Ranking the 10 Best Wingers in the World | 2025

Wingers play a quintessential role in modern football. With strikers more often used like a false nine or a playmaker, the goalscoring onus is falling on the wingers. If you thought they only contributed to goal-scoring, you are in for a shock. A few wingers have impressed us immensely to be on the list of the best wingers in the world.

The modern-day wingers score goals, create chances, and even fall back to defend their wing. They must have a mix of pace, skill, high game intelligence and intensity to keep running for 90 minutes and add value to their side.

While making the top 10 list of the best wingers in the world, we were impressed by the range of the players on the list. Novices were making it onto the list for the first time, the usual suspects found their place, and some surprise packages defied the odds to stake a claim on the list.

With that said, let us take a look at the list of the top 10 best wingers in the world now. We will also disclose the evaluation criteria based on which the list was made. Of course, this list has a mix of the best right-wingers in the world, the best left-wingers in the world, the best young wingers in the world and the best winger in the world.

Ranking Factors

Consistency: The players on this list made consistent contributions to their team throughout the season. A short-lived peak can win them some games, but it is the continuous efforts that will truly help a side win major honours. We rewarded their grind here.

Efficiency: Football is a ruthless sport. It can change in a moment if a chance is not taken immediately. They say the chances keep coming, but more often than not, it becomes the chance not taken. So we included the players who were clinical throughout the season and made every chance count.

Eye Test: Sometimes, stats can not do justice to everything that happens in a game. A great cross that leads to a goal courtesy of a deflection wouldn’t even count as an assist. Hence, we sat down and appreciated all the players that made us go wow while watching them.

Top 10 Best Wingers In The World Right Now

10. Leroy Sane

Opening the list with one of the best left-wingers in the world. Leroy Sane is a regular on this list. However, this wasn’t a straightforward season for him or Bayern Munich. They had to regain the league title, and Sane had to play under a new manager. Thankfully, his ex-teammate turned manager had a good idea of how to make use of Sane’s pace and flair.

Sane started the season on his favourite left wing. He had to share the pitch with two more creative outlets in Jamal Musiala and Michael Olise. It made him focus more on his actions in the final third, knowing that service could come from elsewhere. Harry Kane provided him with a perfect outlet on the fast breaks and often supplied him as well.

He played a key role in his side regaining the top spot in the Bundesliga and snatching back the title from Bayer Leverkusen. However, he couldn’t save his side from a quarter-final exit in the UEFA Champions League.

9. Bradley Barcola

In a PSG side full of free-flowing forwards, Barcola has made a name for himself. The youngster stepped up in the aftermath of Kylian Mbappe’s departure. His partnership with Ousmane Dembele blew away the opposition in the league.

The 22-year-old realised his potential this season as he scored double-digit goals for the first time in his career. He has equally reached double-digit assists as well. It was heartwarming to see a youngster who was touted to become one of the best young wingers in the world actually go on to achieve it.

Barcola’s strengths stem from his strong technique on the ball. He graciously receives the ball and has great control. PSG maximised their tactics to get the best out of Barcola and Dembele. His ability to play on the breaks and also create against low blocks helped him onto this list.

8. Rodrygo

The Brazilian had to take the backstage following the arrival of Kylian Mbappe in the summer. Many questions were asked about the sustainability of the front three of Vinicius Jr, Kylian Mbappe and Rodrygo. But the Brazilian, who is quite shy, kept his head down and went on about his business.

Though he started on the right wing, he used to float around the box in most games. He would pop up centrally or on the left wing to create overloads. Though it is not his best season in terms of goal scoring, he did get some crucial goals for them. He especially stepped up in the UEFA Champions League. But Rodrygo, who is quite famous for his big match goals, wasn’t able to salvage the situation against Arsenal.

7. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia

Talk about having a fantastic season for two clubs. Wait, you did not read it wrong. Kvaratskhelia was leading Napoli to another Scudetto under Antonio Conte. He adapted to a new formation and lit up the Serie A. For some reason of balancing the books, he was sold midway through the season.

The Georgian did not make a fuss and got straight into action in a new country. New surroundings, new teammates and a lack of pre-season, nothing bothered him as he started toying with defenders in Ligue 1.

Remember how we said stats do not always do justice? We were talking about Kvara’s case. The number of chances he creates, the pre-assists he registers and the ease with which he skips past defenders have to be appreciated in real-time. He is on a mission to lead PSG to their first-ever Champions League title.

6. Michael Olise

A few were wondering whether Olise moved too quickly to Bayern Munich. For someone who has spent their entire career in England and just started finding their feet, a move to a top club in another league certainly looks worrisome. Especially when the club in question is known as FC Hollywood, your every move will be questioned and judged.

Olise shrugged off all the fears as he proved that true quality shines anywhere, no matter the conditions. He already registered his best-ever tallies in goals and assists. He will become a fan favourite if they go on to win the league.

