In the modern game of football, out of eleven positions, one or two positions are reserved for wingers. The winger is the one who moves wide on either of the flanks and constitutes a teams attack line up along with the a striker.
Wingers have always had a very popular and dominant role in the sport during this modern era as they can make or break an entire match. Wingers are responsible for supporting the striker and providing him with lots of opportunities.
Europe is the home of the finest wingers in the world at the moment, with many of them making the fans go crazy with their amazing skill set, using their darting runs on the sidelines and cutting back inside, pace, knack for goals, crossing abilities, vision, linkup play abilities and intelligence.
There are many world class wingers in the world currently, and some are big names, such as Angel Di Maria, Gareth Bale, Sadio Mane, Willian, Riyad Mahrez, Bernardo Silva, Leroy Sane and many more.
Here we take a look at the top 5 wingers in the world currently.
#5. Mohamed Salah
The Egyptian sensation had a season to remember last year. Ever since his move to Liverpool from AS Roma last summer, Mo Salah has been phenomenal for his current side.
The 26 year old has not started the season in the same fashion when compared to last season but his performances this season still have been top class.
Salah picked himself up after a slow start to the season but now has scored 7 goals in the Premier League and 2 in the UEFA Champions League. He has also provided 3 assists in the Premier League for Liverpool this season. Liverpool are still unbeaten in the league and a major part of it may be due to Mo Salah.
The Egyptian has some pace to burn and has a knack for beating defenders one after another and scoring goals for fun. Mo Salah is a technically gifted footballer, with a great first touch and brilliant ball control. Salah, along with Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino, make up one of the best attack lines in the world.
#4. Raheem Sterling
Since the arrival of Pep Guardiola, Raheem Sterling became one of the most improved players in the Premier League. The Manchester City winger played a huge role for Guardiola and his side in their record breaking PL title win last season. His pace and direct style have troubled most opponents in the league this season.
The 23-year-old has scored 7 goals and assisted 6 more for Manchester City in just 11 appearances this campaign. Sterling has been incredible for Manchester City. The winger's pace, vision, dribbling abilities and finishing are just scintillating for the oppositions to bear. He has been playing an important role for Pep Guardiola this season as well as Man City look to retain their Premier League title.
Pep Guardiola has transformed him into a world-class player and helped him to develop various facets of the game. He is more composed, his decision making has improved, and his anticipation on a whole has bettered . Sterling still is just 23 years of age, and by the looks of it, has the potential to be one of the best in the world.
3. Eden Hazard
Eden Hazard is one of the best players in the Premier League currently, and some would argue that he is the best. It seems like he's completely put Chelsea's abysmal last season behind him with the way he performed at the World Cup this summer and for Chelsea this season so far.
The Belgian ace led his side to a third place finish in the FIFA World Cup, where he was one of the best players in the tournament. Keeping the momentum going, Hazard has been the star of this Chelsea side under the new manager Maurizio Sarri. The Belgian international has scored 7 times and assisted 4 goals in the Premier League this season.
Chelsea has seen a change in fortunes with them only being defeated once up to now, and Eden Hazard may have played an important role for his side. Eden Hazard with his amazing dribbling and drifting abilities, ball control and vision, is one of the best in the world at what he does.
#2. Kylian Mbappe
Kylian Mbappe has had an eventful 2018 as he lifted the FIFA World Cup with France this summer, and also saw his loan move from AS Monaco to Paris Saint Germain become permanent. The 19 year youngster has established himself as one of the best players around, with more room of improvement considering his age and potential.
Mbappe was important to France's success, and he put in memorable performances against Argentina and Croatia. Building on international success, Mbappe started the season with real motivation and has been amazing so far. Having scored 11 goals in Ligue 1, he is in contention for the Golden Boot award. Mbappe has even set up 3 goals for his teammates.
Mbappe's skill set, pace, vision, and dribbling abilities are just an asset to PSG and playing alongside the likes of Neymar Jr and Edi Cavani only makes him better. Mbappe is definitely the present and the future.
#1. Neymar Jr
The world’s most expensive signing has been prolific for Paris Saint-Germain this season so far. The 26 year Brazilian has been instrumental to his side's success in France, but the reason behind the Parisian club breaking the bank to lure Neymar Jr away from Barcelona was to ensure their own continental success by winning the UCL and breaking the Spanish club's dominance in the UEFA Champions League.
Last season was rough for Neymar, with the pressure mounting on him to prove himself without Leo Messi and FC Barcelona's support, as well as injuries and criticism. The final nail in the coffin was PSG's early elimination in the UEFA Champions league at the hands of Real Madrid C.F.
This season, Neymar has started the season on fire and has already contributed to 15 goals in the league, scoring 10 and setting up 5. Neymar has been amazing for his side in the UCL as well. He has been leading his side to a spot in the round of 16.
PSG's group was even called the Group of Death, with the likes of Liverpool, SSC Napoli and Red Star Belgrade. However, they seem to be on their way through. Neymar has scored 4 goals and assisted once in UCL this season.
Neymar is a technically gifted player, known for his creativity, dribbling, feints, and pace. He possesses great vision, and tremendous finishing abilities. He is brilliant in set-pieces, crossingand can pretty much do everything on a football field.