Soccer used to be simple. Wingers hugged the touchline, beat their man and whipped crosses in for a towering striker to nod home.
Left wingers have taken many forms over the years—from the graceful flair of Brazilian artists to the no-nonsense directness of English wide men. And in the modern game, that diversity has only grown. Today, a winger’s role is shaped entirely by the system they play in—inside forwards, inverted creators, traditional touchline stretchers. It all depends on the context.
Being a left winger now is anything but straightforward. Yet despite the tactical complexity, their mission remains familiar: excite, create and make a difference. And right now, the position is stacked with elite-level talent.
Here’s Sports Illustrated’s ranking of the best in the business right now.
25. Kaoru Mitoma
The dribbling theorist has studied his way to soccer stardom.
His university work undoubtedly played a huge role in his easy-on-the-eye style, with Kaoru Mitoma emerging as a one-on-one phenom since joining Brighton in 2021.
The Japan international eventually starred for the Seagulls after returning from a loan in Belgium and is seen as the next Brighton star who’ll garner a monster fee when he decides to take the next step. A long list of clubs have been queuing up to sign him for years.
24. Alberto Moleiro
A Spain U-21 international unhelpfully burdened with the tag of becoming the ‘new Pedri’ has instead established himself in his own name. Alberto Moleiro has thrived as the creative fulcrum of Villarreal’s impressive attack, constantly drifting off his perch on the left flank to wreak havoc between the stitching of opponents’ rearguards.
Given Pedri’s well-documented struggles to consistently provide goals and assists, Moleiro’s impressive record in that regard could perhaps offer an inspiration for the Barcelona midfielder.
23. Gabriel Martinelli
Gabriel Martinelli’s journey at Arsenal did, in many ways, exceed expectations. Plucked from relative obscurity at Brazilian side Ituano, he's carved out a regular role in a top Premier League side—bringing pace, unpredictability and a relentless drive down the left flank.
At the same time, there will always be a lingering sense of unfulfilled potential. One standout season hinted at a breakout star, but inconsistency held him back. Too often, flashes of brilliance were followed by stretches of quiet performances. Martinelli was restricted to the role of super sub while the Gunners ended their long wait for a Premier League title.
Mikel Arteta ultimately cashed in on a winger who still has the dangerous weapons of raw speed and energy, which the rest of the Saudi Pro League are still getting used to.
22. Serge Gnabry
Serge Gnabry may be edging toward the latter stages of his career, and his output has dipped in recent seasons, but don’t be fooled, he remains an extremely versatile, technically gifted forward who can still deliver on the biggest stage with Bayern Munich.
A strong finisher off both feet with sharp movement and clever positioning, Gnabry has always possessed a striker’s instinct. He consistently pops up in the right place at the right time, making late runs into the box and finishing with precision. Even if he’s no longer the explosive force of a few years ago, he’s still a major threat in the final third—capable of turning tight matches with a goal or a moment of decisive quality.
21. Nico Williams
Nico Williams is pure chaos on the wing—all pace, power and that fearless, straight-at-you style that defenders hate to deal with.
He’s direct, dangerous, and technically razor-sharp. The kind of winger who’s already got you panicking before the ball even reaches his feet. And unlike so many modern wide men coached to play it safe, Williams doesn’t hesitate—he wants to beat you. Over and over again.
Already a star for Athletic Club, he carried that same energy into Euro 2024, scoring in the final as Spain lifted the trophy. Injury limited his involvement at the 2026 World Cup, but it was Williams’s introduction which gave La Roja the jolt to find a way past Argentina in the final, nodding the ball back for Ferran Torres’s famous winner.
Having snubbed Spanish giants Barcelona to commit his long-term future to Bilbao, it’s exciting to think just how far he can help carry the club in the years ahead.
20. Ademola Lookman
Ademola Lookman’s early career—hopping from Everton to RB Leipzig, then back through loan spells at Fulham and Leicester—felt like a talent in limbo. He was miscast, misunderstood and too often overlooked. So when he was crowned 2024 African Footballer of the Year and placed 14th in the Ballon d’Or rankings, the hesitation from some corners of the soccer world said more about old biases than it did about his ability.
Because let’s be clear: Lookman is the real deal.
At Atalanta, the Nigerian international flourished. Whether drifting wide or operating in the half-spaces, he became a constant menace—blending pace, precision and intelligence with a ruthless streak in front of goal. A historic Europa League final hat-trick was the peak.
