The 25 best right wingers in world football - ranked

The vintage winger of yesteryear is hard to come across in the current day and age.

The emergence of the 'inverted' wide man has altered our perceptions of the winger. Such players are no longer expected to hit the byline and cross at will - that's now the job of the marauding full-back - but are instead tasked with cutting onto their favoured foot and creating or scoring from a more central position.

Of course, there's the odd player who resembles the throwback profile of a right winger, but those are hard to come by and few are among the very best in the world right now.

Here's our list of the top 25 right wingers in the world as part of our 2023 Welcome to World Class series.

25. Jadon Sancho

Jadon Sancho's time at Manchester United was disappointing but there are various factors why the England international's Borussia Dortmund form didn't translate over to the Premier League.

There is less room to attack in transition in England compared to the space haven that is the Bundesliga, but Sancho has also been hamstrung by poor coaching at United.

After falling out with Erik ten Hag, Sancho returned to Dortmund on loan in January in a bid to reignite his career.

24. Matias Soule

With his opportunities limited at Juventus, Matias Soule earned a loan move to Frosinone in the summer which has been the making of him.

The Argentine has hit double-digit goals in Serie A for this first time in his career, with his stellar work garnering the attention of the Saudi Pro League.

However, Soule is expected to return to Juve at the end of 2023/24 and surely play a prominent role for the Bianconeri.

23. Domenico Berardi

The perennially underrated Domenico Berardi has lived a comfortable life in Sassuolo.

He has seen some of Italy's finest young talent come and go in Emilia-Romagna and while he's certainly good enough to join one of Serie A's behemoths, the Italy international has persistently opted for the comfort of familiarity.

Berardi has been nothing short of an output machine at Sassuolo and has to be regarded as one of Italy’s finest products of the 2010s, but his unwillingness to challenge himself at the very highest level domestically means he can't be regarded among the elite.

22. Ferran Torres

There have been large periods where Ferran Torres has completely fallen out of favour at Barcelona and, while 2023/24 has been a campaign of indifference for the Catalans, Ferran has often produced.

Injuries have once again hindered the Spaniard, who has been underused when fit and available.

21. Angel Di Maria

Manchester United spell aside, Angel Di Maria has been playing at an elite level for over a decade.

His game has had to evolve as he reaches the twilight of his career, but the Argentine is still one of the best right wingers in the world.

At PSG, Di Maria played the supporting role. He couldn't compete with Kylian Mbappe's productivity nor rival Neymar's majesty with the ball, but he ensured PSG's ego-laden attack was balanced and played an underrated role in their journey to the 2020 Champions League final.

He's now back at Benfica after a brief season with Juve.

20. Johan Bakayoko

After enjoying a breakout 2022/23, Johan Bakayoko was on the brink of departing PSV in the summer.

The Belgian, though, was swayed by incoming boss Peter Bosz and the Dutchman has since taken Bakayoko to new heights. The winger functions as the unpredictable live wire down PSV's right, with the Eredivisie outfit enjoying a dominant campaign.

19. Bradley Barcola

A recent big-money signing for PSG, Bradley Barcola is a name you'll hear more and more of in the coming years.

His dynamism out wide is hard to find, while his comfort with both feet renders him adept off both flanks and a full-back's nightmare.

18. Michael Olise

Michael Olise has the makings of an elite winger, even if his 2023/24 campaign has been hamstrung by injuries.

His debut season at Selhurst Park was promising and he followed it up with double digit assists in 2022/23. A creative winger who boasts impressive playmaking tools, his technical ability has drawn comparisons with Riyad Mahrez and Arjen Robben.

17. Moussa Diaby

In a post-Kai Havertz world, Moussa Diaby emerged as a major protagonist at Bayer Leverkusen.

The Frenchman was primarily a creator off the flank before his goal output exploded in 2021/22. Diaby scored a career-high 13 Bundesliga goals alongside 12 assists as he spearheaded Die Werkself's return to the Champions League.

