Over the last couple of decades, the perception and application of the winger position has drastically changed. The majority of wingers are no longer expected to hug the touchline and primarily focus on getting balls into the box and are instead instructed by most modern managers to be in and around the box during attacking phases and are expected to be a significant source of goals and assists. This change was largely due to players like Ronaldo, Messi, and Robben, who have been a source of inspiration for many of the top players in the world today and changed the way that managers treat the wide areas of the pitch.
As they do most years, EA has periodically released ratings for its next and last game in the FIFA series, FIFA 23. Many Ultimate Team fans will be looking to spend significant portions of their budget on the winger positions, with these highly-rated wingers all being ideal choices.
NOTE: This list will only look at players in the LW and RW positions; players in the LM and RM positions won't be considered.
7 Riyad Mahrez - 86
Riyad Mahrez's career had a sharp rise in prominence when he was a key part of the Leicester City team that shocked the world by winning the Premier League. He transferred to Manchester City a few seasons later and is today considered one of the league's best wingers.
Despite Mahrez's quality, he often finds himself on the bench, which is a testament to the incredible amount of depth that Manchester City currently have. Mahrez's excellent ball control and solid pace, and finishing attributes will surely make him an expensive option for the right-wing position in FIFA 23's Ultimate Team mode.
6 Raheem Sterling - 86
The 2022 summer transfer window was one of the most exciting in history, with numerous big names on the move and a handful of fascinating transfer sagas too. Raheem Sterling was one of the many star players to move, as he swapped Manchester for London in his move to Chelsea. Sterling has since revealed that playing time was a major factor in his decision to move, which is understandable given his quality.
Like Mahrez, Sterling will surely be an expensive option in FIFA 23 due to his excellent ball control, finishing, and pace attributes.
5 Vinicius Jr. - 86
It wasn't long ago when many people thought that Brazilian winger Vinícius Júnior wouldn't be a success at Real Madrid, particularly due to his lack of goals. However, the player silenced his critics in the 2021-2022 with a series of excellent performances that saw him rack up 17 goals in La Liga and a handful in the Champions League, including the goal that won Real Madrid the tournament.
Along with his excellent stats, the fact that Vinícius Júnior has become a fan-favorite player will surely see him cost a significant amount in FIFA 23 Ultimate Team.
4 Heung-Min Son - 89
Heung-Min Son enjoyed his best goalscoring season in 2021-2022, netting 23 goals in 35 Premier League appearances, which put him level with Salah for the Golden Boot. Son's excellent positioning and wonderful finishing ability, especially from outside the box, has made him one of the league's most dangerous players.
In a team that has built its attack around Harry Kane for many years, Son has done well to make himself stand out as an equally important player in the side.
3 Neymar Jr - 89
Young Brazilian forwards being dubbed the "next big thing" is certainly not uncommon. However, the hype around Neymar during his time at Santos was something else, as the player single-handily brought a wave of attention to the Brazilian league.
Neymar didn't disappoint when he arrived at Barcelona, becoming a key part of the team after a short adjustment period. He has been considered one of the world's best wingers ever since, and his stats in FIFA 23 are certainly reflective of that.
2 Mohamed Salah - 90
When Mohamed Salah left Chelsea, it seemed that he would be one of the many promising players that don't reach their high potential. However, that all changed following an excellent spell at Roma and transfer to Liverpool, where, under Klopp, Salah surpassed even the highest of expectations to become one of the world's best players.
Salah just misses out on a 91 rating, which is the highest in this year's game. Although this is unfortunate for the Egyptian, it's hard to deny that his form in 2022 hasn't been up to his high standards.
1 Lionel Messi - 91
Many people expected that Messi would be a one-club-man and spend his entire career at Barcelona, which is why his 2021 transfer to PSG was so shocking. Barcelona's financial issue meant that they couldn't afford the Argentinian's wages, and so he made his way to Paris to reunite with former teammate Neymar.
Although Messi's first season at PSG was disappointing, the legendary player has received a 91 rating in FIFA 23, making him the joint-best player in the game along with De Bruyne, Benzema, Lewandowski, and Mbappe.
FIFA 23 is available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S|X, Nintendo Switch, and PC.