Who Was the Best Left Winger in Europe in 2024–25? Martinelli vs Vinicius Jr, Nico Williams, Raphinha, Eze, Doku, Luis Diaz, Madueke, Rodrygo Compared

The 2024–25 transfer window has been buzzing with speculation around some of Europe’s top left wingers, with several names dominating headlines. Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams was heavily tipped to join Barcelona, but he shocked many by signing a new long-term contract with the Basque club. Meanwhile, Barcelona have also shown interest in Liverpool’s Luis Díaz, although the Reds are reportedly unwilling to part ways with the dynamic Colombian winger.

Arsenal, who are in the market for an attacking upgrade, have been linked with Real Madrid’s Rodrygo, Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze, and Chelsea’s Noni Madueke—with reports saying personal terms have already been agreed with the latter.

Although these players operate in different leagues, we’ve brought them together in one comprehensive comparison of some of the best-performing left wingers in Europe. This analysis focuses on their key statistics from the 2024–25 season in the Premier League and La Liga, to better understand how they stack up against one another.

Notably, Chelsea’s Noni Madueke and Barcelona’s Raphinha are primarily left-footed and last season scored more goals with their left foot than their right—making them more natural fits on the right wing. However, fierce competition at their clubs from Pedro Neto (Chelsea) and Lamine Yamal (Barcelona) has pushed them to feature in various roles.

The rest—Gabriel Martinelli, Vinícius Júnior, Rodrygo, Luis Díaz, Nico Williams, Eberechi Eze, and Jérémy Doku—are mostly right-footed players who naturally thrive on the left wing. Let’s break down their performances and see how the numbers tell the story.

Availability: Who Was Most Available for Their Club in 2024–25?

When evaluating top left wingers in Europe, availability is a crucial metric. Injuries, fitness, and form affect how consistently a player can help their team throughout the season.

Games Played (2024–25 Season)

Luis Díaz (Liverpool) – 36
Raphinha (Barcelona) – 36
Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace) – 34
Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal) – 33
Noni Madueke (Chelsea) – 32
Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) – 30
Rodrygo (Real Madrid) – 30
Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao) – 29
Jérémy Doku (Manchester City) – 29

Raphinha and Luis Díaz topped the chart for most games played, proving to be ever-present for their teams in La Liga and the Premier League, respectively.

Eze and Martinelli also maintained strong consistency, while Doku and Nico Williams had the lowest appearance totals in this group.

Minutes Played

Raphinha (Barcelona) – 2,844
Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace) – 2,600
Luis Díaz (Liverpool) – 2,410
Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal) – 2,300
Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) – 2,257
Noni Madueke (Chelsea) – 2,046
Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao) – 1,998
Rodrygo (Real Madrid) – 1,937
Jérémy Doku (Manchester City) – 1,513

Once again, Raphinha led the pack, playing more minutes than any other winger, followed closely by Eze and Díaz. Interestingly, although Martinelli appeared in more games than Díaz, the Colombian was actually on the pitch longer.

At the bottom end, Rodrygo, Doku, and Nico Williams fell below the 2,000-minute mark, showing limited pitch time — whether due to injury, rotation, or tactical preference.

In terms of raw availability and reliability, Raphinha, Eze, and Luis Díaz stand out as the most physically consistent and trusted left wingers for their respective clubs in 2024–25.

Goals Scored: Who Was Most Clinical in Front of Goal?

Let’s now look at goal-scoring output, which remains a defining metric for attacking wingers. We’ll examine both raw totals and non-penalty contributions per 90 minutes.

Total Goals Scored (All Competitions, 2024–25)

Raphinha (Barcelona) – 18
Luis Díaz (Liverpool) – 13
Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) – 11
Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal) – 8
Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace) – 8
Noni Madueke (Chelsea) – 7
Rodrygo (Real Madrid) – 6
Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao) – 5
Jérémy Doku (Manchester City) – 3

Barcelona’s Raphinha emerged as the most lethal winger on this list with an impressive 18 goals, while Luis Díaz followed closely with 13. At the lower end, Doku managed just 3 goals despite playing in a high-scoring Manchester City side.

