The classic touchline-hugging right winger is a dying breed in the modern game.<\/p>\n
In today\u2019s tactical landscape, the role has evolved. The rise of inverted wingers has redefined expectations\u2014it\u2019s no longer just about beating the fullback and whipping in a cross. Now, right wingers are creators and scorers, often drifting into central areas to influence the game with their stronger foot.<\/p>\n
While the traditional wide man still exists in pockets, most of the elite in this position blend flair, tactical intelligence and end product in ways that reflect the demands of the modern game.<\/p>\n
With that in mind, here\u2019s Sports Illustrated\u2019s ranking of the 25 best right wingers in the world right now.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Yeremy Pino has bounced back after a major injury setback. \/ IMAGO\/Photo Players Images<\/p>\n
Y\u00e9remy Pino\u2019s trajectory hit a major roadblock when he suffered a cruciate ligament tear in November 2023, ruling him out for the majority of the season.<\/p>\n
But he bounced back in style in 2024\u201325, delivering the kind of composed, high-level performances that earned him regular call-ups to the Spanish national team\u2014no small feat for a player still in his early 20s and playing for Villarreal, a club outside Spain\u2019s traditional elite.<\/p>\n
Pino isn\u2019t the kind of winger who overwhelms with raw pace or flashy numbers. What he brings instead is something more subtle\u2014and often more valuable. He\u2019s a typically Spanish wide player: clever, technically superb, a brilliant dribbler and someone who reads the game several steps ahead. He glides past defenders, links play intelligently, and rarely makes the wrong decision.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Anthony Elanga has flourished since leaving Old Trafford. \/ IMAGO \/ Bildbyran<\/p>\n
Anthony Elanga immediately caught the eye with his devastating speed and bravery in possession when rising through the ranks at Manchester United. He offered regular glimpses of his sizeable potential but needed to leave Old Trafford to reach it.<\/p>\n
The move to Nottingham Forest turned out to be anything but a downward step. The Sweden international blossomed in the east Midlands, seamlessly fitting into Nuno Esp\u00edrito Santo\u2019s counter-attacking system with his pace and direct approach.<\/p>\n
Elanga\u2019s versatility also helped him increase his first-team exposure and the tricky winger secured a blockbuster move<\/a> to Newcastle United after a tremendous 2024\u201325 campaign at the City Ground. <\/p>\n Brahim D\u00edaz is underrated. \/ IMAGO\/Pressinphoto<\/p>\n Brahim D\u00edaz might not be Real Madrid<\/a>\u2019s biggest name, but he\u2019s become one of their most reliable and versatile performers\u2014a player who consistently steps up when it matters most.<\/p>\n Time and again, when bigger names like Vin\u00edcius J\u00fanior or Rodrygo falter, it\u2019s Brahim who rises to the occasion. Whether it\u2019s delivering a crucial goal, teeing up a teammate or simply injecting energy and urgency into the game, he has a knack for lifting the Bernab\u00e9u when it\u2019s needed most.<\/p>\n Technically superb, as you\u2019d expect from someone raised in Spain, Brahim also brings a flair and unpredictability to his game that reflects the Moroccan national team he now represents. It\u2019s this blend of intelligence, creativity and audacity that makes him such a joy to watch.<\/p>\n After years of being loaned out or used sparingly, it finally feels like he\u2019s getting the recognition he deserves in Madrid.<\/p>\n \u00c0ngel Di Mar\u00eda is pure class. \/ IMAGO\/NurPhoto<\/p>\n \u00c1ngel Di Mar\u00eda may be in the twilight of his career, having recently returned to boyhood club Rosario Central for what promises to be a heartfelt final chapter. But his performances for Benfica between 2023 and 2025 showed that there is still plenty left in the tank\u2014more than most, in fact.<\/p>\n Not only did the Argentine continue to glide across the pitch with the same elegance and intelligence that made him a star at Real Madrid and PSG, he also rediscovered a cutting edge that had faded in recent years\u2014netting 37 goals and registering 15 assists across two standout seasons in Portugal.