Summary
AI has chosen and ranked the top 20 wingers in Premier League history.
Phil Foden is one of the best wingers in Premier League history, thanks to his standout performances in title-winning campaigns.
Gareth Bale, Mohamed Salah, and Cristiano Ronaldo all rank highly.
Everyone discusses the evolution of the full-back position, but few consider the recent rise of the winger. Out-and-out attackers are quickly becoming a thing of the past, thanks to more managers looking to their wingers for inspiration in terms of goals and assists.
The typical winger preferred to stay wide, beat their man, and whip in crosses for their colleagues in crime. However, the new-age winger wants to take center stage, cutting inside and making an immediate effect on the scoreboard. While their responsibilities fluctuate, one thing is certain: the Premier League has produced some exceptional wide players over its 33-year history.
Rather than attempting to choose the 20 best ourselves, we’ve asked AI to rank the best wingers in English top-flight history since the 1992 rebranding, along with justifications for each selection.
20Phil Foden
Premier League clubs: Manchester City
What AI said: “Foden’s adaptability – frequently shifting from the wing inside – has been critical to City’s recent domination. His youth and talent propel him into the top twenty.
With 61 goals and 28 assists in 192 appearances, the 25-year-old has won six Premier League crowns, two Young Player of the Year accolades, and a Player of the Year award. It’s easy to see why Phil Foden is regarded as one of the finest in the competition’s history.
Some may be startled to see him ranked as low as 20th, but his troubles when teammates aren’t at their best, along with his hair-raising performances for England, imply he’s not as constantly influential as some Manchester City fans would have you believe.
19Damien Duff
Premier League clubs: Blackburn Rovers, Chelsea, Newcastle & Fulham
What AI said: “Duff’s pace and effort rate were critical to Chelsea’s 2004-06 crowns. His consistent performance across clubs gives him a spot.”
Damien Duff deserves to be recognized as one of the Premier League’s greatest wingers due to his consistency, work ethic, and ability to perform on the biggest platforms. He helped Blackburn Rovers win the League Cup with his aggressive running and ingenuity, which tormented defenders.
Duff, a vital – and prophetic – signing for Chelsea under Roman Abramovich, was instrumental in Jose Mourinho’s back-to-back title victories, forging a lethal wide tandem with Arjen Robben. Blessed with balance, pace, and intellect, he could beat his man or cut inside to make space, even if his name isn’t as well-known as his colleagues on this list.
18John Barnes
Premier League clubs: Liverpool, Charlton Athletic & Newcastle
AI’s comments: “Barnes’ prime was pre-Premier League, but his skill and vision at Liverpool still shone in the early 1990s, though limited trophies lower his rank.”
Considered England’s ‘Player of the ’80s,” the fact that John Barnes is still regarded as one of the greatest of an era in which he barely played speaks volumes about how excellent the Liverpool icon was during his playing days. Despite sharing the pitch alongside Michael Owen and Fernando Torres, Jamie Carragher deemed him the best finisher he’d ever played with.
Furthermore, his ability to glide past opponents as if they were not there, combined with his eye for goal, made him one of the most feared strikers in English football, and possibly the best dribbler the country has ever produced.
17Harry Kewell
Premier League clubs: Leeds United & Liverpool
What AI said: “Kewell’s flair at Leeds made him a star, but injuries limited his potential.” “His 2005 Champions League victory adds weight.”
Kewell, who won the PFA Young Player of the Year title in 1999/2000, scored 10 league goals and gave 12 assists in 34 games for Leeds United, helping David O’Leary’s team finish third and qualify for Champions League. In many ways, he was the current template for a wide forward before the term was defined.
Unfortunately, injuries plagued the Australian during his tenure at Anfield, but he was excellent when healthy. Between 2003 and 2008, the ‘Wizard of Oz’ spent five seasons in red, impressing the Kop with brilliantly struck shots from outside the area on a few occasions. However, with only 16 examples in 139 appearances, he has a restricted ability to advance up this ranking.
16Arjen Robben
Premier League clubs: Chelsea
What AI said: “Despite injuries, Robben’s pace and finishing were electric during Chelsea’s mid-2000s dominance.” His brief tenure limits him to 16.”
