The best right wingers of all time

Right wingers come in all shapes and sizes. For every scheming, diminutive trickster there is a sprinter-turned-footballer who relies on speed to get past their man.

You have your wide playmakers, your stepover merchants, your surprisingly tall powerhouses and your cut-in specialists. They're all beautiful in their own way, offering something distinct to the gleeful role of a right winger.

No matter what your favourite genre is, it's likely to be represented in our list of the 25 greatest right wingers of all time.

25. Jose Augusto

Jose Augusto is unlikely a name familiar to too many outside of Portugal and that's a real shame. A box of tricks on the right flank, the Benfica icon gave the game an awful lot during the 1950s and 60s, especially the Lisbon giants.

Augusto won an impressive eight Primeira Liga titles and two European Cups with Benfica over the course of a decade, although it was his attacking partner Eusebio who stole most of the headlines.

Augusto, who managed both the men's and women's Portuguese national teams, was a worthy superstar in his own right, scoring over a century of goals for club and country.

24. Raimundo Orsi

You have to delve deep into the history books to inspect Raimundo Orsi's career in closer detail but it's well worth the papercuts. Plying his trade across South America and Europe prior to the Second World War, he was a much loved figure at boyhood club Independiente and then Juventus.

A move from Argentina to Italy also came in the form of his national team allegiances. Having made 12 appearances for the South American giants he then proceeded to represent the Azzurri on 35 occasions, a decision justified by his 1934 World Cup triumph with the Europeans.

While he often lined up on the left wing, Orsi's left-footedness also made him a valuable asset on the opposite flank. He boasted an impressive goalscoring record wherever he played thanks to his quick feet and agility.

23. Johnny Rep

In the Total Football era of Johan Cruyff and Rob Rensenbrink, who lined up on the right flank for the Netherlands? Well, the answer is the iconic Johnny Rep.

Donning some luscious locks and an orange jersey, Rep achieved magnificent things, even if he finished his international career without a single piece of silverware.

He reached the World Cup final on two separate occasions with the Oranje but was unable to claim the crown, with a heartbreaking semi-final exit at Euro 1976 in between for good measure.

Rep's trophy cabinet was far from empty though and it was the sharp winger who scored the winning goal for Ajax in the 1973 European Cup final - his second triumph in the competition with the Amsterdam club.

22. Billy Meredith

Billy Meredith committed one rather notable sin during his playing days: he became a club legend for both Manchester City and Manchester United.

How is that possible? Well, the indefatigable wide man represented both Manchester clubs on over 300 occasions and helped fill both their trophy cabinets during his time in the northwest of England.

The fact that he wasn't a local boy probably helped his reputation, with Meredith born and raised in Wales.

21. Riyad Mahrez

Few could have envisaged the glittering future of Riyad Mahrez when he arrived at Leicester City for £450,000 in 2014. The scrawny but fleet-footed winger immediately lit up the King Power Stadium as the Foxes returned to the Premier League and he was an integral member of the famous 2015/16 title-winning team.

A lucrative move to Manchester City followed where the Algerian would swiftly fill his trophy cabinet. Dazzling on the right wing with his ability to cut inside and bend the ball into the far top corner, the playmaking maestro ended his Cityzens career with a further four league titles, two FA Cups and the Champions League.

While not always a guaranteed starter under Pep Guardiola, he was exceptional when called upon.

20. Bruno Conti

Before club legends like Francesco Totti and Daniele De Rossi at Roma, there was the magical Bruno Conti. The diminutive wide man was renowned for his agility and turn of pace, as well as his versatility across the forward line.

It was on the right wing that he was most fruitful, though. A left-footer, he was able to provide width but also find pockets of space in more central areas, even if he wasn't a prolific goalscorer.

A part of the 1982 World Cup-winning Italy side, Conti provided a key goal against Peru in the group stage that helped the Azzurri reach the knockout rounds.

19. Amancio Amaro

With a nickname like El Brujo (The Wizard), you can probably guess what kind of winger Amancio was. The Real Madrid legend was a delicate and nimble forward, who also had a keen eye for goal when representing the capital side.

He finished third in the Ballon d'Or vote in 1964 having been crucial in Spain's European Championship triumph in the same year, while he also accumulated nine La Liga titles and a European Cup during his days at the Santiago Bernabeu.

18. Robert Donadoni

Robert Donadoni was a natural-born winner. The electric Italian collected a ludicrous number of trophies during his spell with Milan, including six Serie A and three European Cup/Champions League titles. Often the provider rather than the scorer, the winger was integral in an all-conquering Rossoneri team.

