Nowadays, footballers come in all shapes and sizes; though, it’s such variation that makes the beautiful game so engrossing. Back in the day, the plan was simple: find the skillful winger with a long pass, watch them bamboozle a defender and then whip it into the box for the focal point to nod it home. There are now wingers who consider themselves goalscorers, pressers, inside forwards and much more.
From your silky Brazilian to your undeviating Englishmen, there are a host of skill-sets that are lighting up the and European football at the current moment. And that got us thinking: who are the best wingers in world football right now? By no means an easy task with the traditional 4-4-2 formation seldom in play and the emergence of sub-categorised wide men. Below is a list of the 15 best wingers in world football, ranked in order.
They have been ranked based on the following factors. A quick caveat: to be included, each player’s main position must be listed as either ‘Right Winger’ or ‘Left Winger’ on As such, the exclusion of Paris Saint-Germain’s is by virtue of him being classed as a ‘Centre-Forward’. 10 Best Wingers in World Football - Ranked 1.
Vinicius Jr Real Madrid 21 goals, 11 assists 2. Mohamed Salah Liverpool 24 goals, 13 assists 3. Bukayo Saka Arsenal 19 goals, 14 assists 4.
Lamine Yamal Barcelona 7 goals, 10 assists 5. Phil Foden Manchester City 24 goals, 10 assists 6. Rodrygo Real Madrid 17 goals, 9 assists 7.
Cole Palmer Chelsea 27 goals, 15 assists 8. Son Heung-min Tottenham Hotspur 16 goals, 9 assists 9. Nico William Athletic Club 8 goals, 19 assists 10.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia Napoli 10 goals, 9 assists 11. Rafael Leao AC Milan 13 goals, 13 assists 12. Leroy Sane Bayern Munich 10 goals, 13 assists 13.
Gabriel Martinelli Arsenal 8 goals, 5 assists 14. Michael Olise Bayern Munich 10 goals, 6 assists 15. Raphinha Barcelona 10 goals, 13 assists Many Real Madrid supporters were dubious when their club parted ways with for a 16-year-old – but, in truth, the scintillating Brazilian has paid every single penny back.
One of the standout stars for and certainly Brazil’s crown jewel, the dazzling winger has magic in his boots and pace aplenty to burn. In line to win a Ballon d’Or in the coming years, Vinicius’ lightning-quick speed is nightmare-inducing – and when in full flow, he is unstoppable. The former Flamengo man is a creative force to be reckoned with too, with 21 goals and 11 assists in all competitions during the 2023/24 season, a testament to just how impactful he is both in front of goal and finding his teammates in front of it.
An ever-present feature in some of Liverpool’s most illustrious sides, comfortably earns himself a podium spot among some of the world’s brightest wide men. By virtue of his , Jurgen Klopp’s acquisition of the free-scoring Egyptian can be considered one of the coups of the century. In the truest sense, there is no ‘winger’ more potent than Salah.
The two-time Golden Boot winner’s goals continue to flow at a spectacular rate – and hence why he is considered the . On top of winning all the major trophies at club level, Salah has scooped up his fair share of individual honours, all while becoming Liverpool's record Premier League goalscorer. Ranking all of Jurgen Klopp's signings during his glittering Liverpool tenure.
Arsenal’s star boy has continued to go from strength to strength under the guidance of current Gunners boss Mikel Arteta. is often seen gliding across the turf leaving defenders in the dust – but he also has a talismanic instinct in the box, which sees him boast impressive numbers from wide. More impressively, Saka rarely lets his sky-high standards drop – and has become all but indispensable for his side as they look to secure Premier League gold for the first time since the 2003/04 campaign.
His journey from boy to man has been a sight to behold, especially for those of the Emirates Stadium persuasion, but the 22-year-old is perfectly poised to grow even further in the coming years. has burst onto the scene as a teenage sensation over the past 12 months. The Spaniard starred for La Roja at Euro 2024 as part of one of the most efficient attacking units in the international competition.
The 17-year-old has already won La Liga and become a Champions League player while garnering comparisons to some of the best players the game has seen in the past 20 years. Yamal is now viewed as the heir to throne with his silky dribbling ability and wand of a left foot similar to a younger version of . If he achieves even a fraction of the success his Argentine predecessor managed, the Spanish winger will go down as a wonderful player.
Lamine Yamal has been a star at Euro 2024, here's how he compares to Messi, Ronaldo & Rooney at the same age. In a world where Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne often grab the headlines, the likes of go under the radar. His current run of form has thrust him into superstardom alongside the aforementioned duo, however, is the perfect showcase of his undeniable talent.
Albeit not a traditional winger, Foden is one of the best players on the half-turn and has become ever so dangerous in attacking spaces. At his goalscoring best in the past season, too, with a career-best return of 24 goals and 10 assists in all competitions, the five-time Premier League champion may be entering the peak of his powers. Cristiano Ronaldo, Harry Kane, Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe all feature in the top 10.
Real Madrid’s left-wing wonder is often pushed to the side thanks to the ever-growing brilliance of his partner in crime, Vinicius Jr, but it would be remiss to breeze past . Albeit the introverted half of the duo, his turn of pace and magic in his feet make him a solid option for this list, with him also considered currently plying their trade. Rodrygo’s concoction of a low centre of gravity and his ability to dance on either foot make him a nuisance for whichever full-back dares to stand up to him.