Non-Penalty Goals per 90 Minutes

Raphinha (Barcelona) – 0.6
Luis Díaz (Liverpool) – 0.5
Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal) – 0.4
Noni Madueke (Chelsea) – 0.4
Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) – 0.4
Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace) – 0.3
Rodrygo (Real Madrid) – 0.3
Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao) – 0.3
Jérémy Doku (Manchester City) – 0.2

Only Raphinha and Vinícius Júnior scored more than one penalty last season (2 each), while Eberechi Eze converted one.

Yet even when removing penalties and adjusting for minutes, Raphinha remained the most efficient, netting 0.6 non-penalty goals per 90, followed by Díaz at 0.5.

Madueke, Martinelli, and Vinícius Júnior were level on 0.4 per 90, placing them firmly in the second tier of attacking output. Rodrygo, another winger linked to Arsenal, lagged slightly behind at 0.3 — suggesting room for improvement if he hopes to rival Martinelli’s numbers.

Raphinha’s goal-scoring numbers are elite. But Luis Díaz’s clinical edge, combined with his availability, shows why he’s attracting attention from Barcelona.

Madueke and Martinelli are promising but less explosive scorers, while Rodrygo and Doku will need to sharpen their end product.

Conversion Rate: Who Made the Most of Their Chances?

Conversion rate reveals how effective each winger was at turning chances into goals—a key marker of composure, finishing, and decision-making in front of goal.

Conversion Rate (%)

Luis Díaz (Liverpool) – 26.53%
Raphinha (Barcelona) – 20.69%
Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal) – 20.00%
Jérémy Doku (Manchester City) – 18.75%
Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) – 18.33%
Rodrygo (Real Madrid) – 15.79%
Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace) – 13.11%
Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao) – 12.50%
Noni Madueke (Chelsea) – 12.28%

Only three wingers in this group—Luis Díaz, Raphinha, and Gabriel Martinelli—achieved a conversion rate of 20% or higher last season. Díaz led the way with a superb 26.53%, underlining why he remains one of the most efficient finishers in Europe.

At the lower end, Noni Madueke and Nico Williams struggled to make the most of their chances, with conversion rates hovering just above 12%.

Goals From Inside the Box per 90: Who Was Most Dangerous in the Penalty Area?

Most goals in modern football are scored from inside the box. Here’s how often these wingers found the net from dangerous positions.

Goals From Inside the Box per 90

Raphinha (Barcelona) – 0.6
Luis Díaz (Liverpool) – 0.5
Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal) – 0.4
Noni Madueke (Chelsea) – 0.4
Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) – 0.4
Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace) – 0.3
Rodrygo (Real Madrid) – 0.3
Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao) – 0.3
Jérémy Doku (Manchester City) – 0.2

Barcelona’s Raphinha was the most dangerous inside the penalty box, averaging 0.6 goals per 90, twice the output of Nico Williams and Eze. Luis Díaz also proved highly lethal in tight spaces, outperforming Martinelli and Madueke.

Jérémy Doku was the least threatening in the box, averaging just 0.2 goals per 90—a figure that suggests he still lacks the killer instinct in crowded boxes.

Goals From Outside the Box per 90: Who Was the Long-Range Threat?

Scoring from outside the box is a rare and valuable skill. Here’s how each winger performed in this category.

Goals From Outside the Box per 90

Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace) – 0.1
Raphinha (Barcelona) – 0.1
Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) – 0.1
Rodrygo (Real Madrid) – 0.1
Jérémy Doku (Manchester City) – 0.1
Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal) – 0.0
Noni Madueke (Chelsea) – 0.0
Luis Díaz (Liverpool) – 0.0
Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao) – 0.0

Raphinha once again shows his versatility, being one of only a few in this group with an almost balanced goal threat both inside and outside the box. In contrast, Martinelli, Madueke, Luis Díaz, and Nico Williams had no goals from outside the area, suggesting a lack of long-range accuracy.

