Top 10 Best African Players of All Time (Ranked)

The African continent is filled with countless footballers who carry the hopes of thousands of people to catapult their country to make a lasting impression in the world of football. Who can forget Jay-Jay Okocha? he represented the African flair to its fullest & entertained the crowd with his artistic dribbling skills. Then, on the other hand, we have one of the greatest strikers, Samuel Eto'o, who made the fans go berserk with his goal-scoring exploits. Moving on to modern-day greats, Egyptian King Mohamed Salah continues to perform at an elite level by bamboozling the defenders with his finishing & trickery, making him one of the best African players of all time. Not to forget, his former teammate Sadio Mane continues to perform consistently with Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr.

Choosing the top 10 best African footballers of all time is like finding a pearl in an ocean. We, just like many of our readers here, have questions like, “Does it even make sense to compare a goalscorer like George Weah with a box-to-box midfielder like Yaya Toure?”, OR “Are Riyad Mahrez's dribbles & movement better than that of Okocha?”. Hence, the Sportsdunia football desk has decided to broaden our thought process beyond the stats & consider factors such as legacy, longevity, trophy haul & impact as well while creating our list of African best players of all time.

List of Greatest African Footballers

After considering the above-mentioned ranking factors & finishing exploring the vast pool of current & retired African players, we included the most deserving ones (also, we have here showcased goals + assists as total scored for clubs & as well as the national team). But, still, if you feel like we have missed someone even more deserving, do share your opinion in the comments section at the end of this article.

How we Ranked the Best African Players of All Time?

Though we have already shared the ranking factors taken into consideration right at the beginning of the article, below we have provided the reason behind choosing them in an explanatory but easy-to-understand manner.

Career Trophies & Club Success: The major club trophies and success separate a good player from a legend. These honours reflect dominance against elite competition, making it easier for us to compile our list of the best African players of all time.

Individual Awards & Honors: Individual brilliance in their performances for both club and country is also taken into account.

International Impact: The parameter to determine the best African players of all time is to look at the impact of changing the course of the game and their role in bringing success to the team.

Statistical Output: Their goal scoring ability, playmaking vision and even their defensive technicality were considered while compiling this list of the African best player of all time.

Longevity & Legacy: The last factor to determine the best player in Africa is to look at longevity, which is an essential factor, considering how long a career they have played for their club and country, as well as their legacy that will be remembered by many.

List of Top 10 Best African Players

Now that we have explained the ranking factors clearly, let's look in detail at why these players deserve to be the greatest African footballers of all time.

10. Rabah Madjer (Algeria)

Rabah Madjer is an inspiration & torchbearer for millions of African footballers who entered the footballing world after him to play at the highest level possible. Hailing from Algeria, Madjer became the first African player to win the European Cup. He reached the pinnacle of his career when he helped Porto to mount an impressive comeback & win the European Cup (Present-day Champions League) by defeating Bayern Munich 2-1. Later, he led his nation, Algeria, to the AFCON glory in 1990.

Rabah Madjer earned a legendary status when he scored a spectacular backheel goal in the ’87 European Cup final, as if it's no big deal & led Porto to a famous victory & also inspired the younger generation of African footballers. That wasn’t just skill, it was swagger. When the stakes involved in the 1990 AFCON final overwhelmed everyone else, Madjer marched up, scored the penalty with ice-cooled calmness & wrote Algeria’s name on the trophy. Undoubtedly, indeed, he is one of the best African players of all time.

9. Riyad Mahrez (Algeria)

Four-time English Premier League winner & current Al-Ahli attacker Riyad Mahrez is not only one of the African best player of all time, but also hailed as one of the best African players in Premier League history. He is one of those players who has made a lasting impact in the African football landscape. From being part of Leicester City’s 2015/16 EPL-winning team, which was no less than a modern-day fairytale story, to lifting the UEFA Champions League trophy in 2023 with an all-conquering Manchester City of Pep Guardiola, the Algerian has won every possible title domestically.

However, his biggest achievement will forever remain the victory over Senegal in the 2019 AFCON final, where he was also one of the top scorers in the tournament. After establishing his name as one of the best African players of all time, Mahrez is currently plying his trade with Al Ahli in Saudi Arabia. He has already netted 192 club goals and 32 International goals to date.

