5 worst players for Real Madrid in 2017

Nobody likes to be on this list. After all, who likes being labelled as the worst? But with the best comes the worst—and that can’t be neglected. Real Madrid’s 2017 has been a tale of two stories. The first-half was filled with glory, where the Blancos won the Champions League for the second time in a row while also winning La Liga after 5 long years.

However, the second half was a tragic story. The Blancos might have won the Club World Cup, but are now 14 points behind Barcelona—almost certainly losing their crown of the best team in Spain—and have to face Paris-Saint Germain in the Champions League.

How did this all happen? Who were the culprits? Here is a list of the 5 worst Madrid players in 2017…

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#5 Lucas Vazquez

A choice that would be unanimously agreed by the majority of the Madridistas, Lucas Vazquez had a year to forget when speaking of personal performances. The Real Madrid youth product is one of Zidane’s most trusted men, but couldn’t repay the faith shown in him by the Frenchman.

His 2015-16 season is still remembered fondly by Madridistas, but it seems like a mirage now with the way he has played this year. It’s not that the Spaniard was terrible in every game—he did show glimpses of what he could really do with a football at his feet—but it was only just that: glimpses.

Despite his lack of form, the French manager trusted him and gave him repeated chances to showcase his skills. In most cases, the former Espanyol winger failed to have an impact on the game—making him one of Madrid’s biggest disappointment this year.

#4 Achraf Hakimi

Hakimi has the talent, but lacks the application

The Moroccan starlet began his Madrid career in a glorious fashion. With relentless running up and down the right flank, he soon became a hope for the Blancos' fans. However, after an extended run in the first team in the absence of Dani Carvajal, he has shown that he might not be ready to play for the Galacticos yet.

The youth academy product may have scored a great goal against Sevilla and has outrun some of the quickest players in the game, but his array of skills is still not as vast as the main right-back of the club, Dani Carvajal.

He is still very young and could yet become of the best full-backs in the game—he certainly has the potential to be—but that can’t hide the fact that he has not been any better than the player he replaced at the club…

#3 Danilo

Danilo was not a fan favourite at the Bernabeu

It might be harsh to name the Brazilian when he is not even a Galactico anymore, but his performances in Real Madrid’s double-winning campaign wasn’t as inspiring as it should have been. After all, this is a player that was bought for €30 million from Porto, but never came up with awe-inspiring performances for the Blancos.

Danilo came to the club amid many whispers. Why the club needed another right-back when they had a budding talent like Carvajal in the team, many asked. Some other thought that it was a good idea to price a proven full-back from Portugal rather than relying solely on the talented Carvajal.

In the end, both the sides might have been right to some extent as Carvajal showed that he is the far superior right-back, but Danilo’s absence and the lack of proper competition has seen Carvajal not hit his peak this season, yet.

And Danilo? He left Real Madrid for Manchester City in a bid to get more first-team chances, but to no avail as he is still on the bench even at the Etihad—which goes on to show that the Brazilian might never have been the player that clubs seem to think he is.

#2 Gareth Bale

Bale has been marred by injuries

The counter-logic to Gareth Bale’s inclusion is already being yelled by the fans to their screens: HE WAS INJURED FOR CHRIST’S SAKE! Yes, he was—and that is where the problem was. Whenever the club needed him, he wasn’t there—either due to injury or just a poor outing on the pitch.

His injuries have been very unfortunate and have hindered the progress of a player that had the ability to win the Ballon d’Or—he still might have it—and have also hurt the club, who paid a then-record €100 million to acquire his services.

The Welshman’s best season at the Bernabeu was his first season, where his goals helped the club win the Copa del Rey and Champions League. However, ever since that season, he couldn’t replicate the heights that he had shown previously.

These days, he is more of an impact-substitute than an indispensable starter that he is supposed to be.

#1 Karim Benzema

Benzema has been an embarrassment

I don’t think that there is a Madridista who would have the nerve to claim otherwise: Karim Benzema has been the worst player for the Blancos in 2017. The might have won the Champions League and La Liga, but the Frenchman’s contribution to them was very erratic.

And yet, despite his consistent inconsistency, his manager and compatriot chose to stick with him and not sign a striker to challenge him for the number 9 spot. However, Zidane’s insistence—that borders on stubbornness—has already cost Madrid a lot this season.

But still, Benzema starts for the club. He doesn’t even pass effectively like he could before—let alone scoring goals—and almost every Madridista has lost her/his patience regarding the number 9. Only God knows how he ended up as the 25th best player in the world according to the Ballon d’Or rankings and the third best French player in the world this year, according to France Football.

These trophies have just lost a lot of meaning for a lot of people.