Shots on Target: Who Tested the Keeper Most?

Wingers are often judged by their shooting volume and accuracy. Let’s look at how many shots each player managed to keep on frame.

Total Shots on Target (2024–25)

Raphinha (Barcelona) – 43
Noni Madueke (Chelsea) – 32
Luis Díaz (Liverpool) – 30
Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace) – 29
Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) – 28
Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal) – 25
Rodrygo (Real Madrid) – 20
Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao) – 19
Jérémy Doku (Manchester City) – 9

Raphinha led the group by a wide margin with 43 shots on target, showing his tendency to finish moves in the final third. However, he also had the highest number of shots off target (44) and the most off-target shots per 90 (1.4), indicating he’s also the most likely to take shooting risks.

Madueke, Díaz, and Eze also ranked well in terms of shot volume, each managing 29+ shots on target across the season.

Shots on Target per 90 Minutes: Frequency and Sharpness

This metric shows which wingers regularly troubled the goalkeeper on a per-game basis.

Shots on Target per 90

Noni Madueke (Chelsea) – 1.5
Raphinha (Barcelona) – 1.4
Luis Díaz (Liverpool) – 1.2
Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) – 1.2
Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace) – 1.1
Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal) – 1.0
Rodrygo (Real Madrid) – 1.0
Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao) – 0.9
Jérémy Doku (Manchester City) – 0.6

Madueke surprisingly tops this stat with 1.5 shots on target per 90, even more than Raphinha and Díaz. At the other end, Doku, Nico Williams, and Rodrygo lag behind—showing less consistent pressure on goalkeepers.

Shot Accuracy: Who Was the Most Precise Finisher?

Shot accuracy reflects how efficient players are with their chances—not just the volume, but the precision.

Shot Accuracy (%)

Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal) – 62.50%
Luis Díaz (Liverpool) – 61.22%
Jérémy Doku (Manchester City) – 56.25%
Noni Madueke (Chelsea) – 56.14%
Rodrygo (Real Madrid) – 52.63%
Raphinha (Barcelona) – 49.43%
Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace) – 47.54%
Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao) – 47.50%
Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) – 46.67%

Gabriel Martinelli had the best shot accuracy, with 62.5% of his shots hitting the target, closely followed by Luis Díaz. This shows the Arsenal winger was extremely efficient when he chose to pull the trigger.

In contrast, while Raphinha had the highest number of shots on target, his accuracy was below 50%, pointing to volume over precision. Rodrygo, if he does join Arsenal, would need to improve by almost 10% to match Martinelli’s level of finishing consistency.

Shooting Summary Insight:

Most efficient finisher: Luis Díaz (best conversion + high accuracy)
Most aggressive shooter: Raphinha (most shots on target + high volume)
Sharpest per 90: Noni Madueke
Most accurate: Gabriel Martinelli

Luis Díaz emerges as the most consistent and clinical winger in this group when balancing volume, precision, and conversion, while Raphinha remains the most daring and high-impact shot-taker.

Creativity: Which Winger Created the Most Goal-Scoring Opportunities in 2024–25?

While goals often make headlines, elite wingers must also deliver creativity—supplying assists, carving open defenses, and delivering accurate balls into dangerous areas. Here’s how these top left wingers in Europe performed when it came to assists, chance creation, crossing, and through balls.

Assists: Who Was the Most Generous Playmaker?

Total Assists

Raphinha (Barcelona) – 9
Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace) – 8
Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) – 8
Jeremy Doku (Manchester City) – 6
Luis Díaz (Liverpool) – 5
Rodrygo (Real Madrid) – 5
Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao) – 5
Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal) – 4
Noni Madueke (Chelsea) – 3

Raphinha led the group in assists, providing 9 goals for his teammates—three times more than Chelsea’s Noni Madueke. Eberechi Eze, who’s been heavily linked to Arsenal, also stood out with 8 assists—double the tally of Martinelli.