8. Abedi Pele (Ghana)

Often less talked about than his fellow greatest African footballers of his generation, Abedi Pele is sort of an unsung hero. His real name is Abedi Ayew(Yes!! In case you are thinking, it's correct!! He is the father of Andre & Jordan Ayew), but his achievements as an attacking midfielder & his ability to dribble since his younger days on the pitch earned him the nickname “Pele”. The name became an inseparable part of his identity during his entire career. The former Ghana skipper won the UEFA Champions League trophy in 1993 with Marseille. He won the African Cup of Nations in 1982 & was named the best African Footballer for three consecutive years from 1991-1993. He scored a staggering 88 goals in 411 games for multiple clubs & 33 goals in 73 appearances for the Black Stars (Ghana National Football team).

As shared above, his sons Andre and Jordan Ayew followed in his footsteps by representing some of the biggest clubs in football, making the Pele-Ayew dynasty a pillar of Ghanaian football. Abedi was one of the best player of Africa during the ’90s. His mind-numbing 40-yard free-kick for Marseille against AC Milan in 1991 remains a cult classic. Post-retirement, he founded Nania FC, a Ghanaian club dedicated to nurturing raw talent, proving that his heart never left the streets of Accra.

7. Michael Essien (Ghana)

Chelsea discovered Michael Essien at its peak when he was one of the key players to lead Olympique Lyon to back-to-back Ligue 1 titles in 2004 & 2005. After paying a transfer fee of £24.8 million (It might be hard to believe, but it was a whole lot of money those days), he entered the shores of English football. The prized jewel of the Black Stars went on to win the Premier League 2 times & as well as a Champions League trophy with the Blues in 2012. Later on, he played for 2 more European giants in the 2007 UCL winners AC Milan and Real Madrid. With no fault of his own, he couldn't achieve success there at a personal level. Nevertheless, Essien already achieved everything at the club level during his time at the Blues, but he was unlucky with the Ghanaian national team. He came close to achieving his dream in 2010 AFCON, only to see his hopes crushed by Egypt in the final. Essien won 55 International caps with his country and netted 9 goals, along with making an impressive 545 appearances at club level.

On the pitch, he was a no-nonsense defensive midfielder. He was nicknamed “The Bison” because of his tenacious style of play, powerful but well-timed tackles & exuding of tireless energy while being offensive and defensive. As one of the best African players of all time, Essien gelled with the “defensive-playmaker” role at Chelsea. Beyond the pitch, his post-retirement work with UNICEF in rural Ghana, in helping to build schools and clinics, cemented him as a hero for the poor & underprivileged.

6. Sadio Mane (Senegal)

After bursting into the footballing scene during his time at RB Salzburg, former LFC forward Sadio Mane has never looked back. He continues to consistently perform at the club level & has taken African football to new heights. He is currently plying his trade in Saudi Arabia, alongside Cristiano Ronaldo at Al Nassr after a successful & trophy-laden stint in European football. Mane's first foray into the English Premier League was when he joined Southampton. After spending 2 years at St Mary's, he joined 20-time EPL winners Liverpool & quickly became one of the key players of Jurgen Klopp's era. He achieved numerous successes with Liverpool, but the most memorable ones were the Premier League title win in 2020 & the UCL a year before. The Senegal forward has won the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, and Carabao Cup during his time at Merseyside. The former Bayern Munich winger also guided Senegal to their first-ever AFCON glory in 2021 by defeating Egypt on penalties. He was nominated for the prestigious Ballon d’Or Award in 2019 and 2021.

Sadio Mane has justified his tag of being called a global icon with his humanitarian deeds off the pitch; He has donated millions to his village Bambali in Senegal and helped them establish a solid financial and educational infrastructure. He didn't stop just there as he also built hospitals and schools.. On the pitch, he & Mohamed Salah developed a telepathical understanding & redefined the wingers' partnerships. Fans still debate his 2022 Puskas Award snub, which he scored against Norwich City in February 2022, proof that his genius transcends trophies.

5. Yaya Toure (Ivory Coast)

In his prime, Yaya Toure was reminiscent of a perfect box-to-box midfielder. He was widely known for his long-range shooting, line-breaking passes, darting runs inside the opposition penalty area & leadership qualities. The former Barcelona and Manchester City playmaker won every major trophy a footballer can win during an unforgettable club career. Be it the Champions League, or English Premier League, La Liga, or the FA Cup, Toure has won it all. He also achieved AFCON glory in 2015 with the Ivory Coast. He is one of the few midfielders in the history of football to score over 100 goals in his club career.

