The best right wingers in the world right now are no longer expected to stay beside the touchline and simply cross the ball. Modern right wingers must create chances, beat defenders, score, press, carry possession, and often move inside onto their stronger foot. Some act almost like playmakers, while others become second strikers once their team reaches the final third.
For this FootballerRank ranking, we considered only players with substantial current evidence from the right wing or right-sided attacking role. The completed 2025/26 club season, Champions League performances, the 2026 World Cup, current position, consistency, and early 2026/27 evidence all matter. Career reputation alone does not. Based on that position-specific method, Michael Olise ranks as our best right winger in the world right now, narrowly ahead of Lamine Yamal.
Last reviewed: August 29, 2026
Key Takeaways
- Michael Olise ranks as our best right winger in the world right now.
- Lamine Yamal is an extremely close second after winning La Liga Player of the Season and the 2026 World Cup.
- Bukayo Saka ranks third after another title-winning Arsenal season and a World Cup hat-trick.
- Désiré Doué and Ousmane Dembélé complete our top five.
- Only current right-wing evidence receives full weight.
- This ranking is separate from our broad Best Wingers in the World Right Now page, which compares players from both flanks.
Top 10 Best Right Wingers in the World Right Now
| Rank | Player | Club | Country | Right-Wing Style | FootballerRank Rating |
| 1 | Michael Olise | Bayern Munich | France | Creative inverted winger | 98/100 |
| 2 | Lamine Yamal | Barcelona | Spain | Inverted creator / scorer | 97/100 |
| 3 | Bukayo Saka | Arsenal | England | Complete two-way winger | 93/100 |
| 4 | Désiré Doué | Paris Saint-Germain | France | Two-sided creative winger | 91/100 |
| 5 | Ousmane Dembélé | Paris Saint-Germain | France | Two-footed fluid winger | 90/100 |
| 6 | Bryan Mbeumo | Manchester United | Cameroon | Direct inverted winger | 88/100 |
| 7 | Antoine Semenyo | Manchester City | Ghana | Powerful direct winger | 87/100 |
| 8 | Mohamed Salah | Trabzonspor | Egypt | Goalscoring inverted winger | 86/100 |
| 9 | Estêvão | Chelsea | Brazil | Creative inverted winger | 85/100 |
| 10 | Rodrygo | Real Madrid | Brazil | Technical inside winger | 84/100 |
FootballerRank ratings are editorial scores. They are not official FIFA, UEFA, league, or club ratings.
What Counts as a Right Winger in This Ranking?
A player does not need to spend the full match next to the right touchline.
Modern positions are fluid.
A right winger may:
- Start wide and move inside
- Drop toward midfield
- Attack the inside-right channel
- Switch positions with the striker
- Become a second forward in possession
- Press the opposing left-back
- Create from the right half-space
The important point is that the right side remains a meaningful part of the player’s current attacking role.
That distinction matters.
A footballer who played right wing several years ago but now performs mainly as a centre-forward should not rank highly here because of old reputation.
How This Article Avoids Cannibalization
FootballerRank has three different current winger questions.
Best Wingers in the World Right Now
This compares:
Right wingers + left wingers together.
Best Right Wingers in the World Right Now
This article compares:
Right-sided attackers only.
Best Left Wingers in the World Right Now
That article will compare:
Left-sided attackers only.
The same player can appear in more than one relevant ranking.
That is not cannibalization.
The important difference is the comparison set.
Michael Olise may finish behind another player when both flanks are combined but rank first when the question becomes specifically about right-wing performance.
That is exactly what happens here.
How We Ranked the Best Current Right Wingers
Current rankings should reward present performance rather than famous careers.
We used:
| Ranking Factor | Weight | What We Considered |
| Current right-wing performance | 30% | Goals, assists, creation and right-sided influence |
| Major-match impact | 20% | Champions League and major knockout matches |
| International performance | 15% | 2026 World Cup and recent national-team form |
| Right-wing ability | 15% | Dribbling, crossing, inside movement and chance creation |
| Consistency and availability | 10% | Ability to maintain elite performance |
| Tactical importance | 5% | Role within the team’s attacking system |
| Early 2026/27 evidence | 5% | Supporting evidence only |
Why 2025/26 Matters More Than August 2026
The new European season has only just started.
