What is a winger in football?

A footballer who plays on the flanks or the wings of a football field further forward is called a winger in football.

Wingers are some of the most electriyfing players in world football. Given the roles that they played, they are often tasked with performing some of the most aesthetic stuff on the football pitch which includes dribbling, carrying, running, long-range shooting, crossing as well as covering up and down the flanks.

A winger is not only responsible for offensive output, dribbles into the box, crosses, and passes to the strikers, but they are also required to put strong defensive shifts.

Most modern football systems and formations depend heavily on wingers who are expected to make the difference for the team higher up the pitch and combine with the strikers. So let’s get down to the nitty-gritty of the term and find out what makes a good winger in football:

What are the qualities that make a good winger in football?

The key attributes of a winger are several fold as they occupy one of the most important zones on the pitch and have plenty of responsibilities. First and foremost, any winger needs to be extremely comfortable on the ball and capable of carrying it up the pitch and dribbling their way out of trouble.

The dribbling aspect of the game is especially essential since several teams rely on their wingers to win their 1v1 duels against the opposition full-backs in order to make their way into the box or get into good zones and cross the ball into the box for the remaining forwards or strikers to capitalise on.

A good hallmark of a winger is the ability to send long and accurate crosses into the box. They must also possess strong passing and are tasked with separation which means spreading out the offense via passes to set up a future goal-scoring opportunity.

Wingers also need to have a good shot and a knack for finding the back of the net just like any other forward. One of the most underrated aspects of being a good winger is decision-making. Since wingers often have to make split-second decisions about sending a cross in, taking on the defender and making their way into the box, or holding the play and bringing others into the game, they have to have strong instincts and be ruthless and clinical with their decision-making.

Best wingers in world football

Lionel Messi

It’s not right to define Lionel Messi as a winger given the wide variety of roles that he has played throughout his career including centre-forward, False 9, a second striker and as he grew older, an attacking midfielder who gets increasingly involved in the team’s build-up and ball progression.

Also Read: Ankara Messi meaning

However, world football has hardly seen a better right winger than Lionel Messi in his prime. That is the position where he first started out as a teenager under Frank Rijkaard and Pep Guardiola and became a world-beater. Messi also moved to this position under Luis Enrique and he has won three Champions Leagues while playing in that position.

Also Read: Why did Messi leave Barcelona?

Kylian Mbappe

Much like Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe is also not exactly a pure winger. Yes, he plays in that position quite often for both France and Paris Saint-Germain, but Mbappe also has the tendency to drift inwards and move closer towards the goal. Mbappe’s electric pace, great scoring prowess, ability to drive towards the opposition and dribble his way past defenders made him a feared prospect on the left flank. Mbappe obviously won the World Cup with France in 2018 while playing on the left and he also finished with the Golden Boot in the 2022 World Cup.

Also Read: Mbappe jersey number

Mohamed Salah

Mohamed Salah is one of the best right wingers in the world over the last few years. Salah has evolved tremendously since signing for Liverpool in 2017. Who can forget his debut season where he scored 32 goals and set the record for the most goals in a single Premier League season. He has been the leading face of the Jurgen Klopp project at Liverpool and played a key role behind them winning the Champions League in 2019 and the Premier League in 2020. He has also finished runners-up at the Africa Cup of Nations twice.

Angel Di Maria

Angel Di Maria is one of the most underappreciated wingers in the modern generation and he has comfortably been a standout player in his role. Di Maria has tremendous pace, agility and possesses plenty of trickery. He burst on to the scene as a remarkable teenager at Benfica before moving to Real Madrid where he helped Los Blancos win La Decima and capture their 10th Champions League in tremendous fashion.

After an unsuccessful spell with Manchester United in England, he moved to Paris Saint-Germain and became a cult hero. Di Maria has also been a tremendous player at the international level and his absence was sorely missed by Argentina in the World Cup final in 2014 and the Copa America finals in 2015 and 2016. However, Di Maria turned his story around by scoring a goal in the final and winning the FIFA World Cup in 2022 with La Albiceleste.

Vinicius Jr

Vinicius Jr is arguably the best winger in world football right now. The Brazilian is finally living up to his initially hype and promise and has made a great name for himself after a wonderful season with Real Madrid. Being from Brazil, he possesses much of the flair, trickery, and dribbling abilities that the five-time World Cup champions are known for.

However, the 22-year-old has massively improved his output in the final third and his decision making which makes him very difficult to defend against. Vinicius Jr scored the winning goal for Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League final last season and he also helped them win La Liga.

FAQs

What are some other positions in soccer?

Some of the other positions of note in soccer are striker, interior, holding midfielder or pivot, centre-back, full-back, and goalkeeper among others.

Which football formations make use of the winger?

Several formations and systems in football like 4-3-3, 3-4-3 and 4-2-3-1 make use of the wingers extensively on the pitch.

Are wingers classified as forwards or midfielders?

The answer can be both depending on where the wingers are actually deployed. Many wingers are asked to tuck into midfield in order to add horizontally and stretch the opposition. However, conventional wingers are regarded as forwards who play higher up the pitch and are almost on the necks of the opposition full-backs.