Things soured towards the end of his time in Bergamo but Lookman is playing with the same punch Atlético Madrid after a switch at the start of 2026.
19. Antonio Nusa
In a Norway side dominated by the figures of Erling Haaland and Martin Ødegaard, it is Antonio Nusa who most regularly gets the Nordic crowd off their feet.
The creative trickster honed his skills thanks to hours spent pouring over footage of his idol. “I watched clips of Neymar on YouTube and went out to try to copy him,” Nusa bluntly explained when quizzed on how he developed his array of gifts.
After years of out-performing his club form at international level, RB Leipzig are finally enjoying the most productive version of Nusa. With a host of Europe’s watching on admiration, it’s not clear how much longer that will remain the case.
18. Rio Ngumoha
Rio Ngumoha’s talent has been clear for years—and he still won’t be able to buy alcohol in the States until 2029. The former Chelsea academy gem who was poached by Liverpool has already made a mockery of the modest $9 million an independent tribunal ordered the Merseyside club pay their London counterparts. No wonder Chelsea want more.
Bursting with an infectious zeal to run at, around or behind whatever opponent is unfortunately enough to be faced with his dancing feet, Ngumoha’s talent is prodigious. The senior England international has plenty more room for growth as it is, rounding out his game by moonlighting on the right wing following Mohamed Salah’s Liverpool exit.
17. Said El Mala
German soccer has been through somewhat of a malaise, particularly since their 2014 World Cup triumph. But a new generation, led by Jürgen Klopp, is hoping to banish the memories of a difficult decade—and Said El Mala is already playing his part for the national team.
Another pacy, direct attacker who isn’t afraid to take the game to opposition defenders, El Mala has all the attributes required to be a successful modern day winger. It’s no surprise that he’s quickly established himself as one of the Bundesliga’s brightest young gems, registering a glut of goals for 1. FC Köln as they aim to re-establish themselves as a solid top-flight club.
El Mala’s talent also runs in the family—his father played as a center back and his older brother, Malek, is also a forward on the books of 1. FC Köln.
16. Iliman Ndiaye
Iliman Nidaye is one of soccer’s feel-good stories. As recently as 2019, the French-born forward was playing non-League. Within three years, he had represented Senegal at the World Cup.
The rubbery winger would go to his second global jamboree in 2026, a few weeks before becoming the most expensive player in the history his nation when joining Manchester City.
“Giving up is not in my dictionary,” the affable forward would beam years after turning out for Boreham Wood. “I’ve always believed that one day I’m going to be the best player in the world and that’s what keeps me going.”
15. Rafael Leao
On his day, Rafael Leão might just be the most devastating winger on the planet. Give him a loose ball, and he doesn’t hesitate—accelerating with terrifying speed, shrugging off challenges like they’re nothing and charging directly at goal with the kind of conviction defenders dread. There are few players in world soccer who can carry the ball with such raw, destructive intent.
At his best, he’s unplayable, but that version of Leão doesn’t always show up. Since helping AC Milan to a long-awaited Scudetto in 2022–23, his form has fluctuated wildly. One game he looks like a Ballon d’Or contender, the next he's barely involved.
With that backdrop, it’s fitting that Leão has taken his talents to Türkiye, where he can try and save the best of his mercurial form for the Champions League.
14. Alex Baena
Alex Baena is the perfect tool for club and country. Boasting the grit and gristle which Diego Simeone so favors, Atlético Madrid’s World Cup winner is pivotal to Luis de la Fuente’s international exploits.
Dancing the fine line between attacking midfielder and winger, Baena is a selfless creator who overcame homesickness to blossom at Villarreal. After some teething problems during his debut season in the Spanish capital, Atlético are seeing the best of Baena in his second campaign.
13. Kenan Yildiz
Between Arda Güler and Kenan Yıldız, Turkey’s future isn’t just bright—it’s on fire.
Where Güler brings poise and playmaking flair, Yıldız is his chaos-fuelled counterpart: all power, pace, and pure instinct. A fearless dribbler and explosive striker of the ball, the Juventus youngster has quickly built a reputation as a walking highlight reel.
In what was otherwise a forgettable 2025–26 season for Juve, the youngster stood out as a rare beacon of excitement—racking up 11 goals and nine assists across all competitions. And these weren’t tap-ins either. Many were long-range rockets, hit with the kind of swagger and venom you can’t teach.
Sure, he's still ironing out the consistency, but the raw talent is unmistakable. Once the polish catches up to the potential, Yıldız will be one of Europe’s most dangerous attacking forces, and Turkey will have their next superstar.