Olise’s ball manipulation and chance creation, along with his set-piece threat, surprised the Bundesliga defenders. His flair is well complemented by his in-game intelligence, which makes him a genuine world-class player. Alongside Jamal Musiala, he could easily be the face of Bayern Munich’s attack for the next 5 years.

5. Vinicius Jr

The Brazilian winger was on the verge of winning a Ballon d’Or. He was the main man in that attack the previous season. Fast forward to this season, and he had to learn to play a new game altogether with Kylian Mbappe. The pair got off to a slow start as they often occupied the same spaces.

But as the season went on, the new teammates found ways to get on with each other. Jude Bellingham pulled the strings from behind as the front trio ran riot. Vinicius Jr. formed a great bond with Mbappe as well by supplying multiple assists to him. He breached the twenty-goal mark yet again this season.

With his pace and skill, he is tormenting the defences, but the troubles from the penalty spot continue to haunt him. His miss against Valencia led to them losing the game and dealt a crucial blow to their title hopes.

4. Bukayo Saka

The English winger was all set to go toe-to-toe with Mohamed Salah for the best winger in the league crown. He started the season in fine form as Arsenal built their title charge. His goal against Liverpool in that 2-2 draw gave him full confidence. Just as he was getting into great form, a cruel hamstring injury brought him down.

Saka’s workload in the previous seasons was questioned by many, and it finally came back to bite him. The amount of defensive shifts he puts in for his side, apart from the relentless attacking, forces his hamstring to give up. He had to miss a key chunk of the season as Arsenal lost steam in their title charge.

However, he came back like he never left as he scored against Fulham on his return. In the crucial tie against Real Madrid, he was the beating heart of the Gunners. He secured a spot in the semis with the winner in the second leg and is raring to lead them to a Champions League title.

3. Lamine Yamal

The entire footballing world is keenly watching Yamal’s progress at Barcelona. We are witnessing a genuine superstar at 17 years of age. As they say, if you are good enough, you are old enough. Yamal is redefining what one can achieve if given the right platform. He is part of the Barcelona attack that’s so close to winning yet another treble.

Right from the talent factory of La Masia, Yamal was thrust into the action as Barcelona were looking short on the right-hand side. The fleet-footed winger answered the call and took the world by storm. His agility on the ball and his understanding of the game at such a tender age make him stand out.

He is a great creator who can hit passes of the perfect weight and crosses aimed at the heads of teammates. Yamal’s finishing is a bit erratic at times, but come on, we can not expect a finished product at 17, right? His potential has no bounds, and if he continues the same way, he could not only become the best young winger in the world but also the best right winger and the best winger in the world.

2. Raphinha

Talk of career trajectories. Going from a relegated Leeds United to one of the best clubs in the world, like Barcelona and performing well. In fact, “well” doesn’t do justice to the kind of player he has become. Originally a right winger, he started playing on the left this season and hit levels at the peak of his career.

Raphinha’s ability to run in behind defences is allowing him to feast on the creativity provided by Yamal and co. The front three of Robert Lewandowski, Yamal and Raphinha are propelling Barcelona to yet another treble. Raphinha scored 30 club career goals in a season for the first time in his career. All this finishing doesn’t take anything away from his creativity, as he is still a great decision-maker in the final third.

Approaching the prime years of an athlete, we might see Raphinha become the best in the world soon.

1. Mohamed Salah

Lo and behold. The crown of the best wingers in the world goes to the Egyptian King himself. Exactly a year ago, Mohamed Salah promised Liverpool fans that he would deliver them trophies. He hit the gym in the preseason, went on to grow a new hairline and came back to haunt the Premier League defences.

The 32-year-old might have lost a yard of his usual pace, but he has modelled his game excellently by playmaking under Arne Slot. The Dutch manager was working with a superstar of Salah’s magnitude for the first time. But he managed to build a system around the Egyptian so they could win some games. What unfolded next was nothing short of a fairytale for the Merseysiders.

Salah hit the ground running in the new season. He recorded 3 goals and 3 assists in the opening three games, and every single contribution either opened the scoring or won them the game. Salah’s string of key goals and assists dragged Liverpool to the top of the league, and saw them winning the top flight title for the 20th time.

He could end the season with a record-fourth golden boot and a second-best playmaker award and yet another PFA award. As a cherry on top, he could also break the unbreakable record of Thierry Henry’s 20 assists in a single campaign. In the midst of it all, he signed a contract extension with the Reds, ending all the speculation of a summer move away.

Despite these astonishing numbers, there was a blip in his season that saw them crash out of the Champions League and lose the Carabao Cup final in the space of a week. It might potentially deter his Balon d’Or claim, but he will hold onto the title of the best winger in the world at the moment.

List Of The 10 Best Wingers In The World