<\/p>\n When the time comes, Di Mar\u00eda will go down as one of the finest wingers of his generation. But until then, he remains one of the most gifted wide men in the game\u2014and back on home soil, there\u2019s little doubt he\u2019ll tear through Argentine defences in his swansong season, just as he has across Europe for nearly the past two decades.<\/p>\n Amad Diallo has grown in importance at Old Trafford. \/ IMAGO\/PRiME Media Images<\/p>\n Expectations were high for Amad Diallo when he made the pricey switch from Atalanta to Manchester United<\/a> at a tender age, with the Ivorian needing a little time to make his mark. He made just nine appearances for the Red Devils before his first loan spell to Rangers, which offered a flavour of his quality.<\/p>\n Amad\u2019s next loan stint with Sunderland was far more impressive, though. The speedster managed 14 goals and four assists for the Black Cats in the second tier\u2014enough to convince United to offer him more opportunities moving forward.<\/p>\n He\u2019s since become a crucial member of United\u2018s squad and produced a particularly eye-catching 2024\u201325 campaign during which he rose tall amid the darkness and mediocrity. The positive thing for the Red Devils is that there is even more to come from the flexible winger.<\/p>\n Mohammed Kudus has thrived in English football. \/ IMAGO \/ Pro Sports Images<\/p>\n One of the many exciting talents to thrive at the Right to Dream Academy in Ghana, Mohammed Kudus really made his name at Ajax. The powerful and versatile forward dazzled in Amsterdam, with some hugely impressive performances in the Champions League<\/a> during the 2022\u201323 season intriguing English sides.<\/p>\n West Ham United were able to convince the Ghanaian to make the move to London and he hit the ground running with the Irons, catching the eye in the Premier League and Europa League. While his second term with the Hammers wasn\u2019t quite as impressive, Kudus still earned a lucrative move to Tottenham Hotspur<\/a>.<\/p>\n Kudus has the perfect blend of athleticism, strength and flair, making him an incredibly difficult man to stop at full tilt. The sky is the limit for him. <\/p>\n Arda G\u00fcler hasn’t had it easy at Real Madrid. \/ IMAGO\/Gribaudi\/ImagePhoto <\/p>\n Arda G\u00fcler’s first two years at Real Madrid have anything but smooth. The Turkish youngster arrived with enormous expectations\u2014and quickly became an unfair target for criticism from both the Spanish media and sections of the Bernab\u00e9u crowd, despite barely getting a proper chance to show what he could do.<\/p>\n Injuries disrupted much of his 2023\u201324 campaign, and when he did return to fitness, opportunities were limited under the now-departed Carlo Ancelotti. Often deployed out wide to fill gaps, G\u00fcler still produced moments of pure class\u2014even though many would argue his best performances, and his natural fit, come when operating centrally, where he can fully pick apart defences.<\/p>\n With velvet dribbling, razor-sharp passing and a thunderous right foot, the talent is obvious. There\u2019s a reason he was once dubbed \u201cthe Turkish Messi.\u201d Now, all he needs is consistent minutes\u2014and the platform to truly take off.<\/p>\n Takefusa Kubo is a joy to watch. \/ IMAGO\/AFLOSPORT<\/p>\n Takefusa Kubo\u2019s raw numbers at Real Sociedad\u201423 goals and 18 assists across nearly 150 appearances\u2014might not jump off the page. But while stats are important, they don’t tell the full story, especially with a player as uniquely gifted as the Japanese winger.<\/p>\n Kubo is electric on the ball. His freakish agility and ability to shift direction in an instant make him a nightmare to defend and a joy to watch. Few wingers in Europe can match his quickness or close control in tight spaces.<\/p>\n And those assist numbers? They undersell his creative output. Watch him play and you\u2019ll quickly lose count of how many chances Kubo sets up\u2014only for them to be squandered. Real Sociedad, after all, haven\u2019t exactly had an elite finisher in front of him, with Alexander Isak and Alexander S\u00f8rloth still finding their feet during much of his time at the club.