Though his infamous 2013 birthday cake controversy became a meme & one of the major talking points, Toure's impact runs deeper, as along with Kun Aguero & David Silva, he was the cornerstone on which City's dominance was built. As the best Premier League player from the continent, he fought racism head-on & also mentored young African talents at City’s academy, which is hailed as one of the best football academies. Post-retirement, the 4-time African player of the year took coaching gigs in Ukraine & Russia with the aim to break barriers for African managers. Currently, he is the assistant manager of Saudi Arabia National Team.

4. Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon)

Legendary striker Samuel Eto’o is without any doubt, one of the best African players of all time in footballing history. He was the most clinical finisher during his trophy-laden spell with Barcelona, Inter Milan & to an extent Chelsea. The Cameroonian lifted the Champions League trophy with Barca & as well as the Nerazzurri. Eto’o became the African Player of the Year a record four times and won the Olympic gold medal in 2000. He scored a whopping 56 goals for Cameroon and had the privilege of tasting AFCON glory twice.

Samuel Eto’o’s ruthless finishing also involved some of the funniest ever celebrations. For example, he once celebrated a goal by mimicking a fan’s phone call. As the best African Players of all Time, he used his FIFA connections to uproot corruption in Cameroonian football, risking his reputation in the process.

3. George Weah (Liberia)

George Weah is the most sensational character on the list of African best players of all time. He was the first & only African player to win a Ballon d’Or & FIFA World Player of the Year award. The legendary striker turned politician had a trophy-laden club football career as he won several league titles with Italian Giants AC Milan and PSG. He remains the only player amongst the greatest African players not to feature in the FIFA World Cup. The former captain of the Liberia National Football Team notched up 193 goals in 478 games in club football. His son, attacker Timothy Weah, also followed in his footsteps & now plays for Juventus and the USA men’s national team.

George Weah’s 1995 Ballon d’Or award is a testament to his playing prowess. As one of the top African players, he played in a charity match while in office as President, scoring a bicycle kick. Weah’s journey from Monrovia’s slums to the presidency is one of Africa’s ultimate underdog stories.

2. Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast)

The Chelsea legend & as well as cult-figure, Didier Drogba is our best African footballer pick on this list and one of the best African players of all time in the Premier League. He was a complete world-class centre-forward in every aspect – quick, fast, relentless, and strong. The Chelsea legend, who became the first player from Africa to score 100 Premier League goals, was a nightmare to his opponents. He also provided a total of 122 assists, showcasing his willingness to create goals for others. Drogba was a serial winner during his lengthy spell at Stamford Bridge as he lifted four Premier League titles and the Champions League trophy. The Ivory Coast skipper has amassed 63 goals in 105 caps for his country.

Though he was one of the greatest Chelsea players ever, he suffered the heartbreak of being a runner-up twice in AFCON. Famously, in 2005, Didier Drogba’s plea for peace in his homeland Ivory Coast, wasn’t scripted; He delivered an impromptu speech on live TV, halting a civil war. As the African best player of all time in the Premier League, listening to Ivorian folk music was his pre-ritual to stay grounded. Post-retirement, his cocoa farm empire helped fuel jobs back home, blending patriotism along with being business savvy.

1. Mohamed Salah (Egypt)

Still wondering who is the greatest African footballer of all time? Well, the answer is none other than Egyptian King Mohamed Salah. The modern-day Pharaoh of the Egyptian National football team is a modern-day great and already one of the legends of the game. After faltering at Chelsea, he started to find his footing at AS Roma. In 2017, Salah unleashed himself after moving to Merseyside giants Liverpool & went on to win the Premier League and Champions League in the next 3 years. Salah is one of the greatest players to don the Liverpool shirt. The Egyptian forward has racked up 20+ goals in all his seasons & won multiple Premier League Golden Boots and as well as African Footballer of the Year two times.

The 33-year-old winger is one of the most ruthless finishers, along with being the best right winger in the world. He has already scored almost 250 goals in less than 400 games for Liverpool and is still defying his age impressively. The greatest African footballer of all time worked as a UN Instant Network Schools program ambassador, promoting girls’ education. Despite the behind-the-scenes saga, Liverpool convinced him to sign an extension, believing his blistering form & age-defying athleticism would help them win plenty of trophies for the next few years.