The best left-wingers in the world tend to be game-changers. There was a time where left-wingers were all left-footed and their sole job was to whip balls into big forwards. Not anymore.
With football evolving, some of the most talented players in the world play wide on the left, using trickery, pace and creativity to light up sides across Europe. The left-winger is a danger man. So ahead of Euro 2024, we put it to our expert team to decide the best in the game.
Our esteemed folks at FourFourTwo picked their top 10 based on a mix of form, current ability, and historic legacy, as they whittled down the best of the best to decide. There are different kinds of left-wingers but these players are the creme de la creme, in our experts' opinions.
We want to know your top 10 @FourFourTwo – and we've been busy ranking other positions and roles.
We also have lists of forwards, including the best right-wingers in the world and the best strikers in the world.
We've ranked the best goalkeepers in the world, ahead of the custodians we've sifted through the best centre-backs in the world, the best right-backs in the world, the best left-backs in the world and the best centre-backs in the world.
We've got the best defensive midfielders in the world, the best central midfielders in the world and the best defensive midfielders in the world.
The best left-wingers in the world right now: 10. Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United and England)
After getting a full pre-season with Newcastle United under his belt last summer, the 23-year-old began to deliver on the promise he showed following his £40million January 2023 move from Everton.
His pace gives defenders nightmares, as does an unpredictable streak that helps him fly past opponents and draw fouls. His improved finishing resulted in 12 goals to go with his 11 assists and was rewarded with his first England call-up in March.
9. Luis Diaz (Liverpool and Colombia)
The Colombia star has completed a quite remarkable 2023/24 campaign, both on and off the pitch.
Just as Luis Diaz was establishing himself as a worthy successor to Sadio Mane in the Liverpool attack he had to deal with the mental anguish of seeing his father kidnapped in Colombia. They were safely released and Reds fans were unequivocal in their support for the winger, who had a habit of scoring goals at key times.
8. Nico Williams (Athletic Club and Spain)
The 21-year-old has enjoyed a stellar campaign for Athletic Club, helping the team to a Copa del Rey victory and top-five finish in La Liga by netting eight times and dishing out 17 assists.
An irresistible talent, the direct Nico Williams can play with both feet and is getting better with each passing season. Athletic will have to be ready to fend off transfer interest from winger this summer.
7. Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad and Spain)
The Real Sociedad skipper is on his way to establishing himself as a legend at the Basque club after coming up through the youth ranks to make more than 300 appearances for the side and establish himself as one of La Liga’s best attackers.
He can play as a centre-forward, too: Oyarzabal is a leader who will be a key voice in the Spain dressing room at Euro 2024 this summer.
6. Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich and France)
Remarkably, this was the first season of 27-year-old Coman’s career in which he did win the title as his run of 12 league championships in 11 seasons (he double-dipped with Juventus and Bayern Munich in 2015/16) came to an end.
Had the winger not missed most of the second half of the season through injury, Bayern may have had a chance of catching Bayer Leverkusen this year, as Coman brings the kind of consistency and reliability that all title-winning sides need. He'll be with the France squad once again this summer.
5. Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal and Brazil)
If you like to deal in stereotypes, then Martinelli has several qualities you’d expect from a prototypical Brazil winger, namely pace and dribbling ability.
But one reason why the 22-year-old has established himself in the Premier League with Arsenal over the past five seasons is his willingness to graft, putting in the hard yards tracking back and showing a great team ethic. He'll be a crucial member of Mikel Arteta’s Premier League title masterplan again next season.
4. Jeremy Doku (Manchester City and Belgium)
A ball of energy who drops into all kinds of positions in the final third, it can be exhausting just watching Doku’s movement, let alone attempting to defend against him.
Still only 22, the Belgium international has completed what is often a tricky first season for players under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City and should be all the better for it next year, which is bad news for Premier League defenders. If he can add more goals to his game and continue to integrate into City’s team over the next 12 months, Pep will have one of the very best wingers in the game at his disposal.
3. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Napoli and Georgia)
Instrumental in both helping Napoli to their first Serie A title since the days of Maradona and in sealing Georgia’s first-ever qualification for a major tournament this summer, Kvaratskhelia has more than lived up to the promise he showed when he best on to the scene five years ago.
Powerful and pacey, the man nicked named ‘Kvaradonna’ is more than capable of spearheading a shock of two for Georgia at Euro 2024 this summer.
2. Rafael Leao (Milan and Portugal)
Untouchable on his day, the Milan winger started the season with an outrageous bicycle kick against Roma and would end the campaign as Serie A’s leading assister, while also becoming the second-fastest Milan player to hit 50 goals and 50 assists after Kaka.
A game-changing talent who has a bagful of tricks and the confidence to match. Certainly on the tall side for a winger at six-foot-two, Leao predominantly plays on the left (hence his inclusion on this list) but is more than versatile enough to switch flanks – making him a very tricky customer indeed. He may be Portugal's lesser-known weapon this summer, after the likes of Bruno, Bernardo and Cristiano.
1. Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid and Brazil)
A goal in the Champions League final saw the 23-year-old cap off his best season for Real Madrid so far and cement the Brazilian place as one of the best players in the game.
Will head to the Copa America with Brazil as the favourite to win the Ballon d’Or and rightly so, as he remains one of the most entertaining footballers to watch on the planet who can instantly change a game. With Kylian Mbappe on his way to join him at the Bernabeu next season, there will be more than a few sleepless nights for Real’s domestic and European rivals ahead.