However, he was more unfortunate with the Italy national team. He was a member of the Azzurri side who suffered that infamous defeat in the 1994 World Cup final in which Roberto Baggio blazed a penalty into the stratosphere, while he also suffered heartbreak in two other major tournament semi-finals.

17. Helmut Rahn

The 1954 World Cup final wrote Helmut Rahn's name into German folklore. The match, often referred to as The Miracle of Bern, saw West Germany beat a Hungary side that looked destined to be crowned world champions, with Rahn starring on the right wing.

Hungary had gone two goals up within eight minutes in the final in Switzerland but a goal and an assist from Rahn levelled the score just ten minutes later. But the forward secured hero status in the 84th minute when he thrashed a low drive beyond the Hungary goalkeeper to secure a famous World Cup crown for his country.

16. Grzegorz Lato

Given the scarcity of football on television during much of the 20th century, international tournaments were pivotal in a player's reputation. That certainly proved the case for Grzegorz Lato.

The Polish winger helped his country progress deep at the 1974 and 1982 World Cups, with Poland having to settle for third place on both occasions. It was the 1974 edition of the competition that saw Lato stun audiences most, with the forward producing a tournament-high seven goals.

It was his strike in the third-placed play-off with Brazil that secured bronze for Poland.

15. Angel Di Maria

You don't play for Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus, Manchester United and Argentina without being an exceptional footballer. Few have been more sensational than the silky Angel Di Maria in the 21st century.

An awe-inspiring left boot and immense technical ability have made him an absolute joy to watch across a trophy-laden career, with his exploits for club and country proving decisive.

Di Maria netted the winner in the 2021 Copa America final and won the competition again three years later. Sandwiched in between was a momentous World Cup triumph with La Albiceleste.

14. Mohamed Salah

Having been written off as a flop for his inability to break into the Chelsea team in the early 2010s, Mohamed Salah returned to the Premier League with a point to prove. Liverpool took a chance on the Egyptian, who had refined his skills in Italy, and boy were they rewarded.

Salah won the Premier League Golden Boot in his first season at Anfield and fired the Reds to their first top division title in three decades during the 2019/20 season. The campaign prior, he had scored in a Champions League final win over Tottenham.

A man for the big occasion with incredible speed, strength and a sumptuous left foot, Salah formed one of the most devastating trios of modern football alongside Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino on Merseyside.

13. Julinho

Brazil have never struggled producing world-class wingers. Julinho is just another in a long line of ferocious Selecao forwards.

The athletic wide man kicked his career off in his homeland but made the move to Fiorentina in 1955. Despite spending just three years in Florence, he transformed the club.

Widely regarded as one of Fiorentina's greatest ever players, Julinho fired them to the Serie A title in his debut campaign and helped them reach the European Cup final the following year.

12. Allan Simonsen

Standing at just 5'5, Allan Simonsen made up for what he lacked in stature with more feints and stepovers than any defender could handle.

The winger rose to prominence while starring for Borussia Monchengladbach in the 1970s. The German side reached their pinnacle in 1977 when they were narrowly beaten by Liverpool in the European Cup final.

Simonsen would win the Ballon d'Or the same year, earning his dream move to Barcelona two years later where he continued to impress. He retired as one of Denmark's most decorated footballers of all time.

11. Kurt Hamrin

As Julinho's short but exceptional Fiorentina career came to an end, Kurt Hamrin would succeed him on the right wing. The dynamic winger would comfortably fill the void left by the Brazilian's exit, with his spell in purple lasting just under a decade.

Despite his injury-prone status, Hamrin would make several hundred appearances for Fiorentina and helped them win their only ever European trophy in 1961 by claiming the European Cup Winners' Cup. The Swede netted in the second leg of the final with Rangers.

He would then win the European Cup proper following a move to Milan, while he had previously been key in Sweden reaching the 1958 World Cup final.

10. David Beckham

Blessed with the most beautiful technique in English footballing history, David Beckham embodied the old-fashioned winger that is so revered on the British Isles.

Capable of dropping any cross on a sixpence, the former Manchester United and Real Madrid man was also wicked over a set piece, securing England's qualification to the 2002 World Cup with a fine free kick against Greece.

Though he probably didn't achieve all he wanted on the international stage, Beckham won a great deal at club level. He was part of United's 1999 treble-winning side and was a runner-up in the Ballon d'Or the same year.

9. Luis Figo

Portuguese footballing culture seriously values a tricky winger and none fit the national profile more closely than Luis Figo.

