Best wingers in the world 2025

Nothing gets fans out of their seat quite like a winger with the ball at their feet.

Changes to the game have seen the position evolve in modern football. Traditional wingers who play with chalk on their boots have become something of a rarity, with the new-age wide forwards preferring to cut inside or drift centrally to offer more of a goal threat.

Many of the best attacking players in world football do their best work from the flanks so to help cut the list down to just 10, we’ve looked at ability, recent success and production, and, of course, the eye test.

You won’t find the likes of Lionel Messi or Kylian Mbappe, who we’ve got down as strikers, on this list but it is certainly not short on talent.

RadioTimes.com brings you our definitive list of the 10 best wingers in the world in 2025.

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10. Rodrygo (Real Madrid)

Rodrygo can tie defenders up in knots with his quick feet and armoury of tricks but it’s his goalscoring exploits in the past few years that have taken his game to new heights.

Still just 24, the Brazilian already has three La Liga titles and two Champions League, among other trophies, to his name. There is surely much more to come.

9. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (PSG)

There’s something magic about Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. The PSG winger’s dazzling footwork, unpredictability, and penchant for the spectacular make him one of the most exciting players to watch in world football.

‘Kvaradona’ helped deliver Napoli’s first Serie A title in 33 years, was the star man as Georgia caught the eye at Euro 2024, and helped deliver the Champions League for PSG.

8. Michael Olise (Bayern Munich)

The most remarkable thing about Michael Olise’s meteoric rise – from Reading to Bayern Munich via Selhurst Park – has been the ease with which he’s taken his game to new levels.

Olise can do it all. He has the quick feet to breeze past defenders with ease, the vision to create something out of nothing, and the technical quality to find the top corner from anywhere.

7. Raphinha (Barcelona)

Relentless is the word that best describes Raphinha. The 28-year-old’s lightning pace, lethal finishing and industry out of possession make him a real weapon for Barcelona.

The Brazilian took his game up a level at last season, even breaking a Champions League record set by one Lionel Messi, and will look to follow that up ahead of next summer’s World Cup.

6. Cole Palmer (Chelsea)

The new king of Stamford Bridge has not looked back since his gutsy call to leave Man City. His talents as both a goalscorer and a creator have made him one of the Premier League’s best attackers and were central to Chelsea’s silverware haul last season.

Perhaps not a traditional winger or even a wide forward, Palmer does his best work drifting in off the right to devastating effect.

5. Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid)

Vinicius Jr is a defender’s nightmare. The deadly pace has always been there but there is now an inevitability about his play. You cannot stop him.

The Brazilian has more than justified the €45 million that Real Madrid spent on him as a 16-year-old and thrived under the huge pressure at the Bernabeu.

4. Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)

Bukayo Saka has led Arsenal’s title charges in recent seasons and become one of the most feared attackers in the Premier League.

He’s shown his class on the international stage as well, winning England Men’s Player of the Year on multiple occasions and producing some big moments at tournaments.

3. Ousmane Dembele (PSG)

Ousmane Dembele’s world-class potential was never in doubt but the Frenchman has shed the injuries and inconsistency to finally live up to the billing.

His brilliance helped PSG finally get their hands on the Champions League and has seen him rewarded with the Ballon d’Or.

2. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)

Mohamed Salah's production as a wide forward is nothing short of ridiculous - reliably returning 20+ goals and 10+ assists per season - and now has two Premier League titles to his name.

The Egyptian King is capable of moments of pure magic but it’s his consistency that has set him apart. Already a Premier League legend, the all-time goals record might not be out of reach.

1. Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)

Barcelona's teenage sensation may have been pipped to the Ballon d'Or but he sits atop our list. Lamine Yamal has risen to superstar status at the age of just 18 and the scary thing is that the best is yet to come.

Since his breakout season in 2023/24, the La Masia product has established himself as a key weapon for Barcelona and Spain – firing them both to silverware.

Who is the best winger in the world?

18 and already the best winger in the world, Lamine Yamal is special.

Dribbling, scoring, creating, entertaining – he does it all and he does it at a truly world class level. Yamal is to be enjoyed.

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