The modern right winger must do far more than hug the touchline. Elite wide players combine pace, creativity, goals, and relentless work rate. They also possess the quality to decide the biggest matches. Whether cutting inside or stretching defences, today’s best right wingers shape games at the highest level.
Like our best left wingers list, this ranking reflects performances, consistency, overall ability, and impact throughout the 2025/26 season. It also considers each player’s standing heading into the 2026/27 campaign.
10. Mohammed Kudus
Mohammed Kudus remains one of the most unpredictable attacking players in world football. Following his move to Tottenham Hotspur, the Ghanaian has continued to demonstrate why he is such a dangerous right winger. Comfortable playing anywhere across the frontline, Kudus is at his best cutting inside from the right. There, his strength, close control, and powerful left foot constantly trouble defenders.
His ability to beat opponents in one-on-one situations is among the best in the Premier League. Kudus combines explosive acceleration with superb balance, allowing him to glide past challenges before driving towards goal. He is equally capable of scoring spectacular long-range efforts or creating chances for teammates through clever link-up play and incisive passing.
Greater consistency in front of goal could see him climb even higher in future rankings. But his versatility, physicality, and technical brilliance already place him comfortably among the world’s best right wingers.
9. Lionel Messi
At 39 years old, Lionel Messi continues to defy expectations. While the Argentine legend is no longer capable of dominating matches through constant dribbling as he once did, his football intelligence, passing range, and ability to produce decisive moments remain unmatched. He remains the heartbeat of Inter Miami and Argentina. Leo continues to influence games whenever he steps onto the pitch.
Messi now plays a more measured role, drifting into central positions to dictate attacks before producing moments of brilliance with his left foot. His vision remains extraordinary, regularly unlocking packed defences with passes few others would even attempt. Despite losing some pace, his close control and composure remain among the very best in football.
There are more explosive right wingers in today’s game, but few can still influence matches like Messi. Even in the twilight of his career, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner remains capable of deciding the biggest occasions with one magical moment. He remains one of the best midfielders in the world right now, but primarily plays off the right wing.
8. Ferran Torres
Ferran Torres has quietly developed into one of Europe’s most consistent attacking players. The Spanish international enjoyed the finest season of his career in 2025/26. He was an important part of Barcelona’s attacking rotation as they won La Liga. However, chief among those achievements came when he scored the winning goal in the World Cup final as Spain lifted the trophy for the first time in 16 years. His movement, intelligent positioning, and improved finishing have allowed him to thrive whether starting on the right or operating centrally.
Unlike many wingers, Torres relies less on flair and more on intelligent movement. He constantly finds dangerous pockets of space, making clever runs behind defences and arriving inside the box at exactly the right moment. His composure in front of goal has improved significantly. That has turned him into a reliable scorer as well as an effective creator. The Spaniard is just as capable of filling in at centre-forward as he is playing as a wideman.
Now entering his prime, Torres has matured into a complete attacker. His versatility, tactical intelligence, and growing consistency have earned him a deserved place among the world’s greatest right wingers.
7. Rodrygo
Rodrygo continues to be one of the most technically gifted attackers in world football. Although he often finds himself sharing the spotlight with Real Madrid’s other superstars, the Brazilian consistently delivers whenever called upon. Comfortable on either wing or through the middle, he remains at his most dangerous cutting inside from the right.
His greatest strengths are his close control, composure, and movement between the lines. Rodrygo rarely wastes possession and excels in tight spaces, where his quick feet allow him to escape defenders before creating opportunities. He also possesses a knack for scoring important goals, having repeatedly delivered in the Champions League throughout his career. An injury-plagued season saw him miss large parts of 2026. However, his proven quality means he can bounce right back this year, with our online sportsbook having his Madrid side up among the favourites to lift the Champions League trophy.
Rodrygo has plenty of room to improve at 25. If he continues producing consistently while taking on greater responsibility, he could challenge for a place among the very best wide players in football.
6. Bryan Mbuemo
Bryan Mbeumo has completed one of the Premier League’s most impressive rises. After years of starring for Brentford, the Cameroon international earned a big-money move to Manchester United last season. He has immediately established himself as one of the team’s key attacking players. His consistency, versatility, and work ethic have made him one of Europe’s standout right wingers.
Mbeumo offers far more than goals and assists. Intelligent pressing, relentless running, and willingness to track back make him invaluable off the ball. His powerful left foot, clever movement, and ability to drift into dangerous areas will allow him to consistently threaten opposition defences going forward. His versatility is also a huge advantage. Despite being mainly deployed as a winger, Mbuemo has also played as a competent centre-forward.
Having now proven himself at both Brentford and Manchester United, Mbuemo belongs among football’s elite right wingers. His all-round game continues to improve, and he looks capable of producing his best football over the coming seasons. The 27-year-old will have the opportunity to debut his talents in the Champions League in 2026/27. That could propel him to even loftier heights.
5. Mohamed Salah
Mohamed Salah may be approaching the latter stages of his career, but he remains one of the best right wingers in the world right now. The Liverpool legend continues to produce elite numbers season after season, combining remarkable consistency with an incredible eye for goal. Very few players have maintained such extraordinary standards for as long as Salah has. The Egyptian King will take his talents to Trabzonspor in 2026/27, and there is still plenty more left in the tank.