At just 23 years of age, the Brazilian has north of 200 appearances for , two La Liga titles and two Champions League crowns on his CV – but it’s only the beginning for the deadly winger. was always rated as an exciting young player at Manchester City, but there's every chance the Englishman would've struggled to reach the heights he's capable of if he hadn't departed the Etihad and moved to Chelsea. The 22-year-old registered an incredible 33 goal contributions in his first full season as a Premier League player.
Palmer's wonderful vision, creativity and eye for goal were enough to force his way into Gareth Southgate's plans for Euro 2024. While he had to settle for being the back-up to Bukayo Saka throughout the tournament, the former Man City academy prospect still managed to have a telling impact on the Three Lions' brilliant run to the final. Cole Palmer's football boots feature more than one flag - here's why.
, since the departure of Harry Kane, has often played centrally for Tottenham Hotspur – though the most notable body of his work comes from the left flank. A lethal finisher in its simplest form, the seasoned South Korea international has notched 16 goals and an additional nine assists thus far in 2023/24 – but he will be, no doubt, looking to hit the 20-goal mark come the end of the season. He has been performing at ungodly levels (barring 22/23) for the North Londoners for nearly half a decade and his litany of finishes makes him one of the most exciting forwards to watch in world football and based on statistics.
Son Heung-min is the top Asian goalscorer in Premier League history with 119. Former Manchester United ace Park Ji-sung is second on just 19. Along with Lamine Yamal, the Athletic Club pace demon has been one of the shining lights this summer.
Nico Williams is a highly sought-after prospect in world football with his exceptional performances in the 2023/24 season being added to with some dazzling displays at Euro 2024. The 22-year-old could slot into any team in world football and instantly elevate the dribbling ability and energy of the front line. The Spanish winger has been electric in Germany for his side and looks to have nailed down a spot on the left side of La Roja's attack for the next decade.
The queue of teams considering paying is ever-growing with every game he features in. Everything you need to know about Spain's superstar winger who has earned interest from multiple Premier League clubs. have done wonders to keep hold of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, with Europe’s most prestigious clubs taking a liking to the Georgian ace.
After playing a key role in the Naples-based side’s domestic triumph in 2022/23, with 25 goal contributions in 34 appearances, his numbers have somewhat dwindled – but it’s not all about scoring and creating chances for Kvaratskhelia. When in possession of the ball, the tricky wide man excels with his feint dribbling and his ability to weave in and out of oncoming pressure like it is second nature is frightening. As long as he stays put in Italy, he'll be an essential presence for Napoli in their bid for European and domestic success.
After a stellar campaign in 2022/23, emerged as a truly world-class talent for . His numbers have dropped somewhat one year later, but with 13 goals and 13 assists, he's still been very, very good in Italy. Make no mistake, he is still one of the very best wingers on the planet.
His blistering pace down the left flank causes all sorts of problems for opposition defenders and while it hasn't been a strong year for Milan, it would have been a lot worse without Leao. At just 24 years old, the Portuguese man is only going to continue getting better and that should be a scary notion for just about everyone else in the right now. Beating defenders by sprinting down the touchline has become ’s bread and butter over the years – but, more often than not, he is now seen cutting in from the right with his devastating turn of pace.
Also a creative outlet for Bayern Munich, the former Manchester City man has to his name in 2023/24. With enough power and control to flip a game on its head, combining with the likes of Jamal Musiala and Harry Kane is an exciting prospect for years to come. Now 28, the German international has been using his experience at the elite level to decipher between creating a chance for a teammate or when to have a pop himself.
The 18 best defenders on the planet right now have been ranked in order Gabriel Martinelli shot to stardom in the 2022/23 season as one of main attacking threats as Mikel Arteta's Gunners went from top-four hopefuls to genuine title contenders. Martinelli was just as effective as Bukayo Saka on the other flank as the north London side fell just short of a first Premier League title in two decades. Unfortunately, injury issues led to inconsistency in the following 12 months and the Brazil international fell down the pecking order of the best wingers on the planet.
He's still not reached his prime years, meaning there's every chance Martinelli could return stronger than ever after a short break and take the English top flight by storm once more. was expected to be the subject of a bidding war involving some of Europe's elite clubs this summer after the Frenchman's incredible form towards the end of the 2023/24 campaign. Linking up with Eberechi Eze and Jean-Philippe Mateta at Selhurst Park, Olise caught the eye of many with his silky skills and composure on the ball shining through.
wrapped up a deal for the Eagles star, beating the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United to his signature. Olise is set for his first foray into Champions League football in the 2024/25 term, and it is expected he will move even further up this list in the coming years. Raphinha scored a world-class free-kick for Brazil at Copa America 2024 and this reminded a lot of supporters just how classy the Barcelona wide player is.
During his time at Leeds United, Raphinha displayed his superior technique and ice-cold nature on the ball. Since his move to Camp Nou, things have been more up-and-down for the Brazilian as he contributed to Barca winning La Liga during his debut campaign in Spain before the next season saw that title surrendered to fierce rivals Real Madrid. At 27 years old, there's still room for growth and the ex-Rennes playmaker could yet go to another level if he carries his international form into club football.
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