Best Brazilian Wingers of all time: Brazil has a great soccer history, and wingers have been very important for the team’s success. From Garrincha’s amazing dribbling to Neymar’s precise goal-scoring, Brazilian wingers have always brought excitement and style to the game.
Best Brazilian Wingers of all time
let’s explore some of the best Brazilian wingers ever.
5. Robinho
- Date of Birth (Age): 25 January 1984 (39)
- Height: 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
- Position(s): Winger
Number 5 on our list is Robinho. Known for his speed, creativity, agility, and technical skills, Robinho is recognized for his flair, ball control, attacking instincts, and dazzling dribbling, including step-over and flip-flap moves. He’s versatile, often playing as a winger, supporting forward, main striker, or attacking midfielder, contributing to both goal-scoring and creation.
In 1999, at just 15, Robinho was dubbed the heir apparent by Brazil legend Pelé. In 2002, he led Santos to their first Campeonato Brasileiro title since Pelé’s era. Robinho achieved success with titles at Santos, Real Madrid, and Milan. He also won a Copa América title and two FIFA Confederations Cups with Brazil, featuring in two World Cups.
However, in 2017, an Italian court convicted Robinho of sexual assault in a 2013 incident. Criticism has been directed at Robinho for his poor work rate, lack of tactical discipline, and tendency to go down easily due to his slender physique. Despite early promise, his career has been marked by inconsistency, and some feel he hasn’t lived up to his potential.
4. Vinícius Júnior
- Date of Birth (Age): 12 July 2000 (23)
- Height: 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
- Position(s): Winger
Ranked number 4 among the Best Brazilian Wingers is Vinícius Júnior. After joining Real Madrid in July 2018, he was described as a “zippy left winger or second striker.” Despite typically playing on the left, Vinícius is versatile and can operate anywhere in the front line, showing explosive acceleration, excellent pace, agility, balance, technique, flair, and dribbling skills.
Known for running at defenses, changing direction quickly, and beating opponents in one-on-one situations, he possesses significant power and trickery on the ball.
Born in São Gonçalo, Vinícius started his professional career at Flamengo, making his senior debut at 16. He transferred to Real Madrid in a £38 million deal shortly.
Vinícius helped Brazil reach the runner-up position at the 2021 Copa América and represented them at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Despite early criticism for individualism in his youth, Vinícius has evolved into a significant force in the world of football.
3. Neymar
- Date of Birth (Age): 5 February 1992 (31)
- Height: 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
- Position(s): Forward, attacking midfielder, winger
At the third spot among the Best Brazilian Wingers is Neymar. He’s a versatile player, excelling as a central striker, second striker, winger, or attacking midfielder. Playing mainly as a left-sided forward in a 4–3–3 formation, Neymar showcases energetic pace and playmaking skills, often drifting infield for strategic advantages.
Considered one of the greatest players of his generation, Neymar is known for his flamboyant style, passing abilities, and two-footedness. He finished third in the FIFA Ballon d’Or in 2015 and 2017 and received the FIFA Puskás Award. Neymar has scored over 100 goals for three different clubs.
Neymar move to Barcelona in 2013, forming the attacking trio MSN with Messi and Suárez, resulted in winning La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the UEFA Champions League in their first season together.
Neymar is the all-time top goalscorer for the national team, with notable achievements including winning the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup and leading Brazil to their first Olympic gold medal in 2016. He has won many individual awards, including six Samba Gold awards.
Neymar’s playing style is often compared to Ronaldinho’s, showcasing creativity, vision, passing, finishing, dribbling, and explosive feints. He continually seeks improvement and cites inspiration from football legends Messi, Ronaldo, Iniesta, Xavi, and Rooney.
2. Ronaldinho
- Date of Birth (Age): 21 March 1980 (43)
- Height: 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
- Position(s): Attacking midfielder, winger
Ranked number 4 among the Best Brazilian Wingers is Ronaldinho. Widely regarded as one of the greatest and most skillful players, he had the versatility to play in various offensive positions, excelling as a winger or in a free central role. His natural right-footed ability saw him deployed as an inverted winger on the left flank during his time at Barcelona.
Ronaldinho’s list of achievements includes two FIFA World Player of the Year awards, a Ballon d’Or, and a unique combination of winning a World Cup, a Copa América, a Confederations Cup, a Champions League, a Copa Libertadores, and a Ballon d’Or. Renowned for his technical skills, creativity, dribbling ability, and accuracy from free-kicks, he earned the nickname “O Bruxo” (“The Wizard”).
With Brazil, Ronaldinho scored 33 goals in 97 matches. He played a crucial role in Brazil’s 2002 FIFA World Cup-winning team and captained the side to victory in the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup. Praised for his technical skills, flair, creativity, and exceptional first touch, Ronaldinho’s style included an array of tricks and feints, earning him a reputation as one of the best exponents of the feint.
1. Garrincha
- Date of Birth (Age): 28 October 1933
- Height: 1.69 m (5 ft 7 in)
- Position(s): Right winger
Finally, the best Brazilian winger of all time is Garrincha. He was an explosive and agile right winger with a low center of gravity. Renowned for his creativity, pace, and ball control, he possessed remarkable dribbling skills and feints that enabled him to create chances effortlessly. His ability to score goals, coupled with his talent for setting up teammates, made him a complete player.
Garrincha was particularly famous for his powerful shots with both feet and his skills as a crosser and free-kick specialist, delivering bending free kicks and corners with the outside of his foot.
He played a crucial role in Brazil’s World Cup victories in 1958 and 1962, leading the team to success in the latter tournament when Pelé was injured. Garrincha achieved a unique feat by winning the Golden Ball (Player of the Tournament), Golden Boot (Leading Goalscorer), and the World Cup in the same competition.
In 1999, he ranked seventh in the FIFA Player of the Century grand jury vote and is a member of the World Team of the 20th Century. He was also inducted into the Brazilian Football Hall of Fame.
Garrincha’s immense popularity in Brazil earned him the nicknames “Alegria do Povo” (People’s Joy) and “Anjo de Pernas Tortas” (Bent-Legged Angel). Garrincha’s legacy solidifies him as one of the greatest players in football history.
