A winger is arguably the most eye-catching position on the football pitch. Whether it be pinpoint crossing ability, a bag of skills or electric pace, we have seen some iconic wide men over time get plenty of plaudits.
Currently, Barcelona star Lamine Yamal and 2025 Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele are seen as the best wingers in world football, but who is the GOAT?
Here is a list of 20 of the most iconic wingers football has ever seen, factoring in longevity and consistency at the highest level, while also looking at their personal accolades and honours they have won.
20 Robert Pires
Beginning the countdown is Robert Pires, who was actually voted sixth in the list of Arsenal’s best-ever players, showing the impact he made in England.
A Euros and World Cup winner with France, Pires played on the left and bundles of skill and claimed two Premier League titles and three FA Cups at Highbury.
He’d often go under the radar due to playing alongside Thierry Henry, but Pires was world-class in his prime.
19 Tom Finney
One of the greatest two-footed wingers during the 1940s and 1950s was Englishman Tom Finney, who spent 20 years with Preston North End.
Although his career wasn’t glittered with honours, Finney has gone down as one of the finest versatile attackers of the early era, scoring 240 goals for Preston and England.
18 Jose Macia Pepe
Jose Macia Pepe won the World Cup with Brazil in 1958 and 1962 with Pele and starred alongside for Santos during his club career.
An iconic left-winger over 15 years, Pepe scored 405 goals in 705 games for Santos, a remarkable number for someone who played out wide.
17 David Beckham
One of the best crossers of the ball in history, David Beckham played on the right-hand side for some of the biggest sides in world football during his career.
Man Utd, Real Madrid and AC Milan all had the pleasure of having Beckham take set pieces, delivering the ball with precision on a regular basis.
The first major football celebrity, Beckham’s ability on the pitch is sometimes forgotten, but on his day, the English icon was unstoppable.
16 Gareth Bale
A five-time Champions League winner with Real Madrid, Gareth Bale always delivered in the big moments for Los Blancos, scoring some of the club’s most iconic goals in finals.
His overhead kick against Liverpool in the Champions League and solo run against Barcelona in the Copa del Rey are two standout moments from a glittering career, with Bale also starring in the Premier League with Tottenham and on the international stage with Wales.
15 Mohamed Salah
Now a certified Liverpool legend, Mohamed Salah’s return to England after a failed spell with Chelsea has turned him into one of the greatest the Premier League has ever seen.
Pace, excellent dribbling and clinical in front of goal, Salah was key in Liverpool’s Champions League and Premier League triumphs. The Egyptian King has got better with age and broke plenty of records at Anfield.
14 Rivaldo
An extremely versatile forward, Rivaldo’s greatest displays during his 25-year career came out wide. Best known for his time at Barcelona, the Brazilian starred on the left, where he won the Ballon d’Or in 1999.
Netting 130 goals in 235 appearances at the Nou Camp, Rivaldo also won the World Cup in 2002. He had pace, power and could also take a free-kick which came in handy at various points during his career.
13 Eden Hazard
Retiring at the age of 32, Eden Hazard was hampered by injuries in the latter years of his career following his big-money move to Real Madrid from Chelsea.
However, in his prime years, Hazard was untouchable at Stamford Bridge and couldn’t be stopped by Premier League full-backs.
One of Belgium’s best ever players in history, Hazard was known for his dribbling ability, and his iconic goal against Arsenal summed up what he was like as a player.
12 Arjen Robben
A serial winner with PSV Eindhoven, Real Madrid, Chelsea and Bayern Munich, full-backs often knew what Arjen Robben was going to do but still couldn’t stop him.
Cutting in off the right and onto his unbelievable left-foot, the Dutch icon’s career lasted 20 years, and for his country, he made almost 100 appearances.
The scorer of the winner in the 2013 Champions League final with Bayern Munich, Robben’s technical ability was unmatched.
11 Ryan Giggs
Another winger who wasn’t the quickest but is still one of the best is Man Utd legend Ryan Giggs.
Giggs was influential in numerous Red Devils sides under Sir Alex Ferguson and had a wand of a left-foot at Old Trafford.
The Welshman has the record for most appearances in the Premier League (632) and the most Premier League assists (162), and his tally of 13 league titles highlights his longevity at the top level.
