In this article, we present to you our picks of the 10 best male wingers of 2024 that shone while plying their trade in Europe.
The game of football has evolved significantly over the years, with wingers now viewing themselves as much as goalscorers as the centre-forwards rather than simply serving as creative outlets who provide crosses and passes into the box. A skilled wide player with a knack for consistent goal-scoring not only adds another dimension to a team’s attack but also alleviates the pressure on their strikers, contributing significantly to the overall success of the team. Their ability to find the back of the net provides a valuable additional threat, enhancing offensive play, and ensuring a more well-rounded attacking unit.
The rankings below are based on following criteria:
- Performances, potential. and consistency
- Importance and relevance to his team
- Success or trophies won
The stats mentioned have been accumulated from Transfermarkt and Fbref.
10. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia | Georgia | SSC Napoli
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was massively influential in Napoli’s Scudetto win in the 2022/23 season with 25 goal contributions in 34 games. The young Georgian is a left-winger but versatile enough to play anywhere in the front line, even as a second striker. The talismanic winger’s numbers have somewhat dwindled since the breakthrough 22/23 season, but Kvaratskhelia isn’t just about goal contributions as he can dribble in tight spaces, link up play, and accelerate quickly on the ball as well.
Kvaratskhelia had 20 G/A in all competitions last season and helped Napoli reach the final of the Supercoppa Italiana. This season, he has played 19 games so far and has bagged five goals and three assists, and while his numbers haven’t been as impressive, he remains an important player for Napoli in the larger scheme of things.
Kvarastkhelia has technical skills, physical strength, ability to dribble past defenders with ease, acceleration, and use feints. He has great vision and is fairly accurate from set-pieces as well. He is a nightmare for opposition defenders, and it’s a surprise that Napoli have been able to hold on to him for as long as they have given the interest in him from Europe’s elite clubs.
If Napoli are to win trophies and go deep into tournaments this season, the talented Georgian winger’s form is going to be absolutely vital.
9. Bradley Barcola | France | Paris Saint-Germain FC
Bradley Barcola is currently one of the most exciting young prospects in French football. He started playing for Paris Saint-Germain in 2023/24 and impressed with five goals and eight assists in 39 appearances. With PSG winning the Ligue 1 title, Barcola was named as the Signing of the Season by the league. The 2024/25 season has also started superbly for the winger and he has already bagged ten goals and two assists in 23 games.
Barcola is normally deployed on the left wing for club and country. He is a versatile forward capable of playing on either wing as well as centrally. He is a quick and technically-gifted winger with good dribbling skills, vision, and high speed and acceleration. In addition to all these attributes, he has superb work rate as well. He prefers to play on the left and is brilliant in 1v1 situations, preferring to cut onto his right foot.
The young winger is one of the players to watch out for this season, and even though PSG haven’t performed well in the Champions League, he has been a breath of fresh air, terrorising opposition players and creating attacking opportunities for the Parisians.
8. Raphinha | Brazil | FC Barcelona
Since his move from Leeds United to Barcelona in 2022, Raphinha has been an integral part of the Blaugrana setup. The winger had a fairly decent 2023/24 season as he contributed with ten goals and 13 assists for the club in all competitions, even though Barça ended up relinquishing their LaLiga crown to rivals Real Madrid last season.
Under new boss Hansi Flick this season, Raphinha has gone on to another level. He has already scored 17 goals and bagged ten assists in just 25 games and has also become an important player for the Brazil national team, proving to be a steady performer for the struggling Seleção.
Raphinha is a versatile winger known for his technical ability, speed, agility, and defensive work rate. The Brazilian winger has great vision and passing ability, while defensively he plays an important role in counter-pressing, regaining possession by tracking back to support fullbacks, and disrupting opposition play. Under Flick, his resurgence has been mainly due to playing as a second striker rather than a traditional wide winger.
Raphinha was critical to Barcelona running through teams earlier this season as they looked like the best team in Europe attack-wise. However, they have faltered since then somewhat, and if they want to regain their form, Raphinha will hold the key.
7. Phil Foden | England | Manchester City FC
Phil Foden has been a revelation for Manchester City ever since he arrived onto the senior scene from their academy back in 2017. He normally plays in the right wing for City and had a stellar 2023/24 season, scoring important goals and ensuring their record fourth successive league title while also picking up the Premier League Player of the Season award. In all, he scored 27 goals and 12 assists in 53 games.
Even though the 2024/25 season hasn’t been a fairy tale, as the Englishman has been struggling for form along with his whole team, he is still an important part of the City squad.
Foden has exceptional skills when it comes to ball control and dribbling. He can easily navigate through tight spaces, has great vision, passing range, and also possesses the ability to strike goals from long distances. His finishing is also sound for a winger.
If City are to go on another one of their winning runs and have any say in the PL title race going forward, Foden is one of those players who will need to perform to his usual high standards.
6. Son Heung-min | South Korea | Tottenham Hotspur FC
Son Heung-min has been one of the best and most consistent wingers in the Premier League for the past many years. Captain for both club and country, the talismanic forward has been a standout player for Spurs alongside Harry Kane (who’s now at Bayern Munich) for many a season.
Even though Spurs have failed to win trophies for a long time, Son has been their star performer and has helped ensure Spurs remain playing European football. In 2023/24, he registered 17 goals and 10 assists in 36 games. This season, he has seven goals and assists each in 25 appearances for the Lilywhites.