Hugging the touchline as though it was pulling him in with a magent, his career peaked when he won the 2000 Ballon d'Or following a superb run of form with Barcelona.

In fact, he was so good that their Clasico rivals Real Madrid made him the most expensive footballer in the world, leading Figo to become public enemy number one in Catalonia. Coins, lighters and...a pig's head were all thrown at him on his return to the Camp Nou.

The strength of feeling at Figo's betrayal is a clear indication of his world-class talent.

8. Gareth Bale

In one of the best character arcs in recent sporting history, a rough around the edges left-back who waited over a year for his first Tottenham win developed into one of the best right wingers in the world, seemingly overnight.

During his Premier League heyday, Gareth Bale almost single-handedly transformed Spurs into European contenders and he continued to post staggeringly good numbers after moving to Real Madrid.

His Los Blancos career wasn't always rosy but even the most golf adverse of Real fans will never forget when he shook the world with a stunning overhead kick against Liverpool in the 2018 Champions League final.

7. Arjen Robben

It really is remarkable that Arjen Robben scored so many of the exact same type of goal in his career.

You know the one. He picks the ball up on the right, does a few of those baby touches while leaning over the ball before unleashing an unstoppable left-footed shot right into the stanchion.

He did it for over a decade and nobody ever found a way to stop it.

He may have been a one-trick pony but it was a pretty good trick which helped him win multiple Premier League, La Liga and Bundesliga titles, as well as a Champions League in which he scored the winning goal in the final.

6. Jimmy Johnstone

With a nickname like 'Jinky', it does not take a genius to work out what sort of player Celtic legend Jimmy Johnstone was.

Dancing past defenders during the 1960s and 70s, the Scotsman spent 13 years at Parkhead and is one of the most beloved players in the club's history.

Most notably, he was part of the Lisbon Lions who won the European Cup against all odds in 1967. Johnstone was recognised for his hell-raising performances en route to the final by placing third in the Ballon d'Or that year.

5. Lionel Messi

The greatest player the world has ever seen is only fifth on this list. Why?

Because Lionel Messi may have started his Barcelona career as a right winger, but he swiftly moved across the forward line, featuring as an attacking midfielder, centre-forward or second striker.

However, the Argentine did make his name on the flank and was a genius in wide positions - as he is everywhere on the pitch. There are countless clips on YouTube of his mazy runs from the right-hand side that finished with an exquisite strike after he danced past six defenders.

If he had continued as a right winger throughout the entirety of his career, he would undoubtedly have topped this list.

4. Stanley Matthews

In a storied career that spanned no less than four decades, Sir Stanley Matthews carved out an unmatched footballing legacy.

Loyal, talented and evergreen, Matthews played for just three clubs during his 33 years in the game - Stoke City, Blackpool and Toronto City.

He was the gentleman footballer and the archetypal British winger. Blessed with an array of tricks to beat any defender, his crossing ability and comb-over were second to none.

3. Jairzinho

Jairzinho burst on to the scene during the 1970 World Cup, becoming the first player to score in each round of the competition. That particular Brazilian team, featuring the likes of Carlos Alberto, Rivellino and Pele is regarded as one of the best in history, thanks in part to the astonishing ability of the side's right winger.

Jairzinho was less flashy than some of his attacking counterparts but he was no less effective. A fearsome combination of intelligence and speed made him the most effective forward of his generation.

2. George Best

George Best transcended the right-wing position just as he transcended football as a whole, becoming one of the most famous men on the planet during his heyday.

Freakishly talented and ruggedly handsome, Best had conquered the world by his early 20s. As part of Manchester United's fabled Holy Trinity alongside Denis Law and Bobby Charlton, the Northern Irishman had won a host of domestic titles and a European Cup by the time he was 22.

Plenty more success came afterwards as well with Best's ludicrously precise close control and goosebump inducing runs keeping fans on the edge of their seats throughout the 1970s.

1. Garrincha

Garrincha means little bird in Portuguese and it is not the only nickname that Manuel Francisco dos Santos went by during his illustrious career.

The Brazilian icon was also called Alegria do Povo (People's Joy) and Anjo de Pernas Tortas (Bent-Legged Angel), the latter a reference to the spinal condition that meant he had one leg shorter than the other.

Despite this disability, Garrincha would cement his place as the best dribbler in footballing history during the 1950s and 1960s. He starred for Brazil as they lifted both the 1958 and 1962 World Cups, leaving a trail of humiliated defenders in his wake during both tournaments.

READ MORE ON THE BEST 25 PLAYERS FOR EVERY POSITION IN WORLD FOOTBALL