<\/p>\n Yes, his own finishing can still improve, but technically, tactically and creatively, Kubo is the real deal.<\/p>\n Savinho had a solid debut season at Manchester City. \/ IMAGO\/Andy Rowland<\/p>\n Savinho is the archetypal Brazilian winger\u2014bursting with flair, dazzling trick, and blistering pace that leave defenders grasping at air and fans on their feet.<\/p>\n Primarily playing on the left wing, he was the standout star in Girona\u2019s unlikely and thrilling 2023\u201324 campaign, helping them finish third in La Liga and qualify for the Champions League for the very first time.<\/p>\n A move to Manchester City<\/a> followed last summer, where he was subsequently shifted to the opposite flank, and despite the team\u2019s struggles, Savinho still managed a solid debut season, contributing three goals and 13 assists.<\/p>\n Rediscovering the goal-scoring form he showed at Girona, Savinho could become a real game-changer in the Premier League.<\/p>\n Pedro Neto has come into his own recently. \/ IMAGO\/Action Plus<\/p>\n Pedro Neto has been desperately unlucky with injuries, missing nearly two full years of football due to a string of setbacks. So when he joined Chelsea in the summer of 2024, it was no surprise that it took time for him to get going.<\/p>\n But by the business end of the 2024\u201325 campaign, Neto had found his rhythm\u2014and showed exactly why Chelsea were willing to spend \u00a354 million on him.<\/p>\n Darting runs, sharp touches, dazzling footwork, explosive shifts of pace\u2014and most importantly, vastly improved end product. His final ball sharpened, his finishing matured and the goals started to come, including three standout strikes at the Club World Cup<\/a>, where he helped fire Chelsea to the title and emerged as one of the tournament\u2019s standout performers.<\/p>\n If he can stay fit and keep trending upward, Neto\u2019s stock will only continue to rise.<\/p>\n Johan Bakayoko moved to RB Leipzig in 2025. \/ IMAGO\/Pro Shots Images<\/p>\n Watch out, world\u2014Johan Bakayoko has arrived.<\/p>\n Over the past two seasons, the supremely talented Belgian made the Eredivisie look like a walk in the park, helping PSV Eindhoven to back-to-back league titles while racking up 26 goals and 17 assists. His performances earned him Player of the Year honours in the Dutch top flight and left defenders across the division tied in knots.<\/p>\n Quick, explosive and almost impossible to knock off the ball thanks to his low centre of gravity, Bakayoko combines raw power with technical finesse and a clinical edge in front of goal.<\/p>\n Just ask Liverpool. In last season\u2019s Champions League, he made a mockery of their backline\u2014taking a deft touch, spinning past Andy Robertson and Jarell Quansah with ease and rifling a finish into the net with his supposedly weaker right foot.<\/p>\n Now at RB Leipzig, and already drawing comparisons to Arjen Robben,<\/a> Bakayoko looks ready to light up the Bundesliga and beyond.<\/p>\n Leroy San\u00e9 left Bayern Munich in 2025. \/ IMAGO \/ DeFodi Images<\/p>\n During his five-year spell at Bayern Munich, Leroy San\u00e9 never quite hit the heights many expected.<\/p>\n While the German international certainly had his moments, he never enjoyed the same standout seasons\u2014or consistency\u2014as fellow wingers like Serge Gnabry, Kingsley Coman or Michael Olise. Injuries, dips in form, and perhaps a crisis of confidence often held him back just when it looked like he was ready to explode.<\/p>\n But when he was on it? He was electric\u2014arguably the most gifted of the lot. A rocket of a left foot, blistering pace (enough to rival Alphonso Davies), and dazzling footwork made him a nightmare for defenders. The problem? Too often, he was just as frustrating for his own teammates\u2014wasteful in the final third and out of sync.<\/p>\n Now at Fenerbah\u00e7e, away from the unforgiving glare of the Allianz, San\u00e9 has a fresh chance to turn undeniable talent into reliable output. He\u2019s never lacked ability\u2014but finding consistency and sharpening his end product will be the key to finally delivering on all that promise.<\/p>\n Giuliano Simeone is the son of Diego Simeone. \/ IMAGO\/ZUMA Press Wire<\/p>\n When your father is the manager of the team, people are quick to assume you only got picked because of your name.