Diaby epitomises modern-day wing play. He inverts off the right so he can wreak havoc in more central zones but also boasts the speed and trickery to beat his man on the outside. Diaby's two-footedness adds to his mystique in possession while he's a brilliant ball striker, too.

His start to life at Aston Villa has been quietly encouraging, too.

16. Riyad Mahrez

Pep Guardiola's tendency to rotate means Riyad Mahrez didn't produce the numbers of some of his contemporaries at Manchester City, but the Algerian winger still came up clutch in some huge moments.

His performances in the knockout stages of the 2020/21 Champions League campaign spring to mind, especially his three-goal effort over two legs in the semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain.

Mahrez's penchant to performing when it matters most is just another string to his bow. The former Leicester winger is as naturally gifted as they come and emanates elegance and grace every time he touches the ball.

A switch to Saudi Arabia means he's been thrust out of mainstream prominence.

15. Lamine Yamal

16 years old.

There's no way Lamine Yamal should be this good already, and yet he is.

Yamal is becoming a star at Barcelona and also recently became the youngest goalscorer in Spain's history.

He has all-time great potential.

14. Leon Bailey

Leon Bailey arrived at Villa Park to much fanfare in 2021 having shone at Bayer Leverkusen, although his first two seasons in the Premier League were fairly underwhelming.

The addition of Diaby was set to hinder Bailey further, but the Jamaican has instead thrived in the Frenchman's presence, usurping him in the depth chart.

The tricky Bailey is enjoying his most prolific campaign since 2020/21.

13. Pedro Neto

A pair of devastating knee injuries means it's taken some time for Pedro Neto to re-establish himself at Molineux.

Neto had starred for Wolves before his injury woes stunted his development, but we're finally starting to see the very best of the explosive Portuguese winger in 2023/24.

A big move beckons in the summer.

12. Jarrod Bowen

From non-league Hereford United to West Ham and Europa Conference League glory, Jarrod Bowen has embarked on quite the journey.

Bowen has consistently impressed in east London since arriving from Hull City in 2019 but 2021/22 was a coming-of-age campaign for the industrious right winger. The Englishman scored 12 times in the Premier League and added ten assists for the Hammers before making his first England appearances.

Bowen is a relentless winger who often creates chances for himself thanks to his work rate and defensive effort. As the scorer of the goal that won West Ham the Europa Conference League, he is etched into Irons folklore forever.

11. Federico Chiesa

Federico Chiesa's stellar Euro 2020 campaign with Italy thrust the electric winger to the forefront of these sorts of discussions.

Chiesa was once a precocious talent at Fiorentina before Juventus came in with an irresistible offer in 2020. It took some time for the Italian to settle in Turin, but he exploded down the stretch of the 2020/21 campaign which set the tone for his incredible summer.

However, an ACL tear has scuppered his progress, with the Italian continuing to be setback by injuries.

10. Serge Gnabry

Germany international Serge Gnabry was once the most feared winger on the planet, especially in London. Both Tottenham and Chelsea felt his wrath in the 2019/20 season as Bayern Munich won the Champions League off the back of the former Arsenal winger's sensational form.

While Gnabry remains one of the most potent wingers in the world, he perhaps didn't build off that incredible campaign in the manner many projected.

9. Dejan Kulusevski

Juventini laughed in the faces of Spurs supporters when Fabio Paratici dragged Dejan Kulusevski out of Max Allegri's prison in January 2022.

Kulusevski - or 'Deki' - was nothing short of a revelation after joining in January 2022, helping the Lilywhites claim a top-four spot by the season's end.

His ability to retain possession under pressure, glide beyond opponents and seemingly always make the right decision in the final third means he slotted in seamlessly at Tottenham. The Swede has since bounced back from a disappointing 2022/23 season at the start of Ange Postecoglou's tenure.

8. Ousmane Dembele

Ousmane Dembele is one of the most gifted footballers in the world but injuries and inconsistency have prevented the Frenchman from reaching the stratospheric heights he was once destined for.

His time at Barcelona has been incredibly frustrating but Xavi's appointment offered the enigmatic winger a beacon of hope. The former midfielder recognised Dembele's unordinary talent and made him a key part of his team last season.

