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The role of wingers has evolved a fair bit over the past couple of decades. While teams earlier used to play wingers on their preferred side of midfield, we have more recently been introduced to the concept of inverted wingers.
This shift in mindset has truly been monumental. While wingers were instructed to predominantly cross, we now see a lot of wingers cut in from the wing and shoot at goal. This adds a further element of surprise that many teams use effectively to their advantage.
Let's take a look at the top five right-wingers in world football right now.
#5. Federico Chiesa - Fiorentina, Italy
Federico Chiesa has become a sensation over the course of the past year.
The 23-year-old joined Juventus on a two-year loan deal last year and has taken to his new club in style. A truly exciting player, Chiesa is the perfect mix of old-school dribbling and modern-day finishing.
Lining up on the right side of the attack, Chiesa is renowned for his speed and his impressive work rate. A dynamic player, Chiesa is capable of cutting in to shoot as well as finding a teammate in a better position.
He recently impressed viewers worldwide with his exploits at UEFA Euro 2020. Featuring for the Italian national team, Chiesa bagged two goals with the Azzurri and went on to lift the trophy after they beat England in the final.
Chiesa has found himself on the radar of several top clubs in Europe. It remains to be seen where his career will take him in the coming years.
#4. Phil Foden - Manchester City, England
Phil Foden has emerged as one of the best wingers in the world.
The Manchester City prodigy burst onto the scene recently after being given more chances in the first-team. Labeled by Pep Guardiola as one of the most talented footballers he has ever coached, Foden certainly looks set to achieve great things.
The 21-year-old is coming off the back of an excellent season with the Cityzens. He was integral to City lifting the Premier League title and also played a key role in City's run to the UEFA Champions League final.
Foden scored nine goals and recorded five assists in the Premier League this season. He also managed three goals and three assists in the UEFA Champions League, including some crucial goals in the knockouts.
Foden's performances earned him the Young Player of the Season award. Still just 21, Foden certainly has a bright career ahead of him.
#3. Jadon Sancho - Manchester United, England
Jadon Sancho has been incredible ever since he was signed by Borussia Dortmund.
Sancho was signed by Dortmund in 2017 and went on to spend four successful years with the German outfit. Although Sancho didn't win any major trophies, his game improved in leaps and bounds over the past four years.
Displaying remarkable consistency, Sancho has been a regular on the goalscoring and assists charts in the Bundesliga. In the 2019-20 season, Sancho recorded a personal best of 17 goals and 17 assists in the Bundesliga, a feat that was matched by only a handful of players in the world.
During his four years with the German outfit, Sancho has racked up an incredible 50 goals and 64 assists in just 137 appearances. His performances have earned him a big-money move to Manchester United, bringing him back to the Premier League.
The 21-year-old certainly has bags of talent and will be waiting to challenge Premier League teams in his new spell at Old Trafford.
#2. Neymar - Paris Saint-Germain, Brazil
Neymar is arguably amongst the top footballers in the world.
The Brazilian has already had a vastly successful career. Signed by Barcelona in 2013, Neymar went on to spend four incredible years at the Nou Camp. He won two La Liga titles as well as one UEFA Champions League.
In just four years with Barcelona, Neymar recorded 105 goals and 76 assists. His phenomenal performances sparked the interest of Paris Saint-Germain, who paid a world-record €222 million for the Brazilian. Although his time in Paris has certainly earned him a lot of praise, there is a lot of debate as to whether he has surpassed his Barcelona self in Paris.
It also has to be said that Neymar is not an orthodox right-winger. The system employed at PSG is quite dynamic - Neymar often switches wings with his team-mates Kylian Mbappe and Angel Di Maria. While he is capable of playing in either position, he seems to be at his best operating on the right.
With Neymar turning 30 next year, his main priority will be to lift the UEFA Champions League with PSG.
#1. Mohamed Salah - Liverpool, Egypt
Mohamed Salah has evolved into one of the world's best players since signing for Liverpool.
Not many expected Salah, who joined Liverpool from Roma in 2017, to reach the level he has. Blessed with immense pace and inch-perfect finishing ability, Salah has taken the Premier League by storm ever since he came to England.
Salah burst onto the scene immediately, bagging a record 32 goals in his very first season with Liverpool. Synonymous with consistency, Salah has gone on to achieve some ridiculous goalscoring numbers.
The 29-year-old has racked up 125 goals and 47 assists in just four years. Certainly a household name for Liverpool fans worldwide, Salah has grown to become one of the best Liverpool players in recent times.
He boasts an incredible trophy cabinet as well: Salah has already won the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League with the Reds. Individually, he has also won the Premier League Golden Boot twice and become one of their most important players.
With the Premier League kicking off in just two weeks, Salah will be hoping to hit top form as Liverpool look to challenge once again for the Premier League title.
