The game of football has evolved significantly over the years, with wingers now viewing themselves as much as goal scorers as strikers or centre-forwards, rather than simply serving as creative outlets who provide crosses and passes into the box. A skilled wide player with a consistent goal-scoring ability not only adds another dimension to the attack but also alleviates the pressure on 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 are based on following criteria –
All stats mentioned have been accumulated from transfermarkt.co.in.
Let’s take a look at the best wingers in Europe in 2024 –
Kvicha Kvarastkhelia was massively influential in Napoli’s Scudetto win in the 2022/23 season with 25 goal contributions in 34 games. Kvarastkhelia 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, he can dribble in tight spaces, linkup play and accelerate quickly on the ball.
He had 20 G/A in all competitions last season and helped Napoli reach the finals of the SuperCoppa Italiana. This season he has played 19 games so far bagging 5 goals and 3 assists and while his numbers haven’t been so impressive, he is a very important player for Napoli in the larger scheme of things.
Kvarastkhelia has technical skills, physical strength, ability to dribble past defenders with ease, accelerate and use feints. He has great vision and is fairly accurate from set -pieces as well. He is an absolute nightmare for opposition defenders and it’s a surprise that Napoli have been able to hold on to him with a lot of interest from Europe’s elite clubs.
If Napoli are to win trophies or reach deep into tournaments, the talented Georgian winger’s form would be absolutely vital.
Bradley Barcola is currently one of the most exciting young prospects in French football. He started playing for Paris Saint-Germain in the 2023/24, the young Frenchman impressed with five goals and eight assists in his 39 appearances. With PSG winning the Ligue 1 title, Barcola was named as the ‘Signing of the Season’ by Ligue 1. The 2024/25 season has also started superbly for the winger having bagged 10 goals and 2 assists in 23 games.
Barcola is normally deputized on the left wing for Club and country. He is a versatile forward that can play on both wings and as a centre forward as well. Barcola is a quick, talented 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, cutting onto his right foot and can either score or create chances for his teammates.
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, even there he has been like a breath of fresh air, terrorising opposition players and creating attacking opportunities for the Parisians.
Since Raphina’s move from Leeds United to Barcelona in 2022, he has been an integral part of this Barcelona side. The right winger had a fairly decent 2023/24 season for Barcelona and contributed 10 goals and 13 assists for the club in all competitions but Barcelona had to relinquish La Liga title to rivals Real Madrid last season. However, he has just exploded under new manager Hansi Flick this season. Already having scored 17 goals and bagging 10 assists in just 25 games, he has been absolutely phenomenal for the Blaugrana. He is also a massive player for the Brazil National team and has been a steady performer for the struggling Seleção.
Raphina is a versatile winger known for his technical ability, speed and agility and defensive work-rate. The Brazilian winger has great vision and passing ability that has seen him provide assists to his teammates. Defensively, he plays an important role in counter-pressing, regaining possession by tracking back to support full-backs or disrupting opposition build-up play. Under Hansi Flick, his resurgence has been mainly due to playing a second striker rather than a traditional wide winger.
Raphinha has been critical to Barcelona running through teams earlier this season and looking like the best team in Europe attack-wise. However, Barcelona have faltered since then but if they want to regain their form, Raphina holds the key with important contributions from the wing.
Phil Foden has been a revelation for Manchester City since he came to the fore from the Cityzen’s academy a few seasons back. He normally plays in the right-wing position for Manchester City. Foden had a stellar 2023/24 season scoring important goals for his club and ensuring their record fourth successive league title in the Premier League. Foden’s stats of 27 goals + 12 assists in 53 games earned him the PL ‘Player of the Season’ award as well.
Even though the 2024/25 season hasn’t been a fairytale as the Englishman is 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, he has great vision and passing range and he also possesses the ability to strike goals from long distances. His finishing is also sound for a winger.
If City are to go on a consistent streak of wins and affect the PL title race from now on, Foden is definitely one of those players that would need to perform to his usual high standards.