Assists per 90 Minutes

Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) – 0.4
Jeremy Doku (Manchester City) – 0.4
Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace) – 0.3
Raphinha (Barcelona) – 0.3
Rodrygo (Real Madrid) – 0.3
Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao) – 0.3
Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal) – 0.2
Luis Díaz (Liverpool) – 0.2
Noni Madueke (Chelsea) – 0.2

Despite not leading in raw numbers, Vinícius Júnior and Jeremy Doku topped the chart in assists per 90—highlighting their impact in fewer minutes. Rodrygo, Eze, and Raphinha also performed better than Martinelli, Díaz, and Madueke in this metric.

Chances Created: Which Winger Was the Most Inventive?

Total Chances Created

Raphinha (Barcelona) – 90
Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) – 59
Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace) – 57
Luis Díaz (Liverpool) – 56
Rodrygo (Real Madrid) – 48
Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao) – 40
Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal) – 38
Noni Madueke (Chelsea) – 31
Jeremy Doku (Manchester City) – 31

Raphinha was in a league of his own, creating 90 chances—almost three times more than Madueke. He was followed by Vinícius, Eze, and Díaz, while Martinelli, Doku, and Madueke brought up the rear.

Chances Created per 90 Minutes

Raphinha (Barcelona) – 2.9
Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) – 2.4
Rodrygo (Real Madrid) – 2.3
Luis Díaz (Liverpool) – 2.1
Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace) – 2.0
Jeremy Doku (Manchester City) – 1.9
Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao) – 1.9
Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal) – 1.5
Noni Madueke (Chelsea) – 1.4

On a per-game basis, Raphinha once again came out on top, followed by Real Madrid’s Vinícius and Rodrygo. Martinelli and Madueke recorded the lowest chance creation per 90—highlighting areas both players could improve in when it comes to setting up teammates.

Crossing: Who Delivered Dangerous Balls Into the Box?

Total Crosses Attempted

Raphinha (Barcelona) – 215
Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace) – 112
Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao) – 107
Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal) – 92
Rodrygo (Real Madrid) – 81
Noni Madueke (Chelsea) – 63
Jeremy Doku (Manchester City) – 59
Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) – 56
Luis Díaz (Liverpool) – 32

Raphinha attempted an astonishing 215 crosses, more than any other winger by a huge margin. Eze and Nico Williams also showed strong output, while Luis Díaz attempted the fewest crosses—possibly due to his more direct style or tendency to play in a more central position.

Crosses Attempted per 90

Raphinha (Barcelona) – 6.9
Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao) – 4.9
Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace) – 3.9
Rodrygo (Real Madrid) – 3.8
Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal) – 3.6
Jeremy Doku (Manchester City) – 3.6
Noni Madueke (Chelsea) – 2.8
Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) – 2.3
Luis Díaz (Liverpool) – 1.2

Again, Raphinha’s 6.9 crosses per 90 is elite. Nico Williams, Rodrygo, and Eze also made a consistent effort to deliver balls into the box.

Crosses Completed per 90

Raphinha (Barcelona) – 1.7
Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao) – 1.2
Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace) – 1.1
Rodrygo (Real Madrid) – 1.1
Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal) – 0.9
Jeremy Doku (Manchester City) – 0.7
Noni Madueke (Chelsea) – 0.5
Luis Díaz (Liverpool) – 0.5
Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) – 0.5

Only four wingers—Raphinha, Nico Williams, Eze, and Rodrygo—completed at least one cross per 90. The rest were below 1.0, suggesting less end product from wide areas.

Cross Accuracy (%)

Luis Díaz (Liverpool) – 34.38%
Rodrygo (Real Madrid) – 27.16%
Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace) – 25.85%
Raphinha (Barcelona) – 24.65%
Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal) – 23.91%
Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao) – 23.36%
Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) – 19.64%
Jeremy Doku (Manchester City) – 18.64%
Noni Madueke (Chelsea) – 17.46%

Surprisingly, Luis Díaz had the highest cross accuracy despite attempting the fewest crosses—highlighting his preference for quality over quantity. Rodrygo and Eze also showed strong accuracy, while Madueke and Doku struggled with crossing effectiveness from wide areas.

