Michael Olise Tops FC 100 2025-26 Winger Rankings After Breaking Pele's World Cup Assist Record

A 24 year old winger who was still wearing a Crystal Palace shirt two summers ago now tops the winger rankings in the FC 100 2025-26. Michael Olise, now at Bayern Munich, leads a list that blends pace, dribbling and finishing, and throws up a few interesting surprises along the way: from a legend who moved to Turkey to a 19 year old who cost Real Madrid a fortune.

Olise handed out seven assists at the 2026 World Cup, surpassing Pele's old record of six from 1970, and over two seasons at Bayern he has piled up 42 goals and 46 assists across all competitions. His partnership with Harry Kane and Luis Diaz formed, according to the ranking itself, the most productive attack in the Bavarian club's history during 2025-26. And he's not even 25 yet.

Right behind him is Lamine Yamal, who at 19 became the youngest player to win both the European Championship and the World Cup, and who completed more dribbles than any other player in Europe's top five leagues last season. Rounding out the podium is Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who was key to PSG's back to back Champions League titles and became the first player to score or assist in seven straight knockout matches in a single edition of the tournament.

Veterans Still in Charge, Youngsters Pushing Through

Lionel Messi, at 39, sits in fifth place after a monster World Cup: eight goals and four assists, both personal records at a World Cup, which earned him the Silver Ball despite Argentina's final loss to Spain. Luis Diaz (fourth) and Vinicius Junior (sixth) round out a group of South Americans who remain among the best in the world at the position. Meanwhile, young talent is making noise: Yan Diomande, a 19 year old from Ivory Coast, jumped from the United Premier Soccer League to Real Madrid in a deal valued at as much as 140 million euros, following a standout season with RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga.

It's not all Europe. Julian Quinones finished as the Saudi Pro League's top scorer with 33 goals for Al Qadsiah, then matched Luis Hernandez's historic mark by scoring four goals for Mexico at the World Cup. Asked about adjusting to the Saudi league, the player summed up how it felt when he arrived:

"Everyone wants to play a certain kind of soccer here and everyone wants to feel comfortable on the ball. For me, that's the best way to play the game."Ademola Lookman

That quote actually belongs to Lookman, who described his arrival at Atletico Madrid this way back in February, when he contributed 12 direct goal involvements in just a few months and helped the team reach the Champions League semifinals and the Copa del Rey final.

The list also includes some unexpected turns, like Mohamed Salah's move to Turkey's Trabzonspor after leaving Liverpool, or Bryan Mbeumo's standout debut season at Manchester United, with crucial goals against Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal. Between veterans looking to reinvent themselves and teenagers already playing like established stars, the wing remains, season after season, the place where soccer turns into pure spectacle.