Wingers are one exciting set of players to watch; apart from their speed, they perform dual functions of defending and attacking.
Wingers can be skillful, as speed alone doesn’t beat the best of wing-backs, but despite the modernization of football tactics, they remain important parts of football.
In modern football, the position of a winger is becoming more and more important as modern wingers now tend to score a lot of goals — sometimes even more than strikers.
Apart from supplying the strikers with assists and also stretching the opposition teams, wingers now provide a reliable outlet for goals — more than ever before.
For wingers to contribute adequately, they must have high speed, be skillful, and be good at dribbling. Some of the best wingers to have played football include the likes of Arjen Robben, Frank Ribery, Robinho, Ronaldinho, and Jesus Navas.
In this article, TOP SOCCER BLOG presents you with the top 10 best wingers in the world in 2024.
1. Kylian Mbappé
Kylian Mbappe is one of the fastest players in the history of football, and it’s not surprising to see him start his career and thrive in that position at Monaco.
However, his effectiveness, dribbling, and goalscoring prowess have seen him converted to a makeshift striker a couple of times at PSG.
Nevertheless, it’s always a beauty to see him dueled in a foot race on the wings by wing-backs.
When he plays as a winger, Mbappé uses his right foot to cut into the center of the field from the left wing. He is also capable of creating opportunities and providing assists for his teammates from the right side of the field due to his excellent vision.
Mbappé is also known for his exceptional dribbling ability, explosive acceleration, agility, quick feet, first touch, link-up play, and creativity when he has possession of the ball.
Furthermore, his close ball control and pace when dribbling at speed, as well as his tactical intelligence, movement, and ability to make attacking runs into space both on and off the ball to beat the defensive line make him one of the greatest wingers of his generation.
At the time of this publishing, Kylian Mbappé has scored 24 games in 24 Ligue 1 matches.
2. Vinicius Jnr.
Brazilian winger Vinicius Junior is often considered the future at Real Madrid, and in the last three or four seasons, he’s acclimatized to the responsibility of the role and shone.
He’s managed two consecutive seasons with double digits in goals and double digits assists for Real tasted silverware success with the Champions League and La Liga two seasons ago and the World Cup experience last year.
Without the experienced veterans available up front, Vinicius Junior has a lot more to show the world and La Liga.
He has improved a lot in his decision-making, positional sense, movement, and close control, which has made him one of the top wingers in the world right now.
This season the Brazilian has cemented his place as one of the best wingers in the world, with 15 goals in 25 matches, including a masterclass against Girona.
3. Mohammed Salah
Perhaps the biggest name on the list, Mohammed Salah is an elite winger whose efficiency helps Liverpool not only win games but also play them well in the absence of a recognized striker.
The Egyptian has always contended with the best strikers in the Premier League for the Golden Boots season in and season out.
All of these while dropping double-digit goals and assists casually, with the lowest goal tally he has had in the last six years being 19 goals twice.
The African football legend is a very speedy winger who loves to take on defenders, cut inside and shoot. He is also a pretty decent dribbler and a lethal goalscorer.
He is also one of the best left-footed football players in the world.
4. Bukayo Saka
Bukayo Saka is the latest PFA Young Player of the Season after he was awarded in late August alongside Erling Haaland, who was named the PFA Player of the Season.
Saka’s nomination and award are not surprising, seeing his role in Arsenal’s failed title challenge last season, as he scored fourteen goals and eleven assists in 38 games.
The English winger has made precision and end product the major part of his style of play.
Saka is an exceptionally creative right-winger who can put himself in dangerous positions and deliver decisive passes.
He is comfortable playing on either side of the field, but performs best when he has the freedom to move towards the center and position himself between the lines to receive passes.
He also possesses a unique skill of receiving the ball on the half-turn between the lines and quickly progressing play. He has excellent close control and dribbling abilities, which make him one of the best wingers in the world.
Saka has emerged as one of the best right-wingers in the world, as he is capable of creating chances and providing crosses for teammates from the left flank.
He is having the form of his life this 2023/24 EPL season with 13 goals and 8 assists so far.
5. Kaoru Mitoma
The man who studied the art of dribbling and one who practiced what he “preached,” so to speak. The Japanese style has been majorly based on dribbling and productivity.
Brighton would have been delighted to keep Mitoma even though he may have had a paltry seven goals and five assists in 33 games last season.
He is widely considered to be one of the best dribblers in football at the moment.
