The 10 greatest African footballers of all time

Published on September 27, 2026

Who is the greatest African footballer of all time? The question has divided fans for decades. Ballon d'Or, Champions League, AFCON titles and legendary moments: here is our ranking of the 10 greatest African footballers in history. It is of course a subjective list, so feel free to share yours in the comments!

1. George Weah (Liberia)

To this day, he remains the only African player to have won the Ballon d'Or, in 1995. That same year, he was also named FIFA World Player of the Year. A star at Monaco, PSG and AC Milan, Weah combined power, pace and technique. His extraordinary journey later took him all the way to the presidency of Liberia. A truly unique story.

2. Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon)

The all-time top scorer in AFCON history with 18 goals, a four-time African Footballer of the Year, a two-time AFCON winner (2000 and 2002) and an Olympic champion in 2000: Eto'o's record is extraordinary. At club level, he won three Champions League titles, two with Barcelona and one with Inter Milan, as part of a historic treble in 2010.

3. Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast)

A Chelsea legend, Drogba scored the equaliser and then the decisive penalty in the 2012 Champions League final. A two-time African Footballer of the Year and Ivory Coast's all-time top scorer, he is also respected for his role in promoting peace in his country. His only regret: the AFCON, lost twice in the final.

4. Mohamed Salah (Egypt)

A two-time African Footballer of the Year, Champions League winner in 2019 and a multiple Premier League champion with Liverpool, Salah is one of the most prolific forwards of his generation. An icon across Africa and the Arab world.

5. Roger Milla (Cameroon)

His corner-flag dances at the 1990 World Cup went around the world. That year, aged 38, he led Cameroon to the quarter-finals, a first for an African team. Four years later, he became the oldest goalscorer in World Cup history, at 42. He also won two AFCON titles.

6. Yaya Touré (Ivory Coast)

Four consecutive African Footballer of the Year awards, from 2011 to 2014: a record. A complete midfielder, as good at defending as at scoring, he was the driving force of Manchester City and won AFCON 2015 with Ivory Coast.

7. Sadio Mané (Senegal)

A Champions League winner with Liverpool in 2019 and a two-time African Footballer of the Year, Mané gave Senegal its first AFCON title in 2021, scoring the decisive penalty in the final shoot-out. At 34, he is still among the nominees for the 2026 Ballon d'Or. A model of talent and humility.

8. Abedi Pelé (Ghana)

A three-time African Footballer of the Year (France Football's award in 1991 and 1992, and CAF's award in 1992) and a Champions League winner with Marseille in 1993, Abedi Pelé was an exceptional dribbler.

9. Jay-Jay Okocha (Nigeria)

Perhaps the most entertaining player in the history of African football. His dribbles and tricks thrilled crowds, including in the Premier League with Bolton. An AFCON winner in 1994 and an Olympic champion in 1996 with Nigeria, he remains a reference for every lover of beautiful football.

10. Rabah Madjer (Algeria)

His backheel goal in the 1987 European Cup final, for Porto against Bayern Munich, made history: the move is still known as a "Madjer" today. African Footballer of the Year in 1987, he also won AFCON 1990 with Algeria.

Honourable mentions

Choosing just ten was not easy. Other legends deserve their place in African football's hall of fame:

Salif Keïta (Mali), the very first African Footballer of the Year, in 1970
Nwankwo Kanu (Nigeria), Olympic champion in 1996 and a two-time African Footballer of the Year
Kalusha Bwalya (Zambia), one of the greatest figures in Zambian football
Laurent Pokou (Ivory Coast), a legendary goalscorer of the 1970s
Riyad Mahrez (Algeria), AFCON 2019 winner and African Footballer of the Year in 2016
Achraf Hakimi (Morocco), African Footballer of the Year in 2025, who could well join this list in the years to come

What's your top 10?

Who deserves the number one spot in your opinion? And who have we forgotten? Share your view in the comments below 👇

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