Through Balls: Which Wingers Unlock Defenses with Precision Passes?

Through balls are among the most decisive and intelligent types of passes in football. They require timing, vision, and execution to beat defensive lines.

Total Through Balls

Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) – 15
Raphinha (Barcelona) – 11
Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace) – 11
Jeremy Doku (Manchester City) – 8
Rodrygo (Real Madrid) – 1
Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal) – 5
Luis Díaz (Liverpool) – 2
Noni Madueke (Chelsea) – 1
Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao) – 0

Vinícius Júnior dominated this category, showcasing his exceptional vision and ability to break defensive lines. Raphinha and Eze followed closely with 11 each, emphasizing their creative responsibilities within their teams.

Through Balls per 90

Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) – 0.6
Jeremy Doku (Manchester City) – 0.5
Raphinha (Barcelona) – 0.4
Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace) – 0.4
Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal) – 0.2
Rodrygo (Real Madrid) – 0.1
Luis Díaz (Liverpool) – 0.1
Noni Madueke (Chelsea) – 0.1
Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao) – 0.0

Despite playing fewer minutes, Jeremy Doku performed well in this stat, recording 0.5 through balls per 90, a close second to Vinícius Júnior. It’s worth noting that Doku played 1,331 minutes fewer than Raphinha and 744 fewer than Vinícius, yet still posted high efficiency.

Creativity Summary Insight:

Most creative overall: Raphinha (most assists, most chances, most crosses)
Smartest passer: Vinícius Júnior (most through balls, high creation rate)
Efficient crossers: Luis Díaz, Rodrygo, Eze
Biggest underperformers in creativity: Noni Madueke, Martinelli

Passing: Who Was the Most Accurate and Involved Winger in Possession?

Elite wide players today are expected to participate in build-up play, switch flanks, and retain possession under pressure. Here’s how these left wingers ranked in terms of their passing volume and precision.

Total Passes Attempted

Raphinha (Barcelona) – 1,251
Rodrygo (Real Madrid) – 990
Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace) – 914
Luis Díaz (Liverpool) – 826
Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) – 825
Jeremy Doku (Manchester City) – 700
Noni Madueke (Chelsea) – 599
Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal) – 590
Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao) – 581

Passing Accuracy (%)

Rodrygo (Real Madrid) – 90.91%
Luis Díaz (Liverpool) – 86.08%
Jeremy Doku (Manchester City) – 84.43%
Noni Madueke (Chelsea) – 83.64%
Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace) – 81.51%
Raphinha (Barcelona) – 79.46%
Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao) – 79.17%
Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) – 79.03%
Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal) – 78.98%

Rodrygo emerged as the most accurate passer, boasting a remarkable 90.91% success rate, while also attempting the second-most passes.

Luis Díaz and Doku also impressed with high efficiency in possession. On the flip side, Martinelli had the lowest passing accuracy in this group, which could become a concern for himself if he has to compete directly with Rodrygo for minutes at Arsenal.

Long Passing: Who Switched Play Best From the Flanks?

Long Passes Attempted

Raphinha (Barcelona) – 78
Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) – 59
Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace) – 65
Luis Díaz (Liverpool) – 40
Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao) – 25
Rodrygo (Real Madrid) – 21
Noni Madueke (Chelsea) – 20
Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal) – 15
Jeremy Doku (Manchester City) – 6

Long Pass Accuracy (%)

Luis Díaz (Liverpool) – 85.00%
Jeremy Doku (Manchester City) – 83.33%
Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) – 67.80%
Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal) – 66.67%
Noni Madueke (Chelsea) – 65.00%
Raphinha (Barcelona) – 58.97%
Rodrygo (Real Madrid) – 57.14%
Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao) – 56.00%
Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace) – 55.38%

Luis Díaz proved the most efficient long passer with an elite 85% accuracy, despite being fourth in volume. Doku, though rarely using the long ball, showed great precision when he did. Meanwhile, Raphinha—who attempted the most—had only the sixth-best success rate, revealing a volume-over-accuracy tendency.

