Sports
15 Best Wingers in World Football [Ranked]
Nowadays, footballers come in all shapes and sizes; though, it’s such variation that makes the beautiful game so engrossing. Back in the day, the plan was simple: find the skillful winger with a long pass, watch them bamboozle a defender and then whip it into the box for the focal point to nod it home.
There are now wingers who consider themselves goalscorers, pressers, inside forwards and much more. From your silky Brazilians to your undeviating Englishmen, there are a host of skill-sets that are lighting up the Premier League and European football at the current moment.
And that got us thinking: who are the best wingers in world football right now? By no means an easy task with the traditional 4-4-2 formation seldom in play and the emergence of sub-categorised wide men, below is a list of the 15 best wingers in world football, ranked in order and based on the following factors.
Ranking factors
- Goals – how many times has a player found the back of the net in the last 12 months.
- Assists – how many goals has a player created in the last 12 months.
- Success – Has the player guided them to trophies and the latter stages of knockout football, both domestically and continentally.
- Notable moments – Has the player had a standout moment which caught the eyes of fans.
- Importance to their respective team – how reliant a team is on the individual for success.
A quick caveat: to be included, each player’s main position must be listed as either ‘Right Winger’ or ‘Left Winger’ on Transfermarkt. As such, the exclusion of Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe is by virtue of him being classed as a ‘Centre-Forward’. Cole Palmer also used to be a winger but he’s now viewed as an ‘Attacking Midfielder’.
15
Nico Williams
Current club: Athletic Club
Along with Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams was one of the shining lights for Spain at Euro 2024. Even since, Athletic Club’s speed demon has been one of the most highly sought-after prospects in world football. While Yamal may have stolen a lot of the spotlight thanks to what he’s doing at a young age, Williams’ efforts during La Roja’s triumph were equally impressive. After all, it was the winger who opened the scoring against England in the final, which ensured that he was named UEFA’s Player of the Match.
The 23-year-old looks to have made that spot his own for the next decade and could slot into any team in world football, instantly elevating the dribbling ability and energy of the front line. It’s no surprise that the likes of Barcelona, Arsenal and Chelsea have all regularly been linked since, but Williams has stayed with his boyhood club for now. His form at club level has been a little inconsistent in the past 12 months, but his potential to be one of the best on the planet remains.
14
Rafael Leao
Current club: AC Milan
After a stellar campaign in 2022/23, Rafael Leao emerged as a truly world-class talent for AC Milan. His numbers have been a little hit and miss in the seasons since, but there can be no doubting he’s a wonderful player on his day. With four goals in just six outings so far in 2025/26, the winger looks capable of reminding everyone of just how good he is.
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His blistering pace down the left flank causes all sorts of problems for opposition defenders and while the last 12 months haven’t been great for the Rossoneri, it would have been a lot worse without Leao. At 26 years old, the Portugal international is just entering his prime and that should be a scary notion for just about everyone else in Serie A right now.
13
Marcus Rashford
Current club: Barcelona
It’s been a while since Marcus Rashford was in the conversation as one of the best wingers on the planet, but a move away from Manchester United can have a rejuvenating effect on a player’s career, and that appears to have been the case for the Englishman. Now with Barcelona, he has 12 goal contributions in his first 13 games.
With an eye on Thomas Tuchel’s 2026 World Cup, and plenty of doubters back home to prove wrong, Rashford has all the motivation in the world to get back to his peak. Still only 28, it seems as though he’s finally back on the right track.
12
Kenan Yildiz
Current club: Juventus
Kenan Yildiz is one of the less-familiar names on this list but that won’t be the case for much longer. The young Turkish winger broke out last season, bagging 12 goals and nine assists last season for Juventus, and doesn’t look like slowing down.
Indeed, with three goals and four assists already in 2025/26, the 20-year-old is wasting no time as he asserts himself as one of the most exciting attacking prospects on the planet. The world appears to be a the feet of this former Bayern Munich prospect, and it will be exciting to see how his career progresses.
11
Bradley Barcola
Current club: Paris Saint-Germain
Contrary to popular belief, it wasn’t during his current PSG stint when Bradley Barcola, 23, first caught the eye of and captivated the footballing world. Lyon-born, he rose through Olympique Lyonnais’ academy ranks between 2018 and 2022 before getting a crack at senior proceedings, and he couldn’t help himself but to bamboozle right-backs on a week-by-week basis upon graduating.