A player scoring twice in August should not immediately jump above someone who produced an elite 50-match campaign.
The completed 2025/26 season therefore provides most of the club evidence.
The 2026 World Cup also carries major weight because it was played only weeks before this ranking.
Early 2026/27 performances help us confirm whether a player’s level is continuing.
They do not erase the larger evidence base.
1. Michael Olise
Club: Bayern Munich
Country: France
Position: Right Winger
FootballerRank Rating: 98/100
Michael Olise is our choice as the best right winger in the world right now.
His 2025/26 Bundesliga campaign was outstanding.
Olise scored 15 goals and provided 19 assists in 32 league appearances.
That gave him 34 direct goal contributions.
Bayern Munich won the Bundesliga, and Olise was named the competition’s Player of the Season.
His output alone is impressive.
His right-wing play is even more important.
Olise usually begins from the right before choosing between several actions.
He can:
- Stay wide and cross
- Move onto his stronger left foot
- Play a through ball
- Shoot from distance
- Combine with Harry Kane
- Carry the ball through midfield
- Slow the attack down
- Beat his defender one-on-one
That variety makes him difficult to defend.
Show him outside and he can create.
Allow him inside and he can shoot or pass through the defence.
His international year strengthened the case.
Olise produced seven assists at the 2026 World Cup for France.
That became a record for assists at a single men’s World Cup.
Five of those assists went to Kylian Mbappé.
France eventually finished fourth, but Olise’s creative tournament was exceptional.
He has also started 2026/27 positively with Bayern.
Lamine Yamal has the stronger World Cup team result.
Olise gets our narrow first place because this article focuses specifically on right-wing performance, and his combination of 15 league goals, 19 assists, creation, and right-sided consistency gives him the strongest specialist case.
Why he ranks No. 1: Olise combines elite current right-wing creation with 34 Bundesliga goal contributions, a Player of the Season award, and a record seven World Cup assists.
2. Lamine Yamal
Club: Barcelona
Country: Spain
Position: Right Winger
FootballerRank Rating: 97/100
Lamine Yamal could easily be first.
The gap between him and Olise is extremely small.
Yamal was named La Liga Player of the Season for 2025/26.
He finished the campaign with:
- 16 league goals
- 12 league assists
- Another La Liga title
- Major Champions League performances
He then helped Spain win the 2026 World Cup.
That gives Yamal the stronger team-achievement argument.
His individual right-wing game is already world-class.
Yamal can receive the ball near the touchline and create danger without needing a full-back overlapping around him.
His strongest qualities include:
- 1v1 dribbling
- Left-footed passing
- Crossing
- Through balls
- Changes of direction
- Shooting
- Ball carrying
- Close control
- Drawing multiple defenders
One of his greatest strengths is how strongly he changes the opponent’s defensive structure.
Teams regularly send a second player toward his side.
That alone can create space for teammates elsewhere.
Why is he second?
Olise’s 2025/26 right-wing production was slightly stronger in pure specialist terms, particularly through his 19 league assists and World Cup creation.
If Yamal produces another season at his current level, this order could easily change.
Why he ranks No. 2: Yamal combines elite dribbling and creation with 28 La Liga goal contributions, a league Player of the Season award, and a World Cup title.
3. Bukayo Saka
Club: Arsenal
Country: England
Position: Right Winger
FootballerRank Rating: 93/100
Bukayo Saka remains one of the world’s most complete right wingers.
His 2025/26 season was affected by injury.
That reduced his raw numbers.
He still recorded seven Premier League goals and four assists while Arsenal went on to win the league title.
The numbers only tell part of the story.
Arsenal’s results were stronger when Saka was available.
His presence changes how the right side works.
Saka combines:
- Ball retention
- Dribbling
- Crossing
- Chance creation
- Inside movement
- Pressing
- Defensive tracking
- Set pieces
- Combination play
He may not dribble as dramatically as Yamal.