Defensive Duties: Who Put in the Dirty Work?

In modern football, wingers must press, track back, win duels, and recover possession. Here’s how they performed defensively.

Aerial Duels Contested

Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal) – 56
Luis Díaz (Liverpool) – 52
Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace) – 44
Noni Madueke (Chelsea) – 30
Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao) – 29
Rodrygo (Real Madrid) – 23
Raphinha (Barcelona) – 15
Jeremy Doku (Manchester City) – 13
Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) – 8

Aerial Duels Won per 90

Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal) – 0.7
Luis Díaz (Liverpool) – 0.6
Noni Madueke (Chelsea) – 0.5
Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao) – 0.5
Rodrygo (Real Madrid) – 0.4
Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) – 0.4
Raphinha (Barcelona) – 0.3
Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace) – 0.3
Jeremy Doku (Manchester City) – 0.0

Aerial Duels Success Rate

Raphinha (Barcelona) – 60.00%
Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao) – 37.93%
Noni Madueke (Chelsea) – 36.67%
Rodrygo (Real Madrid) – 30.43%
Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal) – 30.36%
Luis Díaz (Liverpool) – 26.92%
Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace) – 15.91%
Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) – 12.50%
Jeremy Doku (Manchester City) – 0%

Martinelli contested and won the most aerial duels overall, a trait that fits Mikel Arteta’s pressing system at Arsenal. However, Raphinha was the most intelligent aerially, winning 60% of his duels despite a lower count.

Ground Duels: Who Battled the Hardest on the Deck?

Ground Duels Contested

Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) – 358
Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao) – 317
Jeremy Doku (Manchester City) – 304
Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace) – 296
Luis Díaz (Liverpool) – 292
Raphinha (Barcelona) – 228
Noni Madueke (Chelsea) – 208
Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal) – 206
Rodrygo (Real Madrid) – 191

Ground Duels Won per 90

Jeremy Doku (Manchester City) – 10.2
Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) – 6.9
Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao) – 6.0
Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace) – 5.5
Rodrygo (Real Madrid) – 5.0
Luis Díaz (Liverpool) – 4.6
Noni Madueke (Chelsea) – 4.2
Raphinha (Barcelona) – 4.0
Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal) – 3.1

Ground Duel Success (%)

Jeremy Doku (Manchester City) – 56.25%
Rodrygo (Real Madrid) – 56.02%
Raphinha (Barcelona) – 54.82%
Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace) – 53.04%
Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) – 48.32%
Noni Madueke (Chelsea) – 45.67%
Luis Díaz (Liverpool) – 41.78%
Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao) – 41.32%
Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal) – 37.38%

Doku, Vinícius, and Rodrygo led the way in ground duels won per 90, showing their ability to impact games physically and creatively. Martinelli ranked last for both volume and efficiency in this area.

Ball Recoveries: Who Helped Win the Ball Back Most?

Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace) – 146 (5.1 per 90)
Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao) – 96 (4.4 per 90)
Luis Díaz (Liverpool) – 105 (4.0 per 90)
Jeremy Doku (Manchester City) – 63 (3.8 per 90)
Noni Madueke (Chelsea) – 84 (3.7 per 90)
Rodrygo (Real Madrid) – 71 (3.3 per 90)
Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal) – 78 (3.1 per 90)
Raphinha (Barcelona) – 94 (3.0 per 90)
Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) – 71 (2.9 per 90)

When it came to winning back possession, Eberechi Eze stood out as the most active and effective winger, recovering the ball 146 times—an average of 5.1 per 90 minutes, the highest in this elite group.

Nico Williams and Luis Díaz also showcased high defensive work rate, recovering the ball 96 and 105 times respectively, with impressive per 90 averages of 4.4 and 4.0.