Despite this, Dembele opted to up sticks and take his talents to PSG during the summer and he's swiftly garnered the trust of Luis Enrique.

7. Raphinha

Angel Di Maria clone Raphinha was courted by several top Premier League clubs following two wonderful years with Leeds but eventually chose to sign with Barcelona.

Raphinha is so technically proficient he's capable of dictating the tempo of proceedings from his wide position. He's athletic enough to beat his man in a myriad of ways but prefers to drift inside and create from a more central position.

The Brazil international was excellent at Elland Road under Marcelo Bielsa and his talents are slowly starting to shine through in Catalonia, too.

6. Cole Palmer

2023/24 has been a tumultuous season for Mauricio Pochettino's Chelsea, with Todd Boehly's scattergun approach to recruitment so far failing to reap any sort of reward.

However, the Blues signed a good one in Cole Palmer, who broke into Pep Guardiola's Man City outfit before joining the west London club for a bargain £42.5m fee.

The Englishman is a final third killer; a creator who seemingly always makes the right decision at the crucial moment and his goal return depicts an impressive finisher.

5. Leroy Sane

It's pretty tough to judge how much Leroy Sane has developed since swapping Man City for Bayern Munich.

His total goal contribution output has been steady since his arrival in 2020, but the Germany international is yet to completely dominate at the Allianz Arena like Gnabry and Robert Lewandowski have in recent years.

That said, he remains a creative threat from out wide and can deliver devastating shots from distance with his left boot. He's enjoyed linking up with Harry Kane in Bavaria this season.

4. Rodrygo

Rodrygo has often been outshone by compatriot and teammate Vinicius Junior since joining Real Madrid in 2019, but the Brazilian is starting to produce more of his own big moments.

The Blancos star is an excellent technician who can beat opponents one-v-one in a myriad of ways. While he lacks supreme physicality and athleticism, the Brazilian does boast predatory instincts in the box and is brilliant at creating space for himself in the final third.

While Vinicius scored the all-important winner in the 2021/22 Champions League final, it was Rodrygo's goals in the quarter-final and semi-final second legs that saw Real progress.

He's particularly shone when Vini's not been available this season, seemingly enjoying the added responsibility.

3. Lionel Messi

The greatest footballer ever and, despite being 36 years old, he's probably still the best footballer in the world right now, too.

Lionel Messi claimed his eighth Ballon d'Or in 2023 after spearheading Argentina's World Cup success in Qatar.

Things are undoubtedly slowing down with the all-time legend now at Inter Miami with some old Barcelona pals, but no active player can match his technical skill and god-like aura.

2. Bukayo Saka

Bukayo Saka was just 19 when his spot kick was saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma to win Italy the Euros. A barrage of abuse came his way but Arsenal's starboy responded by leading the Gunners' scoring charts in 2021/22 and their 2022/23 title challenge.

To bounce back from what was undoubtedly the most difficult moment of his young senior career to date in the manner he has is nothing short of admirable. Saka was excellent for England at Euro 2020 and has been superb for Arsenal ever since Unai Emery handed him his debut in 2018. 

He has matured rapidly and quickly evolved into one of the world's best right wingers. He's capable of dominating his flank single-handedly as Mikel Arteta often isolates Saka down the right.

The Arsenal starlet is sneakily strong and masterful in one-vs-one situations.

1. Mohamed Salah

There is no 'winger' in world football more ruthless in front of goal than Mohamed Salah.

The Egyptian's first stint in the Premier League was unsuccessful but his second term has thrust him into superstardom.

His goal returns each season since joining Liverpool are absurd, reading 32, 22, 19, 22, 23 and 19 in the league. He's a two-time Golden Boot winner and his knack for pulling off the spectacular will only enhance his legacy when his time in England is looked back upon.

Salah is aiming to add a second Premier League title to his haul before Jurgen Klopp departs in the summer.

READ MORE ON THE BEST 25 PLAYERS FOR EVERY POSITION IN WORLD FOOTBALL