12. Karim Adeyemi
Karim Adeyemi’s lightning pace might be the first thing you notice—and with good reason. The German winger is among the fastest players in world soccer, using his jet-fuelled acceleration to leave defenders gasping for air.
But there’s more to his game than raw speed. At Borussia Dortmund, he began to refine the chaos—developing sharper movement, better decision-making and a growing calmness in front of goal. Barcelona were convinced to whisk him away to Catalonia, where all the pieces seem to be falling into place.
It’s proof that Adeyemi isn’t just a blur on the flank anymore. He’s evolving into a well-rounded, high-impact attacker.
11. Marcus Rashford
Marcus Rashford looked like a future superstar from the jump—scoring twice against Arsenal on his Premier League debut and quickly becoming a regular for England. For a time, he backed the hype too, notching double figures in the league three seasons running.
But the final stretch at Manchester United was messy. Turmoil on and off the pitch saw his form nosedive, and a move felt inevitable.
A fresh start at Aston Villa gave him exactly what he needed. Under Unai Emery’s guidance, Rashford rediscovered his spark, forcing his way back into the England setup with a string of confident, direct, and destructive displays. Barcelona offered another springboard for Rashford, who shone in the title-winning team that didn’t want to let him go back to United.
But after a few difficult years, he’s got another shot at making it at Old Trafford—and the weapons to make it count.
10. Christos Tzolis
After Christos Tzolis’s first unofficial goal for Arsenal in preseason 2026, Mikel Arteta grinned: “I think you’re going to love the player.” He was quickly proved correct.
Arsenal fans rapidly took the hard-running, two-footed creator to their hearts. Despite forming a replica of Leandro Trossard (with eight hours sleep), the Greece international was soon dubbed the Santorini Sánchez.
9. Antoine Semenyo
The rise of Antoine Semenyo from breakout Championship star to one of the Premier League’s top forwards has been exceptionally impressive.
Plucked from Bristol City in a deal worth £10 million in January 2023, he was tasked with saving Bournemouth rom relegation alongside Dango Ouattara and Illia Zabarnyi, who also came through the Dean Court arrivals door at the same time. One goal in his first 11 appearances suggested the step-up in level might prove to be too great.
The subsequent two seasons proved that not only is Semenyo capable, he’s got all the tools to go to the very top. Quick, direct and equally as good with left foot as his right, he thrived under the management of Andoni Iraola—so much so that Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur were linked in the summer of 2025.
After another six months of impressive form, it was Manchester City who snapped him for a cool £64 million—a day later he scored on his debut and went on to net in his three of his first five Premier League outings.
8. Cody Gakpo
Cody Gakpo, you are an inspiration.
— Sports Illustrated FC (@SI_FootballClub) June 30, 2026
World Cups, for whatever reason, often encapsulate football’s power better than any other event. Amid all the noise of greed and politics, at the heart of this game are human stories - and that’s why we love it. Because it matters. The most… pic.twitter.com/4BkI4Ahig9
Cody Gakpo was something of a utility man when he first landed at Liverpool in 2022—deployed as a false nine, a No.10, and occasionally deeper by Jurgen Klopp. But it always felt like he was being wedged into roles that didn’t quite fit.
Fast forward to 2024–25 under Arne Slot, and Gakpo was finally unleashed in his natural habitat: the left wing. The results speak for themselves.
The Dutchman has looked far more comfortable out wide, combining his surprising agility with tidy footwork and a serious eye for goal. Cutting in onto his favoured right foot, he delivered his best-ever scoring return with 18 goals as Liverpool won the 2024–25 Premier League title—several of them jaw-dropping curlers from range that reminded everyone exactly why he was so hyped at PSV.
7. Yan Diomande
Yan Diomande’s career is in its infancy, but he quickly became one of the most sought-after wingers in the world—so much so that Real Madrid made him their most expensive signing of all time.
With blistering pace and a keen eye for goal, it’s understandable why Europe’s most successful club took an interest in what Diomande can do going forward. His overall work rate and willingness to track back also drew praise, as well as his ability to adapt to a new country in no time at all.
“We believe this is just the beginning of an extraordinary career,” Thales Peterson, former director of the DME Academy where Diomande grew up, said when asked about his talent. “It’s a matter of attitude, and he demonstrates that,” Leipzig head coach Ole Werner remarked in late 2025.
6. Jeremy Doku
Chaotic, free-spirited and unapologetically unpredictable—Jérémy Doku might be the least “Pep Guardiola” winger Pep’s ever signed.
