Greatest African Footballers of All Time
Africa's passion for football has produced numerous exceptional talents over the decades. From pioneers of the 1970s and 1980s to current stars, these players have made a significant impact for both club and country.
32. Benni McCarthy
Starting with a standout period at Cape Town's Seven Stars in the mid-1990s, Benni McCarthy earned moves to Europe, shining at Ajax, Porto, and Blackburn Rovers. Often regarded as South Africa's greatest striker, he scored for Bafana Bafana in the 1998 and 2002 World Cups.
31. Essam El Hadary
Essam El Hadary had a remarkably long career, debuting professionally in 1993 and playing until 2020. He appeared 159 times for Egypt, winning four AFCON titles and setting the record as the oldest player in World Cup history at age 45 in 2018.
30. Lucas Radebe
An essential part of South Africa’s 1996 AFCON-winning team and captain in the 1998 World Cup, Lucas Radebe is considered one of Africa’s finest defenders. At Leeds United, his legacy was so strong that the indie band Kaiser Chiefs named themselves after his former club Kaizer Chiefs.
29. Asamoah Gyan
Asamoah Gyan earned over 100 caps and scored more than 50 goals for Ghana. He came close to taking Ghana to the 2010 World Cup semifinals, falling short due to Luis Suarez’s infamous intervention. Gyan wore the unusual number three jersey and played for clubs like Udinese, Rennes, and Sunderland.
28. Hossam Hassan
Egypt’s legendary forward Hossam Hassan holds 176 international appearances and scored 68 goals. Spending much of his club career with Al Ahly, he won three AFCON titles and played in the 1990 World Cup.
27. Sulley Muntari
Sulley Muntari was a gritty midfielder who helped Ghana reach the quarterfinals of the 2010 World Cup. With 84 national caps, he also won the FA Cup with Portsmouth in 2008 and was part of Inter Milan’s treble-winning team in 2008/09 under Jose Mourinho.
26. Vincent Enyeama
Standing 5'11", Vincent Enyeama defied goalkeeper height norms to become one of Africa’s best in goal. Capped 101 times by Nigeria, he starred for Lille and helped Nigeria claim the 2013 AFCON title while featuring in two World Cups.
25. Freddie Kanoute
French-born Freddie Kanoute represented Mali internationally and became the first non-African-born player to win African Footballer of the Year in 2007. After spells at Lyon, West Ham, and Tottenham, he found great success with Sevilla, scoring 137 goals and winning back-to-back UEFA Cups in 2006 and 2007.
24. Kolo Toure
Key in Arsenal’s unbeaten 2003/04 Premier League season, Kolo Toure spent most of his career in England, also winning titles with Manchester City. The Ivory Coast defender earned 120 caps and lifted the 2015 AFCON trophy.
23. Mohamed Aboutrika
Mohamed Aboutrika was runner-up for African Player of the Year in 2008 and won two AFCON titles. Known for his skillful midfield play, he won seven straight Egyptian Premier League titles with Al Ahly and was top scorer at the 2006 Club World Cup.
22. Emmanuel Adebayor
Togo’s finest, Emmanuel Adebayor led his country to its first World Cup in 2006 and secured a move from Monaco to Arsenal that year. He made the 2007/08 Premier League PFA Team of the Year and won African Player of the Year in 2008.
21. Lauren
Another member of Arsenal’s Invincibles, Lauren started as a midfielder but became a dependable right-back. In five years for Cameroon, he collected two AFCON medals and an Olympic gold in 2000.
20. Rigobert Song
Rigobert Song played 137 times for Cameroon over 17 years, winning two AFCON titles and representing the nation at four World Cups. His club career included trophies with Metz, Liverpool, Galatasaray, and Trabzonspor. He later coached Cameroon at the 2022 World Cup, guiding them to a memorable win over Brazil.
19. Bruce Grobbelaar
Born in South Africa but representing Zimbabwe, Bruce Grobbelaar nearly led his nation to the 1994 World Cup. His reputation grew at Liverpool, especially for his eccentric performance in the 1984 European Cup final shootout against Roma.
18. Geremi
Geremi had a globe-trotting career across Cameroon, Paraguay, Turkey, Spain, England, and Cyprus. A versatile right-back capped 118 times, he won two AFCON titles and Olympic gold. He also claimed two Champions League titles with Real Madrid and two Premier League trophies with Chelsea.
17. Mahmoud El Khatib
One of Africa's top players in the 70s and 80s, Mahmoud El Khatib starred as Egypt ended a 27-year AFCON drought in 1986. A prolific scorer, he spent his entire club career at Al Ahly, later becoming its president and helping secure 10 league titles between 1975 and 1987.
16. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
French-born Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is Gabon's best-ever player, captaining the national team like his father before him. He captained Borussia Dortmund and Arsenal, won African Player of the Year in 2015, and shared the Premier League Golden Boot in 2018/19 with Sadio Mane and Mo Salah.
15. Thomas N'Kono
The legendary Cameroonian goalkeeper Thomas N'Kono inspired a young Gianluigi Buffon with his 1990 World Cup performances. He helped Cameroon reach the quarterfinals in Italy and won six continental championships, later managing the national team in 2009.
14. Sammy Kuffour
Regarded as Africa’s finest defender by some, Ghanaian Sammy Kuffour joined Bayern Munich in 1993 and won multiple Bundesliga titles and a Champions League trophy over 12 years. He finally played in a World Cup in 2006, helping Ghana qualify for their first-ever tournament.
13. Roger Milla
One of the earliest African global stars, Roger Milla famously scored four goals at the 1990 World Cup at age 38. He won African Footballer of the Year twice and two AFCON titles, also claiming Coupe de France victories with Monaco and Bastia.
12. Nwankwo Kanu
Fan favorite at Arsenal, Nwankwo Kanu won the Champions League with Ajax and UEFA Cup with Inter Milan before joining the Gunners. The 6'6" Nigerian was known for his skill and became a super-sub, winning two Premier League titles and Olympic gold in 1996.
11. Rabah Madjer
The first African outfield player to win the European Cup, Rabah Madjer became a legend for Porto and Algeria in the 1980s. He scored a famous equalizer in Porto’s 1987 European Cup victory and helped Algeria to the 1990 AFCON title, playing in their first two World Cups.
10. Jay-Jay Okocha
Jay-Jay Okocha joined Bolton Wanderers on a free transfer in 2002 and quickly became one of the Premier League’s most entertaining players. A 1994 AFCON winner and seven-time Nigerian Footballer of the Year, his dazzling skills thrilled fans.
9. Michael Essien
Michael Essien was a top box-to-box midfielder, flourishing at Chelsea after his 2005 transfer from Lyon for £24.4 million, then a record for an African player. The Ghanaian was key in Chelsea’s 2005/06 Premier League title and 2011/12 Champions League victories.
8. Abedi Pele
Abedi Pele won the 1992/93 Champions League with Marseille and was African Footballer of the Year three consecutive times (1991-1993). His sons Andre, Jordan, and Rahim Ayew also played for Ghana. He won the 1982 AFCON with the Black Stars.
7. Riyad Mahrez
Riyad Mahrez was PFA Player of the Year in Leicester’s remarkable 2015/16 Premier League triumph. After moving to Manchester City for £60 million in 2018, he quickly won another Premier League title, helped Algeria to AFCON glory, and lifted the Champions League in 2023.
6. Sadio Mane
Sadio Mane rose from Red Bull Salzburg to Premier League stardom with Southampton and then Liverpool. Within four years, he won the Premier League and Champions League, forming a deadly attack alongside Mo Salah and Roberto Firmino. He also claimed AFCON glory with Senegal.
5. Yaya Toure
Yaya Toure was a dominant midfielder during his prime, vital in Manchester City’s three Premier League wins. African Footballer of the Year for four straight years (2011-2014), he captained Ivory Coast to the 2015 AFCON title and is among the few midfielders to score 20 Premier League goals in a season.
4. Didier Drogba
Didier Drogba was the first African to score 100 Premier League goals. At Chelsea, he won four league titles and the Champions League. Twice African Footballer of the Year and Premier League Golden Boot winner, Drogba scored 65 goals in 105 appearances for Ivory Coast.
3. Samuel Eto'o
Samuel Eto'o, a four-time African Footballer of the Year, was a prolific striker for Barcelona and Inter Milan, winning the Champions League with both. He finished third in the 2005 FIFA World Player of the Year vote, won Olympic gold, and scored 56 goals in 118 caps for Cameroon.
2. George Weah
George Weah was Africa’s first Ballon d’Or winner in 1995 and also named FIFA World Player of the Year that year. Despite never playing at a World Cup, the Liberian icon won league titles with PSG and AC Milan, and was the 1994/95 Champions League top scorer.
1. Mo Salah
Mo Salah initially struggled at Chelsea but flourished at Liverpool, becoming one of the world’s deadliest forwards. Multiple Premier League Golden Boot winner, two-time African Footballer of the Year, PFA Players’ Player of the Year, and FWA Footballer of the Year, Salah is simply outstanding.
