As we all know, football is a universal sport that is constantly developing, with many new teams joining every year. Despite the introduction of those sides, there are many clubs that are simply far older, better known and more decorated than their peers. From SE Palmeiras, Brazil’s most successful club, to Real Madrid, holder of the record for the most Champions League wins, each of these clubs have written its own history over the years, through domestic, continental and even intercontinental triumphs.

On the other hand, other clubs have never won a single major trophy in their history, and are still tirelessly pursuing their unfinished quest for glory. After Crystal Palace finally ended their long-awaited drought by winning the FA Cup at the end of the 2024/2025 season, here are the 10 biggest clubs in the world right now still trying to fill their trophy cabinet with a major title.

Ranking factors

To select them, we decided to use a number of criteria, including:

• National reputation
• International reputation
• History

10

FK Krasnodar

Russia

FK Krasnodar have two particularities. The first is that they are the newest team mentioned in this article, having been founded in 2008. The second is that, in addition to never having won a single major trophy in their 16 years of existence, the Russian club have simply never lifted a single title. A recent double finalist in the Russian Cup (2014 and 2023), the club based in the west of the country has also never won a league title, in the third, second or first division, in which its best finish remains third place (2015).

However, the club’s rapid development speaks in its favour. As proof, the Bulls (the nickname of the players from FK Krasnodar) have already taken part in one Champions League campaign (2020, elimination in the group stage) and two Europa League campaigns (2017 and 2019, elimination in the last 16).

9

AFC Wimbledon

England

AFC Wimbledon may not be the best-known club on this list, but its unique history has opened the door. Founded in 2002 by former supporters of Wimbledon FC after the latter’s relocation to Milton Keynes (97km north of the Wimbledon district) and its renaming as MK Dons – with which it now maintains a fierce animosity – the Greater London club now plays in League One.

It’s a journey that’s as atypical as it is remarkable for a club that nevertheless reached the fifth round of the FA Cup in 2019 and only entered the professional world in 2011, finishing runners-up in the Conference National.

8

New York Red Bulls

USA

Founded in 1994, the New York Red Bulls have boasted some fine players over the years, including having Thierry Henry as captain for the latter part of his career. But despite some prominent names featuring for them, the side haven’t managed to get their hands on the MLS Cup, twice going close in 2008 and 2024 when they finished as runners-up. Three times, though, they have finished the regular season with the best record to win the Supporters’ Shield, but that isn’t defined as a major trophy. They have also come up second-best in two U.S. Open Cups as well in 2003 and 2017.

7

CD Maldonado

Uruguay

Deportivo Maldonado are based in Uruguay, on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. And as they approach their 100th anniversary (in August 2028), the Uruguayan first division side are also still chasing their first league title. Why is this club, unknown to the European public, on this list?

Because, over the years, it has seen a number of players pass through its ranks who have gone on to play for major institutions on the Old Continent. Alex Sandro (Juventus, Porto FC, Gremio), Geronimo Rulli (Montpellier, Ajax Amsterdam, Manchester City), Allan (Napoli, Everton) and Willian Jose (Real Madrid, Real Sociedad, Real Betis) have all played for the Verdirrojos.

6

CD Leganes

Spain

Located in the Madrid region, Club Deportivo Leganes, like Deportivo Maldonado, was also founded in 1928. And like the Uruguayan club, it has never won a single trophy. Accustomed to playing in the lower divisions of Spanish football, the Pepineros enjoyed their first historic promotion to LaLiga in 2016, becoming the fifth Madrid team to play in the Iberian game’s elite.

Although Leganes have been relegated to the second division since the end of the 2019/20 season, the club’s greatest triumph came in 2018, when they reached the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey after eliminating Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu.

5

SC Freiburg

Germany

Founded in 1904, Freiburg have a very intriguing history – aside from their inability to win a major tournament. Volker Finke, who was the club’s manager from 1991 to 2007, held the record for the longest-serving manager in the history of professional football in Germany, until Frank Schmidt surpassed that as Heidenheim boss in 2023. Meanwhile, the club’s third top-scorer of all-time, is former Germany manager Joachim Loew, who of course would lift the World Cup back in 2014 as boss – the scorers ahead of him, are players who are still active in football: Nils Petersen and Vincenzo Grifo.

The closest Freiburg have ever come to ending their long and arduous trophy drought, was when in the 2021/2022 campaign, they finished as runners-up for the DfB-Pokal, losing to RB Leipzig.

4

Watford

England

Watford have never won a major trophy, but they have had opportunities to do so. English runners-up in 1983, beaten by Bob Paisley’s Liverpool, the Hornets also came close to lifting the legendary FA Cup in 1984, losing 2-1 to Everton in the final, and then in 2019, when they were crushed 6-0 by Manchester City, who went on to win their sixth trophy in the competition.

Alternating in recent years between promotion to the Premier League and relegation to the Championship, the club, founded in 1881, located in the north-west suburbs of London, continues to pursue its quest for glory.

3

1. FC Union Berlin

Germany

Originally founded in 1906, then rehabilitated in 1966 following the reorganisation of football in the Federal Republic of Germany, Union Berlin are still chasing their first major title. Winners of the East German Cup in 1968, the Iron Men have made one appearance in the German Cup final (in 2001) and won the 3.Liga title – the third division – in 2009.

Although Union Berlin have been playing in the German Championship since the 1920s, they had to wait until the 2018/19 season for their first Bundesliga season. With the help of a well-established structure, the Berlin club established itself as one of the best teams in German football’s elite and even secured a place in the Europa Conference League at the end of the 2021/22 season, as well as qualification for the group stage of the Europa League the following season and finally a place in the Champions League in 2023/24

2

Brighton and Hove Albion

England

Brighton have enjoyed a degree of renown on the national and continental stage in recent years, but the club based in the south-east of England continues its quest for glory. Founded in 1901, the Blue and Whites have never won a major trophy in their history. After coming close to winning the FA Cup in 1983, a competition in which they were finally beaten in the final by Manchester United, the Seagulls have only ever won the Community Shield (1910) and League One (1958, 2002 and 2011) and League Two (1965 and 2001) titles.

Promoted to the Premier League in 2017 after a 34-year absence, The Albion have benefited from the experience of Roberto De Zerbi, their manager since 2022, to secure a sixth-place finish at the end of the 2022-23 season – a record for the club – as well as a qualifying place for the 2023-24 Europa League, the first European campaign in their history.

1

Fulham

England

Fulham may be the oldest professional club in London (founded in 1879), but it is far from the most decorated. Quite the contrary, in fact. In their 145-year history, the Cottagers have never managed to win a single major title. Although they snatched the Intertoto Cup in 2003, the Whites failed to win the FA Cup’s final in 1975 (a competition in which they reached five other semi-finals), as well as its counterpart in the Europa League in 2010.

In the league, the record is not particularly flattering. Four Championship titles (1949, 1999, 2021, 2022) and two League One titles (1932, 1997) are bound to leave a bitter taste in the mouths of the most fervent supporters of the Craven Cottage residents, who remain unable to compete with the giants of the Premier League.

All statistics courtesy of FIFA, Transfermarkt and Wikipedia