<\/p>\n But in the case of Giuliano Simeone \u2013 son of Atl\u00e9tico Madrid<\/a> boss Diego\u2014that couldn\u2019t be further from the truth. The young winger has more than earned his place and is fast becoming a key figure for Los Rojiblancos.<\/p>\n Where Diego was a bruising, no-nonsense midfielder, Giuliano is a fleet-footed winger\u2014but he’s clearly inherited plenty of his father\u2019s traits. On top of his pace, explosive movement and sharp dribbling, he brings relentless energy, versatility and a willingness to do the dirty work off the ball.<\/p>\n In many ways, he\u2019s the perfect player for cholismo\u2014which, given his heritage, really shouldn\u2019t come as a surprise.<\/p>\n Christian Pulisic is nicknamed Captain America for a reason. \/ IMAGO\/ZUMA Press Wire<\/p>\n Christian Pulisic\u2019s career hasn\u2019t quite hit the heights many projected after his explosive breakthrough at Borussia Dortmund.<\/p>\n Touted as a generational talent from the U.S., the winger quickly found himself in the global spotlight. His early rise earned him a big-money move to Chelsea, but while there were flashes of brilliance (that post-lockdown purple patch in 2020 springs to mind), injuries and inconsistency saw him slip down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge.<\/p>\n But Italy has provided the reset Pulisic so badly needed. Since joining AC Milan<\/a>, the American has looked reborn. His debut 2023\u201324 campaign was the most productive of his career\u2014and he raised the bar again in 2024\u201325, breaking his own records and firmly establishing himself as one of Serie A\u2019s standout performers.<\/p>\n Renowned for his searing pace, close control, and directness in one-v-one situations, \u2018Captain America\u2019 now looks confident, comfortable\u2014and crucially, happy\u2014finally beginning to live up to the weight of his nickname.<\/p>\n I\u00f1aki Williams is super consistent. \/ IMAGO \/ Ricardo Larreina Amador<\/p>\n I\u00f1aki Williams\u2019s brother, Nico, has stolen the headlines in recent times, but his older sibling has proven the perfect role model. Having spent almost the entirety of his senior career with Athletic Club in the city of his birth, he\u2019s been an uber-consistent force for the Basque outfit for over a decade.<\/p>\n Williams is renowned for his speed and tenacity down the right wing, and while he\u2019s not the most prolific forward Spanish football has ever seen, he\u2019s such a reliable performer. While he does feature regularly on the scoresheet, he\u2019s also an exceptional creator.<\/p>\n Williams is slowing down in terms of his output and raw pace, but the Ghana international still has plenty of years left in him at the elite level. <\/p>\n Jarrod Bowen is already a West Ham legend. \/ IMAGO\/Every Second Media<\/p>\n From non-league Hereford United to lifting European silverware with West Ham, Jarrod Bowen\u2019s rise has been nothing short of remarkable.<\/p>\n Since arriving in east London from Hull City in January 2020, Bowen has quietly built a reputation as one of the Premier League\u2019s most dependable wide forwards. His breakout 2021\u201322 season\u2014which saw him notch 12 league goals and 10 assists\u2014earned him a long-awaited England debut and established him as a key figure for the Hammers.<\/p>\n That level hasn\u2019t dropped. In fact, it\u2019s been matched\u2014and then some. Bowen hit a career-best 20 goals in all competitions during the 2023\u201324 campaign, followed by another 14 the season after, a tally made all the more impressive given West Ham\u2019s struggles as a team.<\/p>\n A tireless runner and relentless presser, Bowen often makes his own chances, blending hard work with clinical finishing. And with that last-minute winner in the 2023 Europa Conference League final, he\u2019s earned his place in West Ham <\/a>folklore forever.<\/p>\n Bryan Mbeumo is officially a Manchester United player. \/ X\/Manchester United <\/p>\n A few years ago, the idea of any Brentford<\/a> player being listed among the best in the world would\u2019ve raised eyebrows. But under the now-departed Thomas Frank, the Bees have soared\u2014and Bryan Mbeumo, now of Manchester United, has led the charge on the pitch.