He does not produce Olise’s current assist totals.
But Saka has almost no major weakness in the role.
His 2026 World Cup provided another reminder of his level.
England reached the third-place match against France.
Saka scored a hat-trick in a remarkable 6-4 victory.
England finished third, its best World Cup result since winning the tournament in 1966.
Saka’s early 2026/27 form has also been encouraging.
The main issue is availability.
A healthy full season could put him much closer to Olise and Yamal.
Why he ranks No. 3: Saka combines creation, scoring, pressing, tactical reliability, title-winning club importance, and a World Cup hat-trick in one of the most complete current right-wing profiles.
4. Désiré Doué
Club: Paris Saint-Germain
Country: France
Position: Right Winger / Attacking Midfielder
FootballerRank Rating: 91/100
Désiré Doué is one of the most versatile young attackers in football.
He can play on either side.
He can also move centrally.
That versatility means his right-wing evidence is not as pure as Olise’s, Yamal’s, or Saka’s.
There is still enough to qualify.
His 2025/26 season included:
- Seven Ligue 1 goals
- Four Ligue 1 assists
- Five Champions League goals
- Four Champions League assists
- Another Champions League title
PSG retained the European trophy after beating Arsenal in the final on penalties.
Doué had already established himself as a major European talent the season before.
His second Champions League-winning campaign confirmed that the first was not simply a short breakout.
His technical ability is obvious.
Doué can:
- Beat defenders
- Carry possession centrally
- Play from either flank
- Shoot from distance
- Combine in tight spaces
- Create under pressure
He also scored for France during the 2026 World Cup.
His biggest limitation in this ranking is positional consistency.
Because he plays several roles, he has fewer specialist right-wing minutes than the top three.
Why he ranks No. 4: Doué combines elite versatility, Champions League success, strong European output, and enough right-sided evidence to rank among the world’s best current right wingers.
5. Ousmane Dembélé
Club: Paris Saint-Germain
Country: France
Position: Right Winger / Forward
FootballerRank Rating: 90/100
Ousmane Dembélé creates an interesting ranking problem.
He is clearly one of the world’s best attackers.
His role, however, has become increasingly fluid.
PSG have used him more centrally during parts of recent seasons.
France still provides substantial right-sided evidence.
That is enough for him to qualify here, but the lack of a fixed right-wing role lowers his score compared with the players above.
Dembélé remains exceptional in one major area:
two-footed attacking play.
Many inverted right wingers strongly prefer their left foot.
Dembélé can attack either direction.
That makes it difficult for the defender to decide where to show him.
He can:
- Go outside
- Cut inside
- Cross with either foot
- Shoot with either foot
- Combine centrally
- Attack transition space
His recent achievements are significant.
Dembélé remained important as PSG won another Champions League title.
He also had a major 2026 World Cup.
Against Norway, he scored a first-half hat-trick.
He later continued scoring as France reached the semi-finals before eventually finishing fourth.
His level remains elite.
His position is simply less pure than it once was.
Why he ranks No. 5: Dembélé remains an exceptional two-footed attacker with major Champions League and World Cup impact, but his increasingly central role reduces his specialist right-wing score.
6. Bryan Mbeumo
Club: Manchester United
Country: Cameroon
Position: Right Winger / Forward
FootballerRank Rating: 88/100
Bryan Mbeumo strengthened his reputation after joining Manchester United.
He had already become one of the Premier League’s strongest attackers with Brentford.
The move to United gave him a larger stage.
During his first league season at Old Trafford, Mbeumo scored 11 Premier League goals.
He finished with 12 goals across all competitions.
His numbers were not as high as Olise or Yamal.
His value came from more than finishing.
Mbeumo is useful because he attacks space intelligently.
He is especially dangerous when:
- Running behind a high defensive line
- Receiving in the inside-right channel
- Pressing from the front
- Attacking rebounds
- Moving toward the far post
- Cutting inside onto his left foot
Manchester United improved significantly during the second half of 2025/26 and finished third in the Premier League.