Arjen Robben spent only three seasons in the Premier League, but his impact was clear. Chelsea signed the Dutch winger from PSV in 2004, and he swiftly established himself as a key member of Mourinho’s first great side. Despite injuries, Robben scored 15 goals and assisted 11 times in 67 league appearances, helping Chelsea win back-to-back Premier League titles in 2004/05 and 2005/06, including a record-breaking 95-point season.
Renowned for his fast pace, low centre of gravity, and signature move of cutting inside onto his left foot, he was nearly unplayable when completely fit, even when defenders predicted his next move. Robben’s ability to stretch defences, draw fouls, and make critical contributions provided Chelsea a competitive advantage, transforming them into serial victors.
15Raheem Sterling
Premier League clubs: Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea & Arsenal
What AI said: “Sterling’s growth under Guardiola made him a prolific winger, winning three Premier League titles. His adaptability improves his rating.”
Sterling has 123 Premier League goals and 65 assists in 396 games, making him one of the league’s most prolific wide players. At Manchester City, he scored in double figures for five successive seasons, including a career-high 20 league goals in 2019/20. His astute movement, ability to drift into central areas, and penchant for getting to the back post made him a constant threat.
Sterling also won four Premier League crowns, two Young Player of the Year accolades, and three Team of the Year selections, establishing his status in his home country. Since joining Chelsea in 2022, he has been significantly less productive, undermining his case for moving up the rankings. He has only converted 44.3% of ‘big chances’, putting him in the worst third of players in that category.
14Leroy Sane
Premier League clubs: Manchester City
What AI said: “Sane’s explosive pace and left-footed talent flashed throughout City’s 2017-18 Centurions season. His brief yet dominant spell secures him a berth.”
Leroy Sane’s tenure in the Premier League may have been shorter than Sterling’s, but his influence was often more crucial, and his name is undoubtedly more frequently mentioned at the Etihad Stadium nowadays. After joining Manchester City in 2016, the German international rapidly established himself as a key member of Pep Guardiola’s record-breaking 2017/18 squad, scoring 10 goals and assisting 15 times as City reached 100 points.
The next season, he added 10 goals and 10 assists to help the Cityzens win back-to-back championships. He was also named PFA Young Player of the Year in 2017/18, and several of his goals, like one against Liverpool in 2019, will be remembered forever, even if his club’s success was frequently attributed to players such as Sergio Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne.
13David Ginola
Premier League clubs: Newcastle, Tottenham, Everton & Aston Villa
According to AI, Ginola’s flair and long-range goals earned him the 1999 PFA Player of the Year award. “His style added excitement to the league.”
David Ginola is regarded as one of the finest Premier League players to have won a league title, and his choice of teams may help explain why. During his time at Newcastle United and Tottenham, the Frenchman had a subtle touch and embarrassed several very good defenders. He frequently used his outstanding dribbling ability to take on two or three opponents before curling the ball into the far corner from the edge of the box.
While Ginola’s statistics aren’t amazing, nor does he have a Premier League title, he did produce some wonderful individual moments during his prime years in the top division. In fact, in 1999, the legendary Johan Cruyff thought Ginola was the best player in the world.
12Freddie Ljungberg
Premier League clubs: Arsenal & West Ham
The reasoning for the statement: “Ljungberg’s intelligent runs and big-game goals, especially in the 2002 double, made him vital for Arsenal’s success.”
Freddie Ljungberg was a Premier League regular from 1998 to 2008, spending all but one of his 11 seasons in the English top division with Arsenal, where he established himself as one of their finest players. His move to north London was dangerous for the Gunners at the time because he had no prior experience at the highest level, having arrived from Swedish club Halmstad. Nonetheless, the winger quickly got up to speed.
Ljungberg, regarded as one of the best bargain transfers in Premier League history, finished his league career with 77 goal involvements in 241 appearances, helping Arsenal win two titles, including the infamous ‘Invincibles’ season, and was also named the league’s Player of the Season in 2001/02.
11Marc Overmars
Premier League clubs: Arsenal
What AI said: “Overmars’ two-footed pace and directness were crucial to Arsenal’s 1997-98 double. His brief but effective spell altered winger expectations.
From one Arsenal legend to the next, Marc Overmars’ two-footedness made him every defender’s worst nightmare at Highbury. His ambidextrous abilities meant he was always one step ahead of his opponent, with opponents never knowing whether he would shoot, pass, cross, or glide by them with a fake.