The Belgian first teased his explosive talent at Euro 2020, but it was his move to Manchester City that truly reignited the hype. In a team built around control, rhythm, and repetition, Doku brings pure disruption—a livewire on the touchline who thrives on chaos and destabilizing defenders.
There may not be a better one-v-one specialist anywhere in world football. His close control, speed, and fearlessness make him a nightmare to defend. The next step? Polishing that final ball.
5. Bradley Barcola
Bradley Barcola has arrived. pic.twitter.com/yelcmDy6mn
— Sports Illustrated FC (@SI_FootballClub) October 14, 2026
Bradley Barcola first turned heads at Lyon, routinely leaving right backs in a spin with his quick feet and fearlessness. It wasn’t long before Paris Saint-Germain came calling—as they so often do when top French talent emerges—and snapped him up in a big-money move.
While it took a moment to adapt to the pressure and pace in Paris, Barcola has flourished—especially following Kylian Mbappé’s departure. Finally unleashed in his favoured left-wing role, he didn’t just fill a gap; he thrived, rapidly becoming France’s next attacking superstar. Liverpool duly took notice and made him the second most expensive player in Premier League history.
What makes Barcola so special is the contrast: at 6'0", he doesn’t move like someone of his stature. Instead, he glides. Nimble, balanced, two-footed—– he’s a winger who combines size with supreme grace, able to ghost past defenders at full tilt without ever seeming to break stride.
It’s not just speed; it’s style.
4. Anthony Gordon
Barcelona looks good on Anthony Gordon. pic.twitter.com/2YRq55k0lc
— Sports Illustrated FC (@SI_FootballClub) October 12, 2026
Anthony Gordon is a bag of trouble—in the best and worst ways.
While that could take the most of rashness and suspensions during his time at Newcastle United, the England international has been his best self at Barcelona.
The fan favorite is a nightmare for defenders: relentless, rapid and utterly fearless. Gordon doesn’t just press from the front, he harasses, harangues and hounds opponents into mistakes. With pace to burn, a growing eye for goal and a directness that’s hard to coach, he’s built to cause chaos.
3. Vinicius Junior
It wasn't too long ago that Karim Benzema could barely hide his frustration with Vinicius Junior. “Don’t play with him, on my mother’s life he’s playing against us,” the Frenchman famously whispered to Ferland Mendy during a Champions League group game in 2020.
Oh, how far we've come.
Vinicius has undergone a remarkable transformation—from raw and erratic to ruthless and elite. Now a fully formed final-third weapon, he was crucial in Real Madrid’s Champions League triumphs in both 2021–22 and 2023–24.
With Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappé now flanking him in a frightening frontline, Vinicius is no longer the apprentice—he’s the sparkplug, the match-winner and one of the best out-and-out wingers in world football. Amid disgraceful abuse in Spain, he’s responded only with brilliance, rising above it all to become unstoppable whenever the ball finds his feet.
2. Luis Diaz
Luis Díaz looked tailor-made for Jurgen Klopp’s high-octane Liverpool when he arrived in January 2022—all intensity, directness and relentless running in behind. A perfect fit for the Reds’ gegenpressing chaos.
But output-wise, things never quite clicked. Injuries played their part, and while the flashes were there, the consistency wasn’t.
Enter Arne Slot.
Under the new boss in 2024–25, Díaz found another gear. Deployed across the front three, he delivered his best-ever return: 17 goals and eight assists. His bursts of form—especially during Liverpool’s early charge and title-clinching run-in—were decisive in securing the Premier League crown.
His numbers prompted Bayern Munich to splash out £65 million of their hard earned money, bringing to an end a very successful stint on Merseyside.
1. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia didn’t earn the nickname “Kvaradona” in Naples by accident.
Yes, like Diego Maradona, he helped deliver Napoli’s first Serie A title in what felt like a lifetime—but it wasn’t just the silverware. At times, he played like him too.
Taller and operating from the wing rather than midfield, Kvara’s slalom runs, fearless directness and flair for the spectacular made him an instant cult hero. There’s a wild, instinctive quality to his game that gets fans out of their seats and lays defenders flat on their backs.
Since making the switch to PSG at the start of 2025, he’s only kicked on. Starring in a record-breaking season that saw the club clinch a historic quadruple—including a long-awaited first Champions League crown—Kvaratskhelia’s stock has never been higher.
Like Maradona, the Georgian superstar makes the impossible look routine.