The Barcelona teenage sensation Lamine Yamal seemed to have taken the footballing world by storm impressing one and all with his stellar performances for club and country. Another product of the famed La Masia academy, the young right winger has been quite a revelation. Breaking onto the scene in the 2023/24 season, the 16-year-old had 7 goals and 9 assists for the Blaugrana proving that he was here to stay. He has been even more exceptional since the summer, winning the Euros with Spain with important contributions and then having impressed for Barcelona whenever he has started. The Spanish teenager has 6 goals and 12 assists to his name in 21 games so far this season.
Lamine Yamal is quick, has great dribbling skills and vision. His passing range is mighty impressive as he can find teammates with consistency and accuracy. has shown in several games for club and country. He also has a powerful long-range shot on him. Yamal can also play as a centre-forward or attacking midfielder.
Even though he is still young and already 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 he can get.
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 2022/23, he scored a whopping 27 goals and 15 assists as he announced himself in the most competitive football league in the world. Palmer’s exceptional performances led an otherwise struggling Blues to striking distance of Top 4 with sixth position in the PL table. But last season’s performance wasn’t a fluke as he has just taken his stellar form into the 2024/25 season already amassing goals and 6 assists in 21 games.
Palmer has all the qualities of a world class winger. He is a great ball carrier, can play as an attacking midfielder as well, 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 as well.
His stellar form has taken Chelsea into Top four positions currently in the Premier League and will hold the key to Chelsea’s title or Champions League qualification aspirations.
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 Three Lions setup.
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. Saka’s numbers are a testament to his growing stature as one of Europe’s best.
He had an unbelievable season in 2022/23 contributing 20 goals and 14 assists in all competitions for the Gunners that kept them in the title hunt till the last day of the Premier League season. He has just continued that rollicking form in 2024/25 season chipping in with 9 goals and 13 assists. However, his unfortunate injury has derailed his current campaign.
Such is his value to this Arsenal side that an injury to their talismanic winger might have just made their job a lot more tougher going forward.
Vinicius Jr has been Real Madrid’s most consistent player for a few seasons now. Already only 24 years of age, the Brazilian winger has a trophy laden cabinet. He had a stellar season in 2023/24 with the Los Blancos, winning La Liga, Champions League and other trophies. He was also ranked second in the prestigious Ballon d’Or award.
Vinicius racked up incredible numbers in 23/24 with 25 goals and 12 assists in all competitions for his club. He has continued his same consistent form in 2024/25 even though Real Madrid has struggled by their usual high standards. Vinicius has 13 goals and 9 assists in 21 games this season as well. His importance to this Real Madrid team can’t be overstated though.
Vinicius is an exceptional winger. He has frightening pace, his dribbling skills are second to one, very dangerous in 1v1 situations. In addition, he can find his teammates with regular accuracy. Vini Jr. has also developed into a versatile player and has the ability to play in other positions up front. Vini Jr. also runs behind defenders and can take the ball on the turn. All these qualities make him one of the best wingers in Europe.
The Brazilian player has 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 defenses, score, and assist, Los Blancos could have another successful campaign.
Liverpool’s Egyptian winger Mohamed Salah has now established himself as the best right winger in the Premier League. Consistency personified, he is Liverpool’s talisman in every competition they have played 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, but his goal scoring numbers remain supremely consistent.
Salah scored 25 goals and earned 14 assists in 23/24 season even having suffered an injury that kept him out for almost three months. However, the Egyptian has returned with a point to prove. He is currently having an incredible 2024/25 season with a mind blowing 20 goals and 17 assists in just 26 games so far with Liverpool topping both the Premier League and Champions League tables. The 32-year-old has been absolutely sensational, sometimes singlehandedly pushing the club to a win.
Salah has a wand of a left foot, his ability to run behind defenders, can dribble in tight spaces and even though his pace has waned a bit with age, he has made that up with his creativity, Pinpoint crosses and passes in the box, long range passes, and line breaking through balls- Mo Salah can do it all.
Salah has been undoubtedly the best winger in Europe this year and if he continues his purple patch, Liverpool could definitely benefit with a trophy or two in 2025.
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