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Wingers are an integral part of teams in the modern game. They are essentially attacking midfielders who possess the pace and dribbling ability from the flanks.
In the process, they lend width to their teams' attacks. In recent times, teams tend to feature inverted wingers. That allows these players to cut inside and shoot with their stronger foot.
There are a lot of quality wingers plying their trades for some of the top clubs in the game at the moment. Some of them have been going strong for a while now, displaying their sustained excellence and longevity.
Without further ado, here's a look at the five best wingers in the game at the moment:
#5 Vinicius Jr. (Real Madrid/Brazil)
Vinicius Jr. is one of the most exciting young wingers in the game at the moment. The Brazilian took his time to get going after arriving at Real Madrid three years ago.
Still only 21, Vinicius has already racked up close to 150 appearances across competitions, but consistency was never his forte. However, under Carlo Ancelotti, the Brazilian has provided the Real Madrid faithful a glimpse of his world-class abilities.
The 21-year-old is already up to nine goals (and seven assists) across competitions this season. That is almost as many as he scored in his last two campaigns combined. He has struck up a devastating partnership up front with Karim Benzema.
Vinicius did not provide a goal contribution in Real Madrid's 2-1 victory over Barcelona this season. But Ancelotti was all praise for the youngster, saying:
“He has had a very good game, he created danger every time."
It remains to be seen if Vinicius continues this form for the rest of the campaign as Madrid hunt for titles on multiple fronts.
#4 Lionel Messi (PSG/Argentina)
Lionel Messi is widely regarded as one of the best players to have graced the game.
During an illustrious career for club and country that has lasted almost two decades, he has scored goals and won big titles galore. At 34, the PSG winger is still one of the best in the business, despite his failure to open his Ligue 1 account.
The Barcelona legend has a magical left foot, and is especially at his imperious best in tightly contested spaces in the opposition third. Messi has scored three times in as many Champions League games this season. It's only a matter of time before he gets going in the French top flight as well.
Messi led from the front - bagging four goals and five assists - in Argentina's triumphant Copa America 2021 campaign this summer.
#3 Phil Foden (Manchester City/England)
Phil Foden is one of the most exciting young wingers in the game at the moment. The 21-year-old has blossomed into a world-class player under the able tutelage of Manchester City's legendary manager Pep Guardiola.
In nearly 150 games across competitions for the club, the young Englishman has already racked up 36 goals and 26 assists. He has scored and assisted in three different competitions this season, continuing his impressive upward trajectory.
The City manager once said about Foden:
"He (Phil Foden) is the most talented player I have ever seen. Well, the best is Messi, first. Second, I didn't meet Leo Messi at 17 years-old when I met Phil (Foden), and that age, I've never seen a player with this potential. But you have to see it on the pitch and on the biggest stages."
It remains to be seen how Foden fares in the years to come, but he has certainly made a good start.
#2 Kylian Mbappe (PSG/France)
Kylian Mbappe is one of the finest young players in the game at the moment. Still only 22, he has already won big titles galore with club and country.
The 2018 FIFA World Cup winner has already tallied over 200 goal contributions (139 goals, 62 assists) after arriving at PSG in the summer of 2017. The four-time Ligue 1 winner almost joined Real Madrid this season but was persuaded by PSG to stay on.
Mbappe recently recorded his 150th goal contribution in Ligue 1, but it remains to be seen if he will remain at PSG beyond this season.
Currently, in the final year of his contract, Mbappe has reportedly rejected multiple contract extension proposals from PSG. So it remains to be seen if the Ligue 1 giants manage to hold on to their prized asset for long.
#1 Mohamed Salah (Liverpool/Egypt)
Mohamed Salah is on a tear this season, racking up 15 goals across competitions. On current form, the Egyptian is arguably the best player in the game at the moment.
Salah recently became the most prolific African goalscorer in Premier League history. Thanks to his blistering exploits, Liverpool are fancying their chances of a second league title in three years and also making a splash in Europe.
The diminutive winger is the crown jewel in Jurgen Klopp's star-studded team. He was one of the few bright sparks in an otherwise dismal 2020-21 campaign for The Reds. It remains to be seen if Salah's exploits during the year lands him the 2021 Ballon d'Or award.