A poacher of the best talent France, as a nation, has to offer, PSG won the race for Barcola’s hotly contested signature in the summer of 2023 and, well, it didn’t take long for the Frenchman to settle in. Kylian Mbappe’s departure opened up a world of opportunity for the youngster, and he’s been at his roaring best ever since, impressing last term on his way to Champions League glory.
10
Rodrygo
Current club: Real Madrid
The Real Madrid star is often pushed to the side thanks to the ever-growing brilliance of his partner in crime, Vinicius Jr, but it would be remiss to breeze past Rodrygo without waxing poetically. Albeit the introverted half of the duo, his turn of pace and magic in his feet make him a solid option for this list, with him also considered one of the best South Americans currently plying their trade.
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Rodrygo’s concoction of a low centre of gravity and his ability to dance on either foot make him a nuisance for whichever full-back dares to stand up to him. At just 24 years of age, the Brazilian has north of 200 appearances for Los Blancos, two La Liga titles and two Champions League crowns on his CV – but it’s only the beginning for the deadly winger, who has every right to be on this star-studded list.
9
Desire Doue
Current club: Paris Saint-Germain
With plenty of competition at PSG, it’s a testament to Desire Doue’s quality that he was trusted to start at right-wing under Luis Enrique in the most important Champions League fixtures last season. The 20-year-old repaid that faith with two goals and an assist in the final.
He finished 2024/25 with 16 goals and 16 assists, winning four trophies, and establishing himself as one of the most exciting dribblers in the game. An injury keeps him out for now, but expect Doue to roar back into form soon enough.
8
Michael Olise
Current club: Bayern Munich
Michael Olise was the subject of a bidding war involving some of Europe’s elite clubs in the summer of 2024 after the Frenchman’s incredible form at Crystal Palace. Linking up with Eberechi Eze and Jean-Philippe Mateta at Selhurst Park, Olise caught the eye of many with his silky skills and innate composure on the ball shining through.
Bayern Munich wrapped up a deal for the ex-Eagles talisman, beating the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United to his signature, and he’s been thriving in Bavaria ever since. The Frenchman’s move has been a major success, and it looks as though he could go up to a whole new level in 2025/26.
7
Bukayo Saka
Current club: Arsenal
Arsenal’s star boy has continued to go from strength to strength under the guidance of current Gunners boss, Mikel Arteta. Bukayo Saka is often seen gliding across the turf, leaving defenders in the dust – but he also has a talismanic instinct in the box, which sees him boast impressive numbers from wide. In the 2024/2025 season, Saka missed a considerable amount of time through injury, and Arsenal simply didn’t look the same.
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Most impressively, though, Saka rarely lets his sky-high standards drop – and has become all but indispensable for his side as they look to secure Premier League gold for the first time since the 2003/04 campaign. His journey from boy to man has been a sight to behold, especially for those of the Emirates Stadium persuasion, and the 24-year-old is now perfectly poised to finally deliver some trophies.
6
Vinicius Jr
Current club: Real Madrid
Many Real Madrid supporters were dubious when their club parted ways with £38 million for a 16-year-old Vinicius Jr – but, in truth, the scintillating Brazilian has paid every single penny back plus interest. One of the standout stars for Los Blancos and certainly Brazil’s crown jewel, the dazzling winger has magic in his boots and pace aplenty to burn.
Despite being handed a silver medal in the 2024 Ballon d’Or rankings, Vinicius’ lightning-quick speed is nightmare-inducing – and when in full flow, he is unstoppable. The former Flamengo man is a creative force to be reckoned with too, regularly picking up assists for his teammates with some scintillating wide play. Perhaps playing a little in Kylian Mbappe’s shadow, Vini Jr needs to get back to his very best if he wants to rank any higher here.
Following on from his claims about being banned from the UFC Freedom 250 event, set to be held at the White House, Sean Strickland has gone all out in his own polarising way.
The controversial American has posted about being banned from the UFC event on the 14th of June, and instead of seeking any sort of forgiveness, has further pushed the boat out.
The UFC middleweight champion released a video on X saying he had been banned from attending the event due in part to his outspoken views on President Donald Trump’s handling of the Iran conflict, as well as his associations with Jeffrey Epstein and the Israeli government.
Strickland last entered the Octagon in May, when he took the middleweight title off of Khamzat Chimaev, so it would have been very unlikely that he would fight again at this event. Despite that, Dana White and the rest of the UFC hierarchy have made it clear to the 35-year-old that he is not welcome to attend UFC White House.