<\/p>\n The Cameroonian winger has been a star for sime time now, but enjoyed his best season to date in 2024\u201325, scoring a mightily impressive 20 Premier League goals from the right flank and adding eight assists. But the stats only tell part of the story.<\/p>\n Week in, week out, Mbeumo was a nightmare for defenders. Quick, direct, and relentless, he tormented backlines with his pace, intelligent movement and sharp dribbling. His energy set the tone for Brentford\u2019s attacking play and made him one of the most dangerous wide men in the league.<\/p>\n A few more seasons like that, and no one will question his place among the game\u2019s elite.<\/p>\n Rodrygo could soon leave Real Madrid. \/ IMAGO\/PhotoCero5<\/p>\n You can\u2019t help but wonder: if Rodrygo were given centre stage, would we be talking about one of the very best players in the world?<\/p>\n The Real Madrid forward has all the tools\u2014except perhaps top-tier physicality\u2014to be truly elite. He’s a master technician, dangerous one-v-one, and strikes the ball as cleanly as anyone in Europe. From distance or tight angles, he\u2019s got a right foot that turns half-chances into highlight reels.<\/p>\n Even his Real teammate Jude Bellingham knows the score.<\/p>\n “For me, he\u2019s probably the most talented and most gifted player in the squad,” Bellingham said.<\/a> “The things he can do with the football.<\/a> We\u2019ll be messing around, and he\u2019ll flick the ball up somehow, and you\u2019re thinking: \u2018How\u2019d he do that?\u2019”<\/p>\n But opportunity has always been the issue. Whether at Real Madrid or with Brazil, Rodrygo\u2019s been stuck in the shadow of Vinicius Jr.\u2014and now with Kylian Mbapp\u00e9 in the mix at the Bernab\u00e9u, that spotlight only gets smaller.<\/p>\n Maybe all he needs is a team willing to bet on him as the guy.<\/p>\n D\u00e9sir\u00e9 Dou\u00e9 is a generational talent. \/ IMAGO\/Pacific Press Agency<\/p>\n We\u2019ve written a lot of these “Top 25” lists, and truth be told, PSG starlet D\u00e9sir\u00e9 Dou\u00e9 could slot into most of them\u2014despite still being in the early stages of his career.<\/p>\n Central midfield? No problem. He\u2019s got the passing range, vision and tactical IQ to run a game at the highest level. Left wing? Easy. Attacking midfield or centre-forward? Absolutely\u2014he\u2019s a genuine goal threat off either foot and capable of unlocking defences with a quick shimmy, a threaded ball, a or a long-range rocket.<\/p>\n But for the sake of categorisation, we\u2019ve placed him here, as a right winger, because that\u2019s where he\u2019s done the most damage so far.<\/p>\n Take the 2025 Champions League final. Dou\u00e9 was unplayable. Up against Federico Dimarco\u2014one of Europe\u2019s most decorated and consistent full-backs\u2014he scored twice, assisted another, and generally made the world\u2019s biggest club football stage look like his own personal playground.<\/p>\n And don\u2019t worry, Federico\u2014you won\u2019t be the last defender left chasing shadows by the Frenchman. That list is only going to grow.<\/p>\n Michael Olise’s left foot is magic. \/ IMAGO\/Pakusch<\/p>\n There\u2019s arguably no player in European football right now with a more devastating left foot than Michael Olise.<\/p>\n Whether he\u2019s whipping crosses into the box for Harry Kane or Kylian Mbapp\u00e9 to finish, or bending one into the top corner himself, the Bayern Munich and France star makes the impossible look effortless. His delivery is a blend of pace, power, and curl\u2014so precise and so dangerous that even when defenders know what\u2019s coming, there\u2019s often nothing they can do about it.<\/p>\n But Olise is far from a one-footed wonder. He\u2019s two-footed, tactically sharp and a top-tier playmaker. Cutting in from the right flank, he glides past defenders with ease, threading clever through balls, linking play and constantly creating chances out of tight spaces.<\/p>\n Now thriving on one of Europe\u2019s biggest stages, Olise has proved he belongs at the top\u2014and he\u2019s only just getting started.<\/p>\n Lionel Messi has still got it. \/ IMAGO\/ZUMA Press Wire<\/p>\n Things may be slowing down a little for Lionel Messi, the greatest footballer of all time\u2014his legs aren\u2019t as quick, and that devastating change of pace from his Barcelona days has softened.