Mbeumo became part of an attack that also benefited from Bruno Fernandes’ extraordinary creative season.
His next step is European evidence.
If he produces the same output in the Champions League and against the strongest knockout opponents, he could rise several places.
Why he ranks No. 6: Mbeumo combines Premier League scoring, direct right-sided movement, pressing, and strong transition play at one of Europe’s biggest clubs.
7. Antoine Semenyo
Club: Manchester City
Country: Ghana
Position: Right Winger
FootballerRank Rating: 87/100
Antoine Semenyo’s rise has been rapid.
He began 2025/26 with Bournemouth and immediately became one of the Premier League’s most dangerous wide attackers.
He scored 10 league goals in 20 appearances before leaving the club.
Manchester City signed him in January 2026.
Across the second half of the season, he continued adapting to life at a title-level club.
Semenyo is now being used mainly from the right side under Manchester City’s new system.
His physical profile is different from Yamal or Olise.
Semenyo is powerful.
He can:
- Carry the ball at speed
- Shoot with either foot
- Attack space
- Protect possession
- Beat defenders physically
- Press aggressively
- Move into central scoring zones
He has also become more efficient with his shooting.
Earlier in his career, Semenyo took many difficult attempts.
His shot selection has improved.
He has started 2026/27 strongly enough to remain inside this Top 10.
The main reason he is seventh is evidence at the very highest level.
He needs more Champions League and major international matches before challenging the established names above.
Why he ranks No. 7: Semenyo combines Premier League production with power, direct running, two-footed finishing, and a growing role on Manchester City’s right side.
8. Mohamed Salah
Club: Trabzonspor
Country: Egypt
Position: Right Winger
FootballerRank Rating: 86/100
Mohamed Salah would rank far higher in an all-time right-wing list.
This article asks a different question.
It asks who is best right now.
Salah’s 2024/25 season was historic.
He recorded 29 Premier League goals and 18 assists.
His 2025/26 campaign was much quieter.
Salah finished with seven league goals and seven assists before leaving Liverpool at the end of the season.
He joined Trabzonspor in August 2026.
His start in Turkey has already produced goals, including a two-goal league performance.
Salah remains dangerous because his intelligence has not disappeared.
He still excels at:
- Inside-right movement
- Timing runs
- Left-foot finishing
- Combination play
- Finding space inside the box
Age has reduced some of the explosive acceleration that defined his peak.
League level also matters.
Performing in Turkey does not provide the same weekly evidence as facing Premier League or Champions League opponents.
That is why career greatness cannot push him above players currently performing at a higher level.
Why he ranks No. 8: Salah remains an elite right-wing goalscorer with outstanding movement and finishing, but a quieter 2025/26 season and move away from Europe’s strongest leagues lower his current position.
9. Estêvão
Club: Chelsea
Country: Brazil
Position: Right Winger
FootballerRank Rating: 85/100
Estêvão is already showing why he has been regarded as one of Brazil’s leading young attacking talents.
His first full Chelsea season included eight goals and three assists across all competitions.
He made 36 appearances, starting 20.
The numbers are not yet elite.
The quality of several performances suggests a much higher ceiling.
Estêvão is a natural modern right winger.
He is left-footed and likes moving inside.
His strongest qualities include:
- Close control
- Quick changes of direction
- Tight-space dribbling
- Shooting
- Creative passing
- Acceleration
- Combination play
He also scored three Champions League goals during the season.
That European experience is valuable for a teenager playing his first full campaign in England.
The biggest reason he ranks ninth is volume.
He has not yet played enough minutes or produced enough consistent final-third output to challenge the established top five.
This ranking is not based on potential.
If it were, Estêvão would probably be much higher.
Why he ranks No. 9: Estêvão has already shown elite right-wing talent and Champions League quality, but he needs more minutes and consistent production before moving toward the top.
10. Rodrygo
Club: Real Madrid
Country: Brazil
Position: Right Winger / Forward
FootballerRank Rating: 84/100
Rodrygo takes the final place.
His talent has never been the main question.
The challenge is defining his best position and maintaining consistent output.
