Ranking 10 Greatest Wingers in Football History

Dragan Dzajic

Hailed by many as the greatest player to have ever come out of the Balkan region, Dragan Dzajic was one of the greatest left wingers ever, known for his dribbling and pace. His career included a record 590 games and 287 goals for Red Star Belgrade, apart from finishing as the UEFA Euro 1968 runners-up with the Yugoslavian national side.

Julinho

Ex-Brazilian winger Julinho was known for his speed and dribbling abilities, with his legacy including winning the 1956 Serie A title with Fiorentina. He famously declined an invitation to play in the 1958 FIFA World Cup in Sweden, which is often cited as a factor to the rise of Garrincha, who excelled in the tournament in the same position.

Ryan Giggs

Manchester United Ryan Giggs made 963 appearances for the club, winning an unprecedented 34 major trophies including 13 EPL titles and two UCLs. Giggs adapted from a flying left-winger to a central play-maker later on, setting all-time English Premier League assists records with 162 of those to his name, from 1990 to 2014.

Paco Gento

A Real Madrid legend, Paco Gento was an exceptional left winger, and was a key figure in the Los Blancos' golden era during the 1950s. He holds the unmatched record of winning six European Cups and a record 12 La Liga titles in 600 matches, cementing his legacy as one of football's most decorated players and the club's honorary president.

Jairzinho

Known as the 'Hurricane', Jairzinho was a powerful, quick, and prolific goalscorer during his era, and was a part of Brazil's 1970 FIFA World Cup squad, where he achieved a unique record by scoring in every single match. Beyond the World Cup, he also won the Copa Libertadores with Cruzeiro in 1976, and excelled with Botafogo, throughout his career.

Luis Figo

Best known for his controversial transfer from Barcelona to Real Madrid, Portuguese Luis Figo won the Ballon d'Or in 2000, and the FIFA World Player of the Year award in 2001. Figo earned 127 caps for his country, while also winning multiple domestic league titles across Portugal, Spain, and Italy, as well as the Champions League.

Stanley Matthews

One of the greatest English footballers of all time, Sir Stanley Matthews was renowned for his immaculate ball control, speed, and sportsmanship. Having exceptionally retired at the age of 50, Matthews was the inaugural Ballon d'Or winner in 1956, and the first football player to be knighted, leaving a legacy as a global footballing gentleman.

Ronaldinho

Brazilian icon Ronaldinho won the FIFA World Cup in 2002, additionally securing the Ballon d'Or in 2005 and the FIFA World Player of the Year in 2004 and 2005. A Barcelona legend, Ronaldinho boasts 97 caps and 33 goals for the Selecao, and hundreds of goals and assists for the Blaugrana, making of the most skillful player in history.

George Best

Legendary Northern Irish winger George Best is often regarded as the greatest winger of all time, having won the 1968 European Cup and two English First Division titles in 1965 and 1967, alongside the 1968 Ballon d'Or award. Best's career was cut short by a tragically publicized off-field struggle with alcoholism, which led to later issues in playing.

Garrincha

After Pele was sidelined by an injury ahead of the 1962 World Cup, Garrincha stepped up for Brazil, single-handedly carrying Brazil to a second consecutive title. His mesmerizing dribbling and unpredictable play resulted in brilliant goals and assists, while spending most of his career in the Brazilian top-flight, with Botafogo.