What makes Salah so special is his efficiency. Unlike most elite wingers, Salah is not a flashy dribbler, nor is he a silky skiller. Instead, Salah combines explosive acceleration, razor-sharp close control, and intelligent decision-making to create chances for himself from almost nothing. Whether driving inside onto his left foot, bursting into space behind a defence, or unleashing a finish from a seemingly harmless position, he has consistently found ways to score that few others can replicate.
That ruthless end product made him Liverpool’s all-time leading Premier League goalscorer and the fourth-highest scorer in the competition’s history. Add in his creativity and ability to produce goals and assists season after season, and it’s easy to see why Salah has been one of the defining Premier League players of his generation. Although younger players have begun to overtake him, Salah remains among the very best. His longevity, professionalism, and remarkable production ensure his place among football’s elite right wingers heading into another season.
4. Bukayo Saka
Bukayo Saka has developed into one of the most complete wingers in world football. The Arsenal star continues to improve year after year, combining elite creativity with impressive goalscoring numbers. Despite battling injuries at various points, Saka is the driving force behind Arsenal’s attack and one of England’s most influential players.
His decision-making separates him from many other wingers. Saka rarely forces situations, consistently choosing the right moment to dribble, pass, or shoot. His left foot is capable of producing outstanding crosses, defence-splitting passes, and precise finishes. Recently, his work rate has shone as he tracks back when out of possession.
At 24, Saka is entering his peak years. A first Premier League title with Arsenal in 2026 seems to have only driven his pursuit of success, and 2026/27 looks set to be a huge campaign for the Hale End product. His consistency at both club and international level makes him one of the safest bets to remain among the best right wingers in the world for years to come. With so long left in his career, it would not be a surprise to see Saka named as one of the best Arsenal players of all time when his playing time comes to an end.
3. Desire Doué
Paris Saint-Germain have been the best team in Europe over the last two seasons, and Desire Doué’s performances have played a huge part in that. The 21-year-old has developed into one of the most exciting attacking talents in world football since joining from Rennes, playing a starring role in PSG’s back-to-back Champions League triumphs. His ability to produce decisive moments on the biggest stage has quickly elevated him into football’s elite.
Doué combines extraordinary technical ability with explosive athleticism. He is fearless when attacking defenders, capable of beating players on either side while remaining composed in the final third. His improving goalscoring record is no surprise given his creativity, and he has shown an impressive ability to deliver in high-pressure matches. Few young attackers possess such a complete blend of flair, intelligence, and end product.
The French international still has enormous room for improvement, which is a frightening prospect for defenders. Already among the world’s most dangerous right wingers, Doué appears destined to become one of the defining attackers of his generation.
2. Lamine Yamal
It is hard to believe that Lamine Yamal is still just 19 years old. He burst onto the scene as a 16-year-old for Barcelona in 2023/24, missing just one league game as he became an integral part of the squad. Since then, he has developed into one of the most feared attackers in world football. The La Masia graduate has already won multiple major honours with Barcelona and was a key figure as Spain lifted Euro 2024 before becoming the starting right winger in their triumphant 2026 World Cup campaign.
Yamal possesses a level of technical ability rarely seen in players of his age. His close control, balance, and lightning-quick feet make him almost impossible to stop in one-on-one situations. Equally comfortable hugging the touchline or drifting into central areas, he creates chances with remarkable consistency while also carrying a significant goalscoring threat. His vision, composure, and decision-making continue to improve, allowing him to influence games far beyond what any sane person would expect from a teenager.
There is every chance Yamal eventually becomes the best player in the world, but for now he narrowly misses out on the top spot. His consistency, maturity, and ability to deliver in the biggest matches have already established him among football’s elite. With so much of his career still ahead of him, the Barcelona superstar looks destined to dominate the right wing for many years to come.
1. Michael Olise
Michael Olise tops the list of our best right wingers in the world. The Bayern Munich forward was incredible in 2025/26, forming part of one of the most lethal attacks in European football. The Frenchman joined the Bundesliga champions the season prior for €60m from Crystal Palace and immediately became one of Die Roten’s most important players. He finished last season with 34 goal contributions in 32 league games as Bayern lifted a domestic double.
Olise is a magician with the ball at his feet. Few players in world football can manipulate a defender as effortlessly in one-on-one situations. His close control, balance, and deceptive change of pace allow him to glide past opponents before delivering dangerous crosses or cutting inside onto his favoured left foot.
However, he is far more than just a dribbler. Olise possesses outstanding vision and passing ability, consistently creating chances with defence-splitting through balls and perfectly weighted crosses. His composure in front of goal has also improved dramatically, making him a genuine dual threat as both a scorer and creator, particularly for the best striker in the world, Harry Kane.
At just 24 years old, Olise is barely entering the peak years of his career and already looks capable of becoming one of football’s defining attackers. His performances for Bayern have shown he can dominate at the highest level, while his starring role in France’s 2026 World Cup campaign confirmed his status among the game’s elite. With world-class technique, intelligence, and end product, Michael Olise is comfortably the best right winger in world football today.