<\/p>\n But believe us when we say, on the ball, there is still nobody\u2014and we mean nobody\u2014better than Messi in world football.<\/p>\n His feet? Pure magic. His passing range? Unmatched. His footballing IQ? Something the game has never seen before and likely never will again. Even without his blistering speed, the Inter Miami <\/a>superstar can switch from effortless calm to ruthless destruction in an instant\u2014gliding past defenders and finding the net from all angles, week after week.<\/p>\n Just look at how he tore up the 2025 Club World Cup. If that doesn\u2019t tell you everything you need to know, nothing will\u2014Messi remains a force of nature.<\/p>\n Bukayo Saka is Arsenal’s key player in attack. \/ IMAGO \/ ZUMA Press Wire<\/p>\n Bukayo Saka isn’t the flashiest name on this list, but when fit, he’s one of the most consistent, efficient and complete wingers in the game.<\/p>\n A product of his early development as a left-back, Saka brings a rare balance to his play. He works relentlessly off the ball, tracks back intelligently and puts in the kind of defensive shift most attacking players wouldn\u2019t dream of\u2014all while delivering goals and assists with near-weekly regularity.<\/p>\n Put simply: if you want guaranteed output, discipline and hard work, Saka\u2019s your man. He may not always light up a highlight reel, but for managers, he’s a dream.<\/p>\n Arsenal<\/a> fans will tell you he\u2019s the best thing since sliced bread\u2014and truthfully, they’re not far off.<\/p>\n Ousmane Demb\u00e9l\u00e9 is in the form of his life. \/ IMAGO\/Sportimage<\/p>\n Injuries, inconsistency, the pressure of a \u00a3135.5 million price tag, and the challenge of playing alongside the likes of Lionel Messi and Neymar meant Ousmane Demb\u00e9l\u00e9 never truly hit his stride at Barcelona.<\/p>\n There were flashes of brilliance\u2014particularly after Xavi took charge\u2014but it wasn\u2019t until his 2023 move to Paris Saint-Germain<\/a>, and more specifically his second season in the French capital, that Demb\u00e9l\u00e9 finally emerged as the world-class talent many had long anticipated.<\/p>\n His first campaign at PSG was solid if unspectacular. But everything changed following Kylian Mbapp\u00e9\u2019s departure to Real Madrid. Handed the keys to the attack by Luis Enrique and shifted centrally into more of a striker’s role, Demb\u00e9l\u00e9 seized the opportunity\u2014and then some.<\/p>\n Operating mostly through the middle, though always fluid in his movement, he became the central figure in a historic campaign for PSG, leading them to a stunning quadruple that included their first-ever Champions League title. His 35 goals and 16 assists weren\u2019t just impressive\u2014they were decisive.<\/p>\n Now the main man in Paris, thriving in his newfound role and finally free from the shadows of others, it\u2019s scary to think just how good Demb\u00e9l\u00e9 might still become.<\/p>\n Barcelona star Lamine Yamal has drawn comparisons to Lionel Messi. \/ IMAGO\/DeFodi Images<\/p>\n Given his age, Lamine Yamal has no right to be this good\u2014and yet, here we are.<\/p>\n Still only a teenager, Yamal is already a bonafide superstar for both club and country. He\u2019s broken records, embarrassed defenders, and collected silverware like stickers \u2013 including a Euro 2024 title with Spain and a domestic treble with Barcelona<\/a> in 2024\/25. He\u2019s making the world\u2019s most competitive sport look alarmingly effortless.<\/p>\n And let\u2019s be clear: this isn\u2019t some flash-in-the-pan hype job. Right now, nearly everything good that Spain and Bar\u00e7a do flows through him. He\u2019s a creator, a controller and above all, that player\u2014the one who delivers magic when the moment demands it.<\/p>\n His ceiling? We\u2019re talking all-time great. If Yamal keeps his focus, the game might just belong to him.<\/p>\n Mo Salah won his second Premier League title in 2024\/25. \/ IMAGO\/Sportimage<\/p>\n There isn\u2019t a so-called \u201cwinger\u201d in world football more ruthless in front of goal than Mohamed Salah.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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