Mitoma, who is naturally right-footed, typically plays on the left side of the field in a left-wing position.
His agile dribbling style and ability to change pace, similar to Eden Hazard’s, enable him to outmaneuver his opponents both inside and outside the field.
He also has excellent decision-making skills, knowing when to make the right pass. Mitoma’s quick thinking and rapid acceleration are his primary strengths.
Mitoma is also a defensively solid player.
6. Heung-Min Son
The new leader at Tottenham after the exit of Harry Kane, many are waiting to see how the South Korean fare without his partner in “crime.”
Son with Kane averaged double digits, goals, and assists since his second season at the club.
The Asian is known for his speed and goalscoring abilities. He had 23 goals and seven assists in the 2021/2022 season and ten goals with six assists last season.
He is one of the best wingers in the world because of his explosive speed, lethal finishing, two-footedness, and dribbling ability.
7. Rafael Leão
Tormentor-in-chief for many Serie A defenders, Rafael Leao, has been at it since the 2019/2020 season. However, his last two seasons have been the best in terms of productivity.
In the 2021/2022 season, Leão was awarded the Serie A MVP award, finishing the campaign with 11 goals and 10 assists. While in the 2022/23 season he had 15 goals and 8 assists in the Serie A.
He is said to be among the top left-wingers in the world now.
Leão is known for his technical skill and versatility, allowing him to play on either side of the field. He is tall and slender, with impressive speed and agility that make him an effective forward.
His movements, on or off the ball, are disruptive to opposing defenses. Leão is highly skilled in dribbling, often taking the ball from deep positions and maneuvering around defenders with ease.
The Portuguese is also particularly adept at changing speeds to beat opponents in one-on-one situations near the goal.
8. Leroy Sané
Leroy Sane is one traditional winger playing for Bayern Munich; the German relies mostly on his pace as he is one of the fastest players in the game.
When Bayern Munich signed Sadio Mane before the start of last season, many dreaded the devastating impact of the duo of sorry Bundesliga defenses, but that was short-lived.
Leroy Sané also possess a superb first touch, which he uses to control the ball.
The frontman had 15 goal contributions last season for Bayern Munich and continues to be a big part of the German national team.
9. Ousmane Dembele
Ousmane Dembele has not been rated fairly, and this is basically no thanks to his consistent injury problems, but anytime he’s fit, he sure knows how to play ball.
The French forward is one of the best wingers currently playing football. He is astoundingly two-footed, fast, and can dribble.
He left Barcelona in the summer and moved back to France with PSG, and at 26, he still has more to give football and, indeed, PSG if he stays fit.
Dembélé, with his technical skill, speed, and agility, is a versatile winger who can play on either side of the field. His ability to use both feet enables him to outmaneuver opponents and beat defenders in one-on-one situations.
10. Marcus Rashford
Manchester United winger Marcus Rashford is undoubtedly one of the best wingers in the world.
The Englishman enjoyed his best spell in front of goal in the 2022/23 season, where he scored over 30 goals.
Rashford has the ability to play both as a centre forward or a winger, with his preferred position being on the left-wing. This position enables him to cut inside and use his right foot to shoot on goal.
He also enjoys dropping back to receive the ball and initiate an attack. Rashford is a quick and straightforward player who frequently moves to central positions to create opportunities and score goals.
The 26-year-old poses a significant threat to defenders due to his movement and positioning off the ball, often leading to opponents marking him with more than one defender.
Honourable Mentions:
Some of the other notable mentions who are who are also among the best wingers in the worldinclude Napoli’s Georgian Kvicha Kvaratsheklia, who, along with Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen, helped Napoli end their many decades of wait for the Scudetto.
Kingsley Coman and Riyadh Mahrez are some of the best in the game, with laurels to show for it, although the Algerian has moved to Saudi Arabia in the summer.
However, Manchester City has replaced him with an exciting talent in Jeremy Doku, who joined from Stade Rennes in the summer. Liverpool’s Luiz Diaz, Real Madrid‘s Brazilian forward Rodrygo, Atletico Madrid’s Memphis Depay, and Barcelona’s Raphinha are all worth the mentions.
Similarly, Bayern Munich’s Serge Gnabry, Manchester United’s Antony, Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli, and Manchester City’s Jack Grealish seem to be growing into form, Chelsea’s Raheem Sterling, as well as Brentford’s Bryan Mbuemo, are also some of the best wingers in the world.