It seems that Tarzan hasn’t taken the news particularly well, as he has jumped on social media to double down on his opinions.
Sean Strickland’s Reaction to Being Banned From White House
The veteran has never been afraid to speak his mind, and is known as a loose cannon, which helps explain why he has been told to stay away from what is already looking like a controversial event.
Only hours after releasing a video in which he explains why he has been blacklisted from Washington DC, he posted an AI image of himself wearing his usual fighting gear, as well as a fedora, a large trench coat, as well as sporting payots, in an attempt to look Jewish.
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Bryce Mitchell, as always, has reacted honestly to the ban of Sean Strickland from UFC Freedom 250.
Strickland posted a caption on the AI-generated image saying: “Going to the White House was promised to me 3,000 years ago.”
The reference is seen as an anti-Semitic slur regarding the Torah teachings where God promised the land of Israel to the Jewish people 3,000 years ago.
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The controversial UFC fighter didn’t stop there, though. He has been very active on X giving his opinions on the matter, and has even begun feuding with other fighters, such as Justin Gaethje, on the platform.
Strickland has always been a controversial figure, and this latest episode doesn’t come as a surprise to anyone.
Before last month’s win over Chimaev at UFC 328, the veteran called his Russian opponent a ‘terrorist’, while in January, before his bout against Anthony Hernandez, he posted an AI-generated image of himself as a US immigration officer and Hernandez, who is, like Strickland, a California native, in a sombrero and poncho.
How much money do England’s footballers have? That’s a question likely to be on the lips of many football fans as they watch the 2026 World Cup at home this summer.
While we know the weekly wages of the players in Thomas Tuchel’s 26-man squad, the exact net worth of these household names is a little harder to find.
However, The Sun have published a list of every player’s net worth and the results are fascinating. The richest player has earned an astronomical £110 million over the course of his career, while the player in 26th place has only just cracked the £1 million mark. Let’s take a closer look at the list…
England Squad: 2026 World Cup Rich List
26. Nico O’Reilly | £1 million
As one of the youngest members of the England squad, it’s no surprise that Manchester City’s Nico O’Reilly is bottom of the pile. Still, a net worth of £1 million at the age of 21 isn’t bad, eh?
25. Elliot Anderson | £2.5 million
Expect the 23-year-old’s net worth to rise considerably if he seals a move away from Nottingham Forest after the World Cup.
24. Djed Spence | £3 million
The Tottenham full-back is next up with a net worth of £3 million.
23. Kobbie Mainoo | £3.5 million
Manchester United’s gifted midfielder recently put pen-to-paper on a new five-year contract at Old Trafford, bumping him up to £120,000 a week.
22. Jarell Quansah | £4 million
The 23-year-old defender left Liverpool for Bayer Leverkusen last summer and hasn’t looked back.
21. James Trafford | £4.5 million
Not bad at all for a 23-year-old goalkeeper who currently finds himself as back-up to Gianluigi Donnarumma at Man City.
20. Noni Madueke | £5 million
Noni Madueke switched Chelsea for Arsenal last summer and won the Premier League title in his debut season with the Gunners.
19. Tino Livramento | £5.5 million
Newcastle defender Tino Livramento has also crossed the £5 million mark.
18. Dan Burn | £6 million
The oldest members of England’s World Cup squad, not even Dan Burn himself would have expected to be on the plane just a few years ago.
17. Ezri Konsa | £6.5 million
Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa, 28, is next up with a net worth of £6.5 million.
16. Eberechi Eze | £7 million
Eberechi Eze has enhanced his reputation since leaving Crystal Palace for Arsenal. It’s hard to see him taking a penalty this summer, though, after missing in the Champions League shootout against PSG.
15. Anthony Gordon | £7.5 million
Now a Barcelona player after leaving Newcastle United. Has the opportunity to cement his status as one of the world’s best forwards at Camp Nou.
14. Reece James | £8 million
Gifted and influential full-back when fit, Chelsea’s Reece James has struggled badly with injuries throughout his career but that hasn’t prevented him from banking eight million quid.
13. Marc Guehi | £12 million
Left Crystal Palace for Man City in January and should start for Thomas Tuchel’s England this summer.
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12. Dean Henderson | £12 million
Leaving Manchester United for Crystal Palace in 2023 was a decision Dean Henderson knew he had to make and it’s paid off dividends – in more ways than one.