Jeremy Doku and Noni Madueke followed closely behind, both recovering possession nearly four times per match—underlining their value in pressing systems. Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli managed 78 ball recoveries (3.1 per 90), trailing his Chelsea counterpart Madueke, who registered six more recoveries despite playing fewer total minutes.

At the lower end, Raphinha and Vinícius Júnior ranked lowest in both total and per 90 recoveries, suggesting their teams relied less on them for defensive transitions.

Take-Ons: Who Beat Their Man Most Often?

Jeremy Doku – 107 completed, 6.4 per 90, 64.07% success
Vinícius Júnior – 82 completed, 3.3 per 90, 46.33% success
Nico Williams – 68 completed, 3.1 per 90
Eberechi Eze – 67 completed, 2.4 per 90, 51.94% success
Rodrygo – 49 completed, 2.3 per 90
Luis Díaz – 53 completed, 2.0 per 90, 50.96% success
Noni Madueke – 45 completed, 2.0 per 90
Raphinha – 52 completed, 1.7 per 90, 54.17% success
Gabriel Martinelli – 33 completed, 1.3 per 90, 35.48% success

Doku dominated the take-on stats, proving almost unplayable in one-on-ones. Martinelli, again, ranked lowest in success and volume—possibly one of the reasons Arsenal are seeking upgrades or competition on the left.

Tackles: Who Put in the Most Defensive Work?

Wingers in modern systems are expected to contribute defensively—especially during pressing transitions and counter-pressing moments.

Total Tackles

Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace) – 39
Luis Díaz (Liverpool) – 39
Raphinha (Barcelona) – 36
Jeremy Doku (Manchester City) – 31
Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao) – 28
Noni Madueke (Chelsea) – 25
Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal) – 23
Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) – 21
Rodrygo (Real Madrid) – 21

Tackles Made per 90

Jeremy Doku (Manchester City) – 1.9
Luis Díaz (Liverpool) – 1.5
Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace) – 1.4
Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao) – 1.3
Raphinha (Barcelona) – 1.2
Noni Madueke (Chelsea) – 1.1
Rodrygo (Real Madrid) – 1.0
Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal) – 0.9
Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) – 0.9

Although Doku played fewer total minutes, he registered the highest tackles per 90, proving to be the most proactive winger defensively. Luis Díaz and Eze also posted strong numbers. At the bottom end, Martinelli, Rodrygo, and Vinícius contributed least in tackles both overall and per 90.

Interceptions: Who Read the Game Best?

Interceptions show a player’s ability to anticipate and break up passes — a crucial trait for both defending and launching counters.

Total Interceptions

Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace) – 11
Raphinha (Barcelona) – 11
Rodrygo (Real Madrid) – 11
Noni Madueke (Chelsea) – 10
Luis Díaz (Liverpool) – 7
Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao) – 7
Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal) – 5
Jeremy Doku (Manchester City) – 4
Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) – 3

Interceptions per 90

Rodrygo (Real Madrid) – 0.6
Noni Madueke (Chelsea) – 0.5
Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace) – 0.4
Raphinha (Barcelona) – 0.4
Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao) – 0.4
Jeremy Doku (Manchester City) – 0.3
Luis Díaz (Liverpool) – 0.3
Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal) – 0.2
Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) – 0.2

Rodrygo posted the best interceptions per 90, showing great positional intelligence. Madueke also impressed with a solid reading of opposition build-ups, while Martinelli and Vinícius ranked lowest, again underlining their limited defensive involvement.

Discipline and Errors: Who Was Cleanest and Who Made the Most Mistakes?

Yellow Cards

Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) – 8
Raphinha (Barcelona) – 4
Noni Madueke (Chelsea) – 3
Luis Díaz (Liverpool) – 2
Gabriel Martinelli, Eze, Doku, Nico Williams – 1 each
Rodrygo (Real Madrid) – 0

Vinícius Júnior was booked more than any other winger in this comparison — with double the number of cards of second-placed Raphinha. While Rodrygo managed to complete the season without a single booking, others like Martinelli and Doku showed good discipline with minimal cautions.