Even though Son has lost his pace with age, he is still a tricky customer for the opposition defenders. With experience on his side, he has become more of a provider for the other forwards in his team. Son is known for his ambipedality, positional sense, movement, close control, and clinical finishing, all of which make him especially effective during counterattacks. He is also a versatile player and can play anywhere in the front line—even as a midfielder if need be.
Spurs are currently struggling with form and languishing mid-table. Son’s skills and leadership will be crucial for them to end the season well and capture a European spot yet again.
Also read: Top 10 strikers in Europe in 2024
5. Lamine Yamal | Spain | FC Barcelona
This Barça teenage sensation has taken the footballing world by storm, impressing one and all with his stellar performances for both club and country over the past year.
Another product of the famed La Masia academy, the young right-winger has been quite the revelation. Breaking onto the scene in the 2023/24 season as a 16-year-old, Yamal registered seven goals and nine assists for the Blaugrana, proving he was here to stay. He has been even more exceptional since the summer, winning the Euros with Spain with important contributions and then impressing for Barcelona whenever called upon. This season, he has six goals and 12 assists in 21 games so far.
Lamine Yamal is quick and has great dribbling skills and vision. His passing range is mighty impressive as he can find teammates with consistency and accuracy, which he has shown in several games for club and country. He also has a powerful long-range shot on him and can play as a centre-forward or an attacking midfielder.
Even though he is still young, despite already being extraordinary, there’s scope to improve with more games and experience under his belt. To be honest, it’s quite scary as to how much better Yamal can get.
4. Cole Palmer | England | Chelsea FC
Cole Palmer’s move from Manchester City to Chelsea was seen as a very risky one, but it’s one that has paid off for the English winger. In his first season for Chelsea in 2023/24, he scored a whopping 27 goals and 15 assists as he announced himself in the most competitive football league in the world. His exceptional performances led an otherwise struggling Blues side to striking distance of top four. But last season’s performances were no fluke, as he has just taken his stellar form into the 2024/25 season and already has to his name 13 goals and 6 assists in 22 games.
Palmer has all the qualities of a world-class winger. He is a great ball carrier, can play as an attacking midfielder, can dribble and drive past defenders with ease, and possesses clinical finishing as good as strikers. In addition, he is superb from set-pieces and can score from distance in open play as well.
Palmer’s stellar form has taken Chelsea into top four in the Premier League. He will hold the key to Chelsea’s league title and Champions League aspirations.
3. Bukayo Saka | England | Arsenal FC
Bukayo Saka has been one of the most prolific players in the Premier League for a few seasons now. He is a key player not just for Arsenal but also the England national team.
Saka’s consistency and the ability to come up with crucial goals has only elevated his status as one of the best wingers in the Premier League. His numbers are further testament to his growing stature as one of Europe’s best.
The Englishman had an unbelievable 2022/23 season as he registered 20 goals and 14 assists in all competitions for the Gunners, helping them remain in the Premier League title race till the very end. He has just continued that rollicking form into the 2024/25 season, having already chipped in with nine goals and 13 assists. However, his unfortunate injury has derailed his current campaign.
Such is his value to this Arsenal side that Saka’s injury may just have derailed all of Mikel Arteta’s plans for the season.
2. Vinícius Júnior | Brazil | Real Madrid CF
Vinícius has been Real Madrid’s most consistent player for a few seasons now. Still only 24 years of age, the Brazilian winger already has a trophy-laden cabinet. He had a stellar 2023/24 season with Los Blancos as he won LaLiga and the Champions League among other accolades. He was also ranked second in the prestigious Ballon d’Or rankings last year.
Vinícius racked up 25 goals and 12 assists in all competitions for his club in 2023/24. He has continued his consistent form in 2024/25 even though Real Madrid are relatively struggling. This season, the Brazil international has 13 goals and nine assists in 21 games. His importance to this Real Madrid team simply cannot be overstated.
Vinícius is an exceptional winger. He has frightening pace, his dribbling skills are second to one, and he is very dangerous in 1v1 situations. In addition, he can find his teammates with regular accuracy and has also developed into a versatile player who has the ability to occupy multiple positions up front. He. also runs behind defenders and can take the ball on the turn—qualities that make him one of the best wingers in world football at the moment.
Vinícius has recently returned from a brief injury and is performing at his best again, helping Real Madrid regain their form after a rocky start to the 2024/25 season. If he continues to stretch defences, score, and assist, Los Blancos may just collect another trophy or two this season.
1. Mohamed Salah | Egypt | Liverpool FC
Liverpool’s Egyptian forward has now established himself as the best right-winger in the Premier League. Consistency personified, Salah is Liverpool’s talisman in every competition they have played in and also one of the major reasons for their success in recent years. A clutch player by definition, Salah has incredible numbers against the big clubs. In the latter years, he has become more of a creator, and yet his goal-scoring numbers remain consistently awe-inspiring.
Salah registered 25 goals and 14 assists in the 2023/24 season despite suffering an injury that kept him out for almost three months. So far, he’s had an incredible 2024/25 season with a mind-blowing 20 goals and 17 assists in just 26 games, with Liverpool topping both the Premier League and Champions League tables. The 32-year-old has been absolutely sensational, often single-handedly pushing his side to a win.
Salah has a wand of a left foot. His ability to run behind defenders and dribble in tight spaces is still there even though his pace has waned a bit with age. Pinpoint crosses, passes in the box, long range passes, and line-breaking through balls are also in his inventory—he can do it all.
Salah has been undoubtedly the best winger in Europe this year. If he continues his purple patch, Liverpool could definitely clinch a trophy or two in 2025.
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