Despite only three years with the Gunners, Overmars left an indelible impression, scoring 25 goals and assisting 27 times in 100 games. His biggest achievement came in the 1997/98 season, when his pace and flare were instrumental in helping Arsenal win their first league title since 1991.
10Son Heung-min
Premier League clubs: Tottenham
What AI said: “Son’s consistency, with 10+ goals and assists in multiple seasons, and his partnership with Harry Kane elevate him to the status of modern great.” “His finishing is world class.”
Son Heung-min has established himself as one of the Premier League’s best wingers, combining explosive pace, clinical finishing, and intelligent movement. Since joining Tottenham in 2015, the South Korean has constantly tormented defenders with his ability to cut inside, link play, and score from apparently impossible positions. With 127 Premier League goals and 71 assists, Son’s productivity rivals those of the league’s best forwards, let alone wide men.
Aside from his goal-scoring prowess, his modesty and pleasant personality have made him a fan favorite throughout the league. He appreciates his colleagues’ goals as much as his own, communicates pleasantly with fans, and carries himself with true humility despite his superstar status. Who can forget his relationship with Harry Kane? Between 2016 and 2023, they scored a record 47 Premier League goals.
9Riyad Mahrez
Premier League clubs: Leicester City & Manchester City
What AI said: “Mahrez’s dribbling and vision were critical to Leicester’s 2015-16 miracle title. He won three more titles with City, showing his elite reputation.
Riyad Mahrez made his Premier League debut when his Leicester City side was promoted after winning the Championship at the end of the 2013-14 season. While he only scored four goals in 30 games in his first season, he rediscovered his groove by year two, and his 17 goals were crucial in Leicester’s fairytale title-winning campaign.
After four seasons blazing down the right flank at King Power Stadium, he earned a big-money move to Manchester City, where he had two double-digit scoring seasons in five years and won the league four more times. He is regarded as one of the best African players to have ever appeared in the Premier League, as well as a cherished part of some of the division’s most successful teams.
8Robert Pires
Premier League clubs: Arsenal & Aston Villa
What AI said: “A cornerstone of Arsenal’s “Invincibles” in 2003-04, Pires combined elegance and goals. “His partnership with Thierry Henry was devastating.”
Robert Pires’ performance on the pitch was remarkable. Even his horrific penalty against Manchester City in 2005, widely regarded as one of football’s worst, could not ruin his legacy. Fortunately, “unforgettable” was significantly more frequently used in a positive context when expressing the Frenchman’s indispensable importance in north London.
Pires scored 14 league goals in three consecutive seasons with the Gunners, but his best season came in 2003/04, when his 14 goals and eight assists propelled Arsenal not only to Premier League glory, but also to an undefeated season. He finished his six-year tenure at Highbury with 62 goals, 41 assists, and two league titles, cementing his place as one of the club’s finest ever players.
7Sadio Mane
Premier League clubs: Southampton & Liverpool
What AI said: “Mane’s pace and finishing were critical to Liverpool’s revival, including their 2019-20 title. His connection with Salah and Firmino proved devastating.
Sadio Mane arrived, saw, and conquered throughout his six years at Liverpool. He became Jurgen Klopp’s first senior signing, and the rest, as they say, is history. In 269 games, the Senegalese winger scored 120 goals, assisted 40 times, and won the Champions League and Premier League in 2019 and 2020.
In England’s top division, he began his career with Southampton and quickly established himself as one of the most fearsome wingers in history. His teammate (who will be discussed in greater detail later) may have gotten the headlines, but the now-Al Nassr forward also loved feeding off Klopp’s rock’n’roll system to maximize his electricity.
6Gareth Bale
Premier League clubs: Southampton & Tottenham
Many people forget that Gareth Bale, who scored one of football’s greatest goals in Real Madrid’s 3-1 Champions League final victory over Liverpool in 2019, began his career as a left-back for Tottenham when he joined the club in 2007 after joining from Southampton (poor Saints).
The Welsh wizard was versatile enough to be put on either wing and be effective, but when he switched from the No. 3 jersey to the No. 11 shirt, he was placed on the right side and higher upfield, where he caused defenders greater problems. Finishing his Premier League career with 75 goals in 166 games, he’s arguably a touch lucky to be ranked so high given how longevity influences players’ quality these days.