Rodrygo is naturally comfortable from the left.
At Real Madrid, team needs have frequently placed him on the right.
He has therefore built substantial experience in the position.
His strongest qualities include:
- Close control
- Combination play
- Movement between the lines
- Big-match finishing
- Dribbling
- Attacking central spaces
He has also produced major Champions League goals during his Real Madrid career.
His recent seasons have been less individually dominant than those of Olise, Yamal, or Saka.
Competition inside Madrid’s attack also makes it difficult for him to own one role consistently.
Still, his current technical level and major-match experience keep him narrowly inside the Top 10.
The position is under pressure.
Several younger right wingers are close behind.
Why he ranks No. 10: Rodrygo’s technical ability, right-sided experience, and major-match pedigree keep him in the Top 10, but recent consistency prevents a higher position.
Who Is the Best Right Winger in the World Right Now?
Michael Olise is the best right winger in the world right now in our August 2026 ranking.
The strongest part of his case is production.
He recorded:
- 15 Bundesliga goals
- 19 Bundesliga assists
- Bundesliga Player of the Season
- Seven assists at the 2026 World Cup
That is an exceptional combination of scoring and creation.
Lamine Yamal is extremely close.
Yamal has the stronger team achievements because he won La Liga and then became a World Cup champion with Spain.
He also has perhaps the greatest individual 1v1 ability of any current right winger.
Our specialist methodology gives Olise a narrow edge because of his right-wing consistency and extraordinary creative production over the completed season.
This is not a large gap.
It could change quickly during 2026/27.
Olise vs Yamal vs Saka
The top three offer different strengths.
| Area | Michael Olise | Lamine Yamal | Bukayo Saka |
| Dribbling | Excellent | Elite | Excellent |
| Chance creation | Elite | Elite | Excellent |
| Goalscoring | Excellent | Excellent | Very good |
| Crossing | Elite | Excellent | Excellent |
| Pressing | Very good | Good | Elite |
| Defensive work | Good | Improving | Elite |
| 2025/26 league output | 15G, 19A | 16G, 12A | 7G, 4A |
| World Cup 2026 | 7 assists | Champion | Hat-trick in third-place win |
| Main advantage | Creation | 1v1 influence | Completeness |
Olise currently provides the strongest production.
Yamal provides the greatest individual wing threat.
Saka provides the strongest balance between attack and defensive responsibility.
Best Current Right Wingers by Style
Best creative right winger
Michael Olise
His combination of passing and crossing produced 19 Bundesliga assists.
Best 1v1 right winger
Lamine Yamal
Few current defenders can stop him consistently without additional help.
Best two-way right winger
Bukayo Saka
He contributes in possession and without the ball.
Best two-footed right winger
Ousmane Dembélé
He can attack inside or outside without depending on one stronger foot.
Best direct right winger
Antoine Semenyo
His power and running make him dangerous during transitions.
Best veteran right winger
Mohamed Salah
His current level has dropped from his peak, but his movement and finishing remain dangerous.
Best young right winger to watch
Estêvão
His current output is still developing, but his technical ability gives him one of the highest ceilings in the position.
Why Raphinha Is Not Included
Raphinha remains one of football’s best wide attackers.
However, Barcelona’s use of Lamine Yamal on the right has pushed Raphinha toward the left side and other attacking zones for much of his recent football.
That makes him more appropriate for the broad current-winger ranking than this strict right-wing list.
Position matters more than reputation here.
Why Lionel Messi Is Not Included
Lionel Messi is our greatest right winger of all time.
That does not automatically make him one of the ten best right wingers right now.
His current football is played outside Europe’s strongest club competitions and his role has also become more central and creative.
Current rankings should prioritize current elite-level evidence.
His historical position is handled in Best Right Wingers of All Time.
Why Mohamed Salah Is Lower Than Before
Salah remains one of the greatest right wingers ever.
But current rankings must move.
His 2025/26 Premier League output dropped sharply from the historic previous season.
He has also moved from Liverpool to Trabzonspor.