11. Morgan Rogers | £12.5 million
A star player for Aston Villa, Morgan Rogers will be hoping to make a big impact in North America over the coming weeks.
10. Ivan Toney | £15 million
One of the highest-paid players in the Saudi Pro League, Ivan Toney finds himself in the top 10 of England’s rich list.
9. Jordan Henderson | £19.5 million
Endured an ill-fated but lucrative move to Saudi Arabia after leaving Liverpool. Returned to the Premier League with Brentford in 2025 after a season with Dutch giants Ajax.
8. Declan Rice | £20 million
Among the world’s best midfielders and a contender for the 2026 Ballon d’Or award after an excellent season with Arsenal, Declan Rice’s net worth has crossed the £20 million mark.
7. Ollie Watkins | £21 million
A little surprising to see Ollie Watkins so high up this list? The 30-year-old striker remains one of Villa’s key players.
6. John Stones | £22 million
The classy central defender has left Manchester City and is being linked with a move to Bayern Munich.
5. Bukayo Saka | £23.5 million
Arsenal’s star boy is only 24 years old but has already amassed a fortune during his career to date.
4. Jordan Pickford | £36 million
There’s then a big jump to Jordan Pickford, one of England’s greatest ever goalkeepers, who has bagged a whopping £36 million.
3. Jude Bellingham | £40 million
England’s most marketable player, Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham is only 22 years old but is already absolutely minted.
2. Marcus Rashford | £65 million
Has blown hot and cold throughout his career, but that hasn’t stopped Marcus Rashford from banking an eye-watering £65 million.
1. Harry Kane | £110 million
But streets ahead of the rest – and deservedly so, some might say – is England captain Harry Kane. One of the greatest strikers of his generation – and possibly of all time – the prolific Bayern Munich star thoroughly deserves the riches that have come his way.
Following the news that Sean Strickland has been banned from attending the UFC Freedom 250 event, a number of fighters have had their say on the matter.
UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland took to X to confirm he has been instructed not to attend the UFC event, due to take place on the South Lawn of the White House on the 14th of June.
Strickland has claimed that because he has spoken out about President Trump’s associations with Jeffrey Epstein and the Israeli Prime Minister, he has been ordered by Dana White and the rest of the UFC hierarchy to stay away from the Presidential home.
The fall-out has continued, as fellow UFC fighter Bryce Mitchell has had his say on the matter, who is never one to shy away from controversial topics.
What Bryce Mitchell Has Said About Sean Strickland’s Ban
Reacting to the middleweight champion’s ban, Mitchell said: “I’m not surprised at all.”
The 31-year-old went on to explain how he believes that freedom of speech is an important part of being American and should allow a person to criticise if and when they see fit.
“We ought to be able to criticise our own nation, let alone a foreign nation. [Israel] is the only nation you’re not allowed to criticise. Something’s gonna change, because evil empires won’t last forever.”
Despite siding with Strickland, Mitchell did admit that he would jump at the chance to be a part of the card for UFC Freedom 250.
“I do want to be on the card,” he added, before explaining that he isn’t jealous of the likes of Derrick Lewis, Alex Pereira, and Sean O’Malley. “This is what I gotta say, I ain’t jealous of any of those fighters. I am so happy for those fighters.
“If they need me to fill in, if I’m healthy, hey, I’ll do it.”
Bryce Mitchell’s Previous Controversies
The 18-3 fighter has a history of controversial takes, from claiming COVID-19 was created by the US government, to praising Adolf Hitler and denying that the Holocaust happened, so he probably isn’t someone Sean Strickland sees as a worthwhile advocate.
Mitchell does, however, go on to say that he thinks sport and government shouldn’t go hand in hand.
“But what I think, personally, is that our government has desecrated its role in society by entertaining sports. Our government is to protect and serve the people.”
Sean Strickland Reveals Why He’s Been Banned From White House For UFC Freedom 250
Strickland won’t be at the White House for UFC Freedom 250 and he’s not happy about it.
Mitchell is defiant in his opinion that the UFC should not be working with the White House to host an event, but he does refrain from putting the blame on the likes of Dana White, and says it is an opportunity that the UFC could not turn down. He puts the blame solely on the US government, claiming: “We already have a corrupted government.”
Mitchell is in action this Saturday on the UFC Vegas 118 card when he takes on Satiago Luna.
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