5David Beckham
Premier League clubs: Manchester United
According to AI, Beckham reinvented wing play with his accurate crossing and set-piece prowess. His cultural effect contributes to his legacy as a significant figure in United’s 1998-99 treble.
David Beckham is an A-list superstar and a global household name, yet his career began on the football ground at Old Trafford. Blessed with the greatest right foot in history, ‘Bend it like Beckham’ is a phrase used by aspiring footballers all over. As one of the best free-kick takers of all time, ‘Becks’ exemplified Manchester United’s success in the 1990s and early 2000s.
He was a key figure in the ‘Class of 92′ and was a member of the Red Devils’ 1999 treble-winning team, finishing second to Rivaldo for the Ballon d’Or that year. In retrospect, his move to Real Madrid shortened his career, although he left England with 62 goals and 80 assists in 265 top-flight appearances, winning six titles.
4Eden Hazard
Premier League clubs: Chelsea
What AI said: “Hazard’s dribbling and flair made him a fan favorite, winning two Premier League titles and stunning defenders.” His ability to win games on his own earns him a high ranking.”
Eden Hazard’s brilliance was unrivaled in the Premier League when he was at his prime. Despite being regarded as one of the worst trainers by his squad, the Belgian could simply flick a switch during a match and inspire Chelsea to Premier League victory. While many would point to Hazard’s lack of league appearances, those who have seen him play will only admire him, as the Belgian glided in and out of players as if they were not even present.
He won numerous individual trophies throughout his seven-year stay in England, including Player of the Season in 2014/15. Although the top three simply have more honors and years of experience than Hazard, Premier League fans were fortunate to watch him in his prime before his problems at Real Madrid forced him to retire early.
3Ryan Giggs
Premier League clubs: Manchester United
What AI said: “Giggs, the most decorated player with 13 Premier League crowns, stands out for his longevity and adaptability – from a quick winger to a playmaker. His 1999 FA Cup semi-final goal against Arsenal is unforgettable.”
Ryan Giggs has been Sir Alex Ferguson’s longest-serving student at the Theatre of Dreams, and he is also one of the most decorated players in football history. The Welshman adopted his manager’s attitude and went on to win 35 major honors, including a Premier League record 13 titles.
Starting out as an explosive winger capable of scoring and assisting in large numbers, and later converting into a wide midfielder who kept those around him in check, the third-highest appearance-maker in English top-flight history simply had to be in the top three.
2Cristiano Ronaldo
Premier League clubs: Manchester United
What AI said: “Ronaldo turned from a flamboyant winger to a goal-scoring machine, culminating at 31 league goals in 2007-08. His three Premier League crowns and Champions League triumphs place him a close second.”
If this list were based on whole playing careers, few could match Cristiano Ronaldo’s achievements. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has a resume unlike any other and is unquestionably one of the best players of all time. However, when focusing on his Premier League career, he falls just short of claiming the top slot.
Make no mistake: Ronaldo’s career at Manchester United, particularly his first spell, was outstanding. Fergie, who arrived at Old Trafford as a fresh-faced adolescent, put a lot of trust in the Portuguese genius, and it paid off. He averaged 17 goals per season from 2006 to 2009, when he retired. His 31-goal performance was one of the best in Premier League history, culminating in his first Ballon d’Or as United won the league and Champions League double. Nonetheless, while United fans will disagree, there is one player ahead of him in football’s birth country.
1Mohamed Salah
Premier League clubs: Chelsea & Liverpool
What AI said: “Salah’s consistency is unrivaled, scoring at least 19 league goals per season since joining Liverpool. His role in their 2019-20 Premier League and 2019 Champions League victories solidifies his status as the greatest. His 32-goal rookie season (2017-18) established a 38-game record.
Mohamed Salah isn’t known as the Egyptian King for nothing. He has scored the most goals in a 32-game Premier League season, contributed at least 35 goals in each of his eight seasons with Liverpool, and earned four Golden Boots, tying the record. In addition, he has won the Playmaker Award twice and been awarded Player of the Season twice, establishing himself as one of the Premier League’s most productive and influential wingers.
In 302 English top-flight appearances, he has scored 187 goals and supplied 87 assists to his teammates, placing him fourth in goal contributions behind only Alan Shearer, Wayne Rooney, and Frank Lampard. Another couple of seasons at the top before his contract ends, and he may not only be first on the wingers’ list.
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