenham in 2016 for a big fee, but he has failed to make an impact during his time at the club. Sissoko has impressive stamina and pace, but his style of play lacks creativity and flair. Despite playing as a central midfielder, Sissoko has often been underrated for his ability to control the game and organize attacks. He cannot distribute the ball accurately and lacks connection with his teammates up front.

Sissoko also often makes the wrong decisions in important situations. Despite some good performances, he has failed to live up to the expectations of a quality midfielder in Tottenham’s squad. His lack of technical ability and consistency has seen Sissoko be labelled one of the club’s biggest transfer flops.

Top 6: Granit Xhaka (Arsenal)

Granit Xhaka joined Arsenal in 2016 with the expectation that he would be a solid central midfielder who would bring stability to the team’s midfield. However, Xhaka has often disappointed with dangerous tackles and poor decision-making. One of his biggest problems has been his inability to keep his cool in crucial situations, which has led to him receiving unnecessary red cards on numerous occasions. This lack of consistency has diminished Xhaka’s value, despite his fine long passes and ability to shoot from distance.

Despite his impressive performances, Xhaka has not been able to shake off his image as an indecisive and error-prone midfielder. This has made him a controversial figure at Arsenal. Many believe that Xhaka does not deserve to be in the team’s starting lineup, especially when compared to other midfielders at the same time. His silly errors have cost the team in many important matches.

Top 5: Cedric Soares (Southampton)

Cédric Soares is not a standout midfielder, although he plays as a right-back, but when he is adjusted to play as a midfielder, Soares does not show much. His playing style lacks creativity and does not connect well with his teammates. Soares is not the type of midfielder who can control the game or organize attacks. His adjustment from right-back to midfielder has not brought significant results, making him one of the players who have not shown much in the Southampton squad.

One of Soares’ major weaknesses is his lack of accurate passing and lack of sharp passes, especially when organizing attacks. This prevents him from being able to maximize his potential when playing as a midfielder. With a lack of creativity and coordination, Soares has not been successful in his new role and has been criticized a lot during his time at Southampton.

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Top 4: David Luiz (Chelsea)

Despite his outstanding performance as a centre-back, David Luiz has failed to show his best qualities when he was moved to midfield. With good individual skills, Luiz can handle the ball well and sometimes make impressive long passes, but his lack of consistency and decisiveness makes it difficult for him to become a quality midfielder. Luiz’s defensive ability is limited when playing in this position, and he lacks alertness in marking opposing players.

David Luiz also often has problems controlling the tempo of the game and always creates unexpected situations in the midfield role. His wrong decisions not only hurt the team in important matches but also make fans skeptical about his ability to play in the middle. Despite his moments of brilliance, Luiz’s high-profile errors as a midfielder have made him one of the most criticised players in Chelsea’s history.

Top 3: Joey Barton (Newcastle United)

Joey Barton is a strong and charismatic midfielder, but his lack of discipline and rough play has often landed him in trouble. Barton excels with his strong tackling, but he has failed to maintain the consistency required in big games. His play lacks creativity and control, instead being dominated by dangerous tackles and unacceptable behaviour. His lack of discipline on the pitch has seen Barton receive numerous bans and has failed to establish himself as a top midfielder in the Premier League.

Despite his moments of brilliance, Barton has struggled to maintain consistency throughout his career. He also lacks the ability to distribute the ball well, making him a midfielder who is unable to contribute much to the attack. Barton’s poor career decisions made him one of the most unsuccessful midfielders in English football history.

Top 2: Julio Baptista (Arsenal)

Julio Baptista is a player with great individual skills, but when he joined Arsenal, fans expected more from him. Baptista did not show any creativity or consistency in his play, and his contribution as a midfielder was very limited. Baptista could create impressive shots but lacked decisiveness in important situations. His lack of consistency in form made him one of the failed signings at Arsenal.

The lack of ability to connect between the lines and poor ability to organize attacks prevented Baptista from playing an important role in the team. When he moved to the Premier League, Baptista could not fully develop his abilities and could not become a key player. This is why Baptista is considered one of the worst midfielders in Arsenal’s history.

Top 1: Naby Keita (Liverpool)

Naby Keita arrived at Liverpool with high expectations after an impressive spell at RB Leipzig. Touted as a dynamic midfielder with excellent dribbling, vision, and defensive contributions, Keïta was expected to be a key figure in Liverpool’s midfield. However, his time at Anfield was marred by inconsistency, frequent injuries, and a lack of significant impact in crucial games.

Despite showing glimpses of his talent, Keïta struggled to maintain form and fitness, making him an unreliable option for Jürgen Klopp’s squad. His inability to cement a starting role and failure to influence games consistently led to growing frustration among fans. While Liverpool won several major trophies during his tenure, Keïta played a minimal role in these successes, often sidelined due to injuries.

His struggles with physicality and adaptability to the Premier League made him one of Liverpool’s most disappointing signings. Given the hype and transfer fee, Keïta’s tenure at Liverpool is widely considered a failure, making him one of the least effective midfielders in the club’s recent history.

Final Thoughts

While football is full of surprises, for the midfielders listed as worst midfielders, shortcomings in play and inconsistent form are undeniable factors. While they may have had a few memorable moments in their careers, overall, their mistakes and failures have kept them from making a name for themselves. However, football is always changing, and even the most underrated players can find opportunities to correct and improve themselves in the future.

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