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Wingers might just be the most watchable players on a football pitch. They are involved in the most exciting parts of the game. Wingers are tasked with taking players on, beating them, whipping in crosses or stepping into dangerous areas from where they could score.
Wingers can be largely be of two types. One is the old-fashioned out-and-out wide forward who makes a beeline to the byline before whipping in crosses into the box. There are also inverted wingers who like to cut in from the flanks and attack the box.
They are usually pacy customers with excellent technical ability. Wingers are usually good with the ball at their feet and will have an array of tricks up their sleeve.
We have seen several legendary left-wingers in the modern era like Franck Ribery, Ryan Giggs, Eden Hazard and Ronaldinho to name a few. Even Cristiano Ronaldo used to thrive as a left-winger during his prime years.
Without further ado, let's take a look at five of the best left-wingers of 2021.
#5 Raheem Sterling (England/Manchester City)
Raheem Sterling has not exactly been at his best in 2021. He has suffered dips in form and has not been as consistent for club and country as he used to be. But the 27-year-old is still nearly unplayable when he is in the mood.
He fell down the pecking order at Manchester City following the arrival of Jack Grealish from Aston Villa this summer. However, Sterling has been able to earn his starting berth back after producing a string of impressive performances in recent weeks.
Sterling scored 14 goals and provided 12 assists in 49 appearances across all competitions for the Cityzens in the 2020-21 season. He has seven goals and provided three assists in 23 appearances in the ongoing campaign.
The winger was a standout performer for England in their run to the finals of Euro 2020, scoring three goals and providing an assist in seven appearances. Sterling's burst of pace, quick feet and technical qualities make him one of the best wingers in all of Europe.
#4 Leroy Sane (Germany/Bayern Munich)
Leroy Sane is one of the quickest wingers in the world. The left-footed attacker's electric pace and decision-making in the final third have made him a very important player for Bayern Munich.
Sane didn't hit the heights expected of him during the 2020-21 season. He had a rather modest tally of 10 goals and 12 assists in 44 appearances across all competitions for the Bavarians last term.
But Sane has been in prime form this season and has already scored 11 goals and provided 11 assists in just 26 appearances so far. The German international is very proficient in a technical sense.
His link-up play, ability to dribble past opponents and keep his cool inside the final third make him a huge threat down the left wing.
#3 Vinicius Jr. (Brazil/Real Madrid)
Vinicius Jr. has shown immense potential since joining Real Madrid in 2018. The Brazilian international is an absolute delight to watch when he is running at defenders. However, in his first few seasons at Real Madrid, the youngster's final product was gravely lacking in quality.
For instance, he scored just six goals and provided seven assists in 49 appearances across all competitions for Los Blancos in the 2020-21 season. But he has been a different beast in the ongoing season.
In fact, he might even top this list on current form. The 21-year-old's game has improved massively on all fronts and he has become a much more reliable presence in attack. He has already bettered his numbers from the 2020-21 season in the ongoing campaign.
Vinicius Jr. has scored 12 goals and provided nine assists in 25 appearances across all competitions so far this term. He has been more than a handful to deal with for defenders in recent times and has already scored some wonderful solo goals this season.
#2 Son Heung-min (South Korea/Tottenham Hotspur)
Son Heung-min has been one of the most consistent performers in the Premier League over the last several seasons. The Tottenham Hotspur winger packs plenty of pace and is an excellent dribbler. Once Son gets past a defender and turns on his afterburners, there is simply no catching him.
The South Korean international puts in a shift every single time he is on the pitch. He has shared the burden of scoring goals and creating chances with Harry Kane in recent seasons and doesn't always get the credit he deserves.
The 29-year-old scored 22 goals and provided 17 assists in 51 appearances across all competitions for Tottenham Hotspur last season. Spurs navigated a rocky start to the 2021-22 campaign and Harry Kane's poor form affected them a lot.
However, the Lilywhites have been able to keep their head above the water thanks to Son. He has not been at his most prolific but he has still managed to score eight goals and rack up three assists in 21 appearances across all competitions this term.
#1 Lorenzo Insigne (Italy/Napoli)
Lorenzo Insigne was a vital cog in the Italian side that won Euro 2020 this summer. The diminutive winger is a great ball progressor and he provides a lot of thrust to his side from the left flank.
Insigne's low center of gravity, coupled with his deft touches, make him an elusive presence on the left wing. He loves flitting past defenders, cutting inside from the flank and sending a curler into the top bin.
The Napoli captain has scored five goals and provided six assists in 15 appearances across all competitions so far this term. He was a standout performer for the Partenopei in the 2020-21 campaign as well, scoring 19 goals and providing 11 assists in 48 games.
Insigne is one of the most technically adept wingers in the world. In addition to his dribbling skills, his passing, set-piece abilities, link-up play and finishing are all commendable features of his game.