Strong performances in Turkey can maintain his place in the conversation, but they do not carry the same weight as elite Champions League or Premier League evidence.
That is why he ranks eighth here while ranking much higher historically.
Who Just Missed the Top 10?
Competition around the final places is strong.
Players close to selection include:
- Pedro Neto
- Mohammed Kudus
- Amad Diallo
- Takefusa Kubo
- Rayan Cherki
- Bryan Gil
- Savinho
- Yankuba Minteh
- Franco Mastantuono
Several could enter the list during 2026/27.
What Could Change the Ranking?
The order can shift because of:
- Champions League performances
- Injuries
- Transfers
- Changes in position
- Major scoring runs
- Long periods of poor form
- Tactical changes
- International matches
Current rankings need regular reviews.
FAQs
Who are the top three right wingers in the world right now?
Our top three are Michael Olise, Lamine Yamal, and Bukayo Saka. Olise ranks first for his extraordinary scoring and assist production, Yamal follows closely, and Saka takes third for his complete right-wing game.
Is Michael Olise the best right winger in the world?
Yes, in our August 2026 specialist ranking. His 15 Bundesliga goals, 19 assists, league Player of the Season award, and seven World Cup assists give him the strongest current right-wing evidence.
Is Lamine Yamal better than Michael Olise?
They are extremely close. Yamal has the stronger World Cup and 1v1 argument, while Olise produced more assists and stronger season-long creative numbers. We give Olise a narrow current edge.
Is Bukayo Saka still one of the best right wingers?
Yes. Injuries reduced his 2025/26 club numbers, but his overall influence remains elite. He also scored a hat-trick in England’s World Cup third-place victory over France.
Is Ousmane Dembélé a right winger?
He can still play there, particularly for France, but his club role has become more fluid and central. That is why he ranks lower on a strict position-specific list than on a general attacker ranking.
Is Mohamed Salah still a top right winger?
Yes, but he is no longer near the top of our current list. His 2025/26 output declined, and his move to the Turkish league reduces the strength of weekly competition compared with the Premier League.
Why is Raphinha not included?
Raphinha currently spends more of his football on the left or in fluid attacking positions because Yamal owns Barcelona’s right flank. He fits our broad winger ranking better.
Why is Messi not included?
This is a current ranking. Messi’s historical greatness does not override current league level, tactical role, or recent elite European evidence.
Who is the best young right winger right now?
Lamine Yamal is already far beyond prospect status and ranks second overall. Estêvão is another major young right winger who could climb quickly.
Who has the most assists among the top current right wingers?
Michael Olise produced 19 Bundesliga assists during 2025/26 and then seven more at the 2026 World Cup.
Who just missed the Top 10?
Pedro Neto, Mohammed Kudus, Amad Diallo, Takefusa Kubo, Rayan Cherki, and several younger players were close.
How often should this ranking be updated?
Current rankings should be reviewed several times each season, especially after Champions League knockout rounds, transfer windows, major injuries, and international tournaments.
Sources and Fact-Checking
FootballerRank uses current competition evidence rather than reputation.
For this ranking, we checked:
- 2025/26 domestic league performance
- Champions League evidence
- 2026 World Cup performance
- Current club positions
- Goals and assists
- Right-wing tactical roles
- Availability
- Early 2026/27 performances
Position eligibility was checked separately from player quality.
A great attacker who currently plays mainly from the left or through the middle does not automatically qualify for this right-wing Top 10.
That is what keeps this page distinct from FootballerRank’s broad Best Wingers in the World Right Now ranking.
Conclusion
In short, Michael Olise ranks as our best right winger in the world right now after producing 15 Bundesliga goals, 19 assists, a Player of the Season campaign, and a record seven assists at the 2026 World Cup. Lamine Yamal is only narrowly behind after another brilliant Barcelona season and Spain’s World Cup triumph, while Bukayo Saka remains the strongest challenger from the Premier League. Doué, Dembélé, Mbeumo, Semenyo, Salah, Estêvão, and Rodrygo complete a Top 10 based specifically on current right-wing performance rather than career fame or broad attacking reputation.
