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The English Premier League has been home to some of the best wingers in football history.
Over the years, we have seen the game evolve across all areas of the field. While the standard formation in the past was 4-4-2, football fans worldwide have been fortunate to witness the game evolve in leaps and bounds.
Wingers were traditionally played on the side of their preferred foot. Left-footed wingers would line up on the left side of the midfield, while right-footed wingers featured on the right.
Since then, the game has seen the introduction of the inverted wingers concept. Now the wingers are played on the opposite sides to increase their opportunity to cut inwards and shoot.
Whichever the method, wingers have been an essential part of any team, and the Premier League has seen some greats.
On that note, let's take a look at the
Top five wingers in Premier League history
#5. Robert Pires - Arsenal
Robert Pires is widely considered as one of the best wingers in Premier League history.
Part of one of the best Arsenal squads of all-time, Pires was capable of operating as a winger as well as an attacking midfielder. Usually lining up on the left side of the midfield, Pires was well-known for his dribbling ability and eye for goal.
The Frenchman created a formidable partnership in the Arsenal attack along with the likes of Dennis Berkgamp, Freddie Ljungberg and Thierry Henry. Pires went on to win two Premier League titles and two FA Cups with the Gunners. This includes the historic "Invincibles" winning run in 2003-04 where Arsenal went an entire season unbeaten in the Premier League.
Pires also won the FIFA World Cup with France in 1998, as well as the UEFA Euro Championship in 2000. He managed an incredible 85 goals and 59 assists for Arsenal in 284 appearances and certainly has a place in the club's history books.
#4. David Beckham - Manchester United
David Beckham is arguably the most famous footballer of all time.
A certified Manchester United legend, Beckham was part of the Red Devils' prestigious class of 1992. Beckham spent 11 years at Old Trafford, achieving several accolades at personal and team level.
Known for his magical right foot, Beckham was capable of the extraordinary. Usually lining up on the right side of midfield, Beckham could often be seen whipping his signature inswinging crosses into the box.
Beckham was also an excellent set-piece taker. His two corners led to two goals for Manchester United in the 1999 Champions League, winning them the title.
Capable of bending the ball like no other, Beckham built a reputation for scoring free-kicks from the edge of the box. His numbers speak for themselves - Beckham scored 85 goals and also registered 101 assists in 388 appearances with the Premier League giants.
Beckham went on to sign for Real Madrid for a reported €37 million where he moved on to the next phase of his career.
Honorable Mentions:
- Raheem Sterling
- Gareth Bale
- Freddie Ljungberg
- David Ginola
- Sadio Mane
- Eden Hazard
#3. Ryan Giggs - Manchester United
Ryan Giggs is one of the best wingers in Premier League history.
Originally from Wales, Giggs joined Manchester United in 1990 and went on to spend 23 years in the first team, until his retirement in 2014. Giggs is widely regarded as one of the most successful players in Manchester United's history.
Known for his speed and acceleration, Giggs featured as a left-winger. A versatile player, he was renowned for his playmaking ability. He was capable of beating players on the wing and crossing the ball or could also go for goal himself.
Giggs is undoubtedly one of the most decorated players in Premier League history. He won an incredible 13 Premier League titles with the Red Devils as well as two UEFA Champions League titles. He also holds the record for most assists in the Premier League with 162 assists.
Giggs' numbers are impressive as well. He made a mammoth 963 appearances for Manchester United, scoring 163 goals and bagging 250 assists. Although his average output per season isn't the best-ever, his longevity certainly deserves to be commended.
#2. Mohamed Salah - Liverpool
Mohamed Salah has broken several records within just four years in the Premier League.
Salah joined Chelsea from Basel in 2014, but he barely featured for the Blues. He was sold to Roma, where he spent a year before joining Liverpool in 2017. Since joining the Reds, Salah's rise has been nothing short of meteoric.
Within just four years at the club, Salah has evolved from a regular right-winger into one of the best players in world football. Displaying ridiculous consistency, it almost seems like Salah got started right from day one and has yet to slow down.
Salah has already won one Premier League title with Liverpool and has also made two UEFA Champions League finals, winning one. Although his team-level accolades are substantially lower than the others on this list, his individual numbers are miles above.
Salah has made 212 appearances for Liverpool in his four years at the club. He has scored a massive 134 goals in all, while also registering 50 assists. He has won two Premier League Golden Boot trophies and has several records to his name.
Salah has the record for most goals in a single 38-g Premier League season, scoring 32 goals in the 2017-18 season. He also has the most goals of any player from Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League.
He has started this season brilliantly as well, scoring six goals and making three assists in seven games in the Premier League.
Still only 29, there is no doubt Salah still has a few more years before he hangs up his boots. Truly a phenomenal player, there is no limit to the number of records he can still break.
#1. Cristiano Ronaldo - Manchester United
Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the best footballers in football history.
The Portuguese legend signed for Manchester United in 2003, spending six years with the Red Devils before moving to Real Madrid in 2009. Ronaldo featured regularly as a winger and built a reputation for being one of the best players in world football.
Although Ronaldo has signed with Manchester United once again, he has now evolved into an out-and-out striker. He is no longer a winger, like he was when he initially signed for the Red Devils in 2003.
During his first stint at Old Trafford, Ronaldo got off to a slow start. The first half of his spell was lackluster, but was immediately followed by immense improvement and skill development.
Known for his tricky dribbling and long-range accuracy, Ronaldo was a menace to defenders on the wing. He was capable of turning them inside-out, while also being able to find teammates with crosses if required.
His six years with United saw him win a host of accolades. Ronaldo won three Premier League titles as well as one UEFA Champions League title. He also won the prestigious Ballon d'Or award in 2008, cementing his place as the best player in the world at the time.
Ronaldo made 292 appearances for Manchester United, scoring 118 goals and registering 69 assists. Having signed once again this summer after 12 years, Ronaldo has already scored five goals in six appearances.
Arguably the best player in football history, Ronaldo continues to impress football fans even at the age of 36.
