Top 10 Best Left Footed Players in the World (2025)

Football is a beautiful game, and the best left footed players in the world make it even more attractive. Just imagine Argentinian legend Diego Maradona or Lionel Messi curling the ball from the right flank straight into the back of the net? Or teenager Lamine Yamal, dancing past defenders and hitting a curler in a UEFA Champions League semi-final? It would feel great to witness any such event. Most of the players in this world are right-footed, but those with a preferred, and of course, clinical left foot, always steal the limelight when they are in possession of the ball. In this article, we will look at the best left footed players in 2025.

List of Best Left Footed Players in the World

While it was a tough task preparing this list, as we had to keep out certain ballers, it looks quite obvious that the players who are mentioned are currently the best left-footed players in the world. To keep away from biases towards attacking players, we have also included midfielders and a defender, who make the game equally attractive like their attacking counterparts.

How We Ranked the Best Left Footed Player in the World

Goals: The first criterion is that the player has scored a lot of goals with his left foot and most of the players in this list fit that bill.

Assists: Assisting a teammate is the most important thing in football and something which is inevitable in a team sport; hence, this criterion has been looked at very rationally.

Impact in big matches: The third parameter considered while making this list of the best left footed players is their overall impact in big matches, how well these players performed during those players.

Individual honours: While this is not the main criterion, this adds more depth to the list we’ve compiled for the best left footed players.

Who is the Best Left Footed Player in the World

To a random football watcher, this should be easy – Lionel Messi, right? But what if we said, he is not the only one who has a clinically left foot? Yes, there are players who, although they haven’t had a similar impact like the Argentinian great, but yes their left foot has spoken for them whenever a tough challenge has been thrown at them. Please note, statistics such as progressive passes, interceptions, tackles, blocks, npxG, xAG, and progressive carries are measured in a per 90 scale, and the xG is recorded only from their respective domestic leagues.

10. Alessandro Bastoni (Inter Milan & Italy)

First up is Italian defender Alessandro Bastoni, who is a regular at the national team and a vital cog in Inter Milan’s defensive setup. He is an extremely sturdy defender with a clinical left boot and is one of the best defenders of his age group. The Italian defender has recorded 1.72 tackles, 0.82 interceptions, and 1.95 clearances per 90. The 26-year-old has been a force to reckon with at the back for his team. Bastoni has been consistently performing for Inter Milan in the Serie A as well as European tournaments.

9. Fabian Ruiz (PSG & Spain)

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Fabian Ruiz is a workhorse and a very underrated left-footed player in the world at this moment. His role in Luis Enrique’s system has been a pretty flexible one, where he continuously rotates along with his teammates, Vitinha and Joao Neves, to help the team when in possession. His hard work reflects on his numbers as he has recorded 1.91 tackles, 0.85 interceptions defensively. Ruiz’s contribution to PSG’s attack is also astonishing, as he has made 8.04 progressive passes and 1.91 progressive carries per 90.

8. Federico Dimarco (Inter Milan & Italy)

The only wing-back in this list, Inter Milan and Italy national team’s Federico Dimarco, is another mind-boggling left-footed player, who can showcase magic while he has the ball. He has made 1.94 progressive carries, highlighting his impact during attacking transitions. Moreover, he has been defensively astute too, recording 1.03 tackles and 1.36 clearances. His ability to send in crosses from the left flank into the final third makes him special and pivotal for his team.

7. Lamine Yamal (Barcelona & Spain)

The only teenager in this list, Lamine Yamal, is already regarded as the next big thing, after winning the Euros with Spain in 2024 and the domestic treble at Barcelona in the 2024-25 season. At only 17, the winger has recorded a npxG and xG of 0.31 and 0.31 in La Liga, scoring nine goals and acting provider on 13 occasions in 35 games. Even during the recent UEFA Nations League, he was in exceptional form, leading his team into the final against Portugal.

6. Cole Palmer (Chelsea & England)

Chelsea’s most impactful player in the 2024-25 edition, Cole Palmer, is England’s best left-footed player. He has been a beast when it comes to scoring goals, as he recorded 15 goals last term and nine assists, all in the English top flight. Moreover, he has made 6.04 progressive passes and 3.38 progressive carries, highlighting his contribution to Enzo Maresca’s attacking third.

5. Raphinha (Barcelona & Brazil)

The only Brazilian in this list, Raphinha, had a tremendous 2024-25 season at Barcelona. He amassed 59 goal contributions last term, which comprises 34 goals and 25 assists, in just 57 games across all competitions. His 19.2 xG in La Liga speaks for his attacking threat, apart from the 4.28 progressive passes he has registered. The Brazilian has been leading by example, not only is he scoring goals at will, but also turning into a playmaker is which underlines his performance in the recently concluded season.

4. Ousmane Dembele (PSG & France)

The front-runner for the Ballon d’Or and the winner of the treble with Paris Saint-Germain, Ousmane Dembele is one of the best left-footed players in France. He is perhaps the only player in this list who is adept at using his right foot, too. Last season, he recorded 48 goal contributions in 49 outings, which included 33 goals and 15 assists. Moreover, his xG of 16.6 in Ligue 1 and 6.98 progressive passes and 6.73 progressive carries boast of his attacking threat, which has played a crucial role in the Parisians’ treble-winning season.

3. Erling Haaland (Manchester City & Norway)

The most lethal striker in modern football, Erling Haaland, is an automatic attacking threat for any team in the world. Although he is a left-footed player, he is equally adept at scoring with his head and at times with his right boot. Last season, the 24-year-old netted 31 goals in 44 games across all competitions. Oh yes, he also had a npxG of 0.62!

2. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool & Egypt)

Liverpool’s Egyptian winger and the previous Premier League edition’s Golden Boot winner, Mohamed Salah, has a magical left foot. He is currently the best European left-footed player, and the second best in the world. Last season, he registered 57 goal contributions in 52 games, comprising 34 goals and 23 assists. His xG of 25.4 in the Premier League is an audacious one, and he is all set to continue his fantastic form at Liverpool this upcoming season too.

1. Lionel Messi (Inter Miami & Argentina)

When it comes to the best left-footed player in the world, the answer is a no-brainer – Lionel Messi. The 2022 FIFA World Cup winner, who currently captains Inter Miami in Major League Soccer and the Argentina national team, is the best in the world. At the age of 38, he has recorded 22 goal contributions in 22 games in the 2024-25 season, which includes 16 goals and six assists. He has a 7.73 xG in the MLS and is continuing his scoring form in the ongoing FIFA Club World Cup too, as he recently scored against FC Porto, helping his side secure a 2-1 victory.