Fouls Committed

Luis Díaz (Liverpool) – 48
Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) – 30
Noni Madueke (Chelsea) – 22
Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao) – 17
Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal) – 16
Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace) – 13
Raphinha (Barcelona) – 11
Jeremy Doku (Manchester City) – 10
Rodrygo (Real Madrid) – 8

Fouls per 90

Luis Díaz (Liverpool) – 1.8
Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) – 1.2
Noni Madueke (Chelsea) – 1.0
Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao) – 0.8
Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal) – 0.7
Jeremy Doku (Manchester City) – 0.6
Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace) – 0.5
Rodrygo (Real Madrid) – 0.4
Raphinha (Barcelona) – 0.4

Luis Díaz and Vinícius Júnior were the most foul-prone wingers, both in total and per 90, which could suggest an aggressive pressing style — or a lack of timing.

Fouls from Tackle Attempts

Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) – 20
Luis Díaz (Liverpool) – 17
Noni Madueke (Chelsea) – 12
Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao) – 9
Eberechi Eze, Raphinha (Barcelona) – 8
Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal) – 7
Rodrygo (Real Madrid) – 5
Jeremy Doku (Manchester City) – 2

Fouls from Tackles per 90

Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) – 0.8
Luis Díaz (Liverpool) – 0.7
Noni Madueke (Chelsea) – 0.6
Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao) – 0.5
Eberechi Eze, Raphinha, Martinelli, Rodrygo – 0.3
Jeremy Doku (Manchester City) – 0.2

Vinícius and Díaz again led in negative stats — this time for most fouls from tackles, suggesting they struggle with defensive timing. Doku, despite contesting aggressively, committed the fewest fouls per defensive action.

Conclusion: Who Was the Best Left Winger in Europe in 2024–25?

After an in-depth statistical breakdown of nine of the best left wingers in Europe across the Premier League and La Liga, it’s clear that no single player dominated every category—but several emerged as standout performers in key areas.

Raphinha was the most complete in terms of attacking output and creativity, leading in total goals, assists, chances created, and crosses attempted. He was the most involved winger statistically and proved to be an elite creator and scorer.

Luis Díaz combined clinical finishing with sharp defensive contributions and accurate passing, boasting the best conversion rate, top-tier long-ball accuracy, and strong ball recoveries—making him arguably the most balanced winger in this comparison.

Vinícius Júnior, despite disciplinary concerns and high possession losses, was a constant threat with his direct dribbling, creative through balls, and ground duel dominance, ranking among the top in offensive penetration.

Jeremy Doku shone as a 1v1 machine, recording the most take-ons completed, ground duels won, and tackles per 90, underlining his high-impact style despite fewer minutes played. His stats suggest that with more consistent game time, he could become Europe’s most explosive winger.

Eberechi Eze was a midfield-forward hybrid gem—exceptional in ball recoveries, chance creation, and ground duels, showing why he’s heavily linked with a big move to Arsenal this summer.

On the other end, Gabriel Martinelli, while hardworking, disciplined, and ranked highest for aerial duels per 90, ranked lower in take-ons, passing accuracy, and ground duel success, suggesting Arsenal’s reported pursuit of players like Rodrygo and Madueke is rooted in a desire to raise the level of technical output on the left wing.

Rodrygo, Madueke, and Nico Williams each had strong showings in specific areas – Rodrygo is a pass-master for instance, Madueke had the highest shot on target per 90 – but lacked the all-round consistency of players like Díaz, Raphinha, or Eze.

Verdict:

Best All-Round Attacker – Raphinha (Barcelona)
Most Balanced Winger – Luis Díaz (Liverpool)
Most Explosive Dribbler – Jeremy Doku (Manchester City)
Best Playmaker Midfield-Winger Hybrid – Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace)
Most Valuable Asset if Coached with Discipline – Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid)

In the end, Raphinha and Luis Díaz emerged as the most complete and reliable wingers of the 2024–25 season. Their mix of end product, creativity, fitness, and consistency puts them a step above the rest.