Best African Players Of All Time: Top 10 African Football Legends

Africa 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. The likes of Jay-Jay Okocha represented the African flair to its fullest & entertained the crowd with his artistic dribbling skills. One of the greatest strikers, Samuel Eto'o, made the fans go berserk with his goal-scoring exploits across Europe.

Moving on to modern-day greats, Egyptian King Mohamed Salah continues to perform at an elite level with his finishing & trickery, making him one of the best African players of all time. Not to forget, Senegalese icon Sadio Mane continues to perform consistently with Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr. While creating our list of African best players of all time, Hence, we have decided to broaden our thought process beyond the stats & consider factors such as legacy, longevity, trophy haul & impact as well.

List of Greatest African Footballers

After considering the below-mentioned ranking factors & finishing exploring the vast pool of current & retired players. Here is the final list of greatest African footballers who have carved their legacy on the biggest stage for their nation, bringing immense honour for the African continent.

How did we rank the African Best Players of all Time?

Following are ranking factors taken into consideration right at the beginning of the article, below we have provided the reason behind choosing them in an explanatory manner.

• Career Trophies & Club Success: Major club success separate a good player from a legend. These honours reflect their dominance against elite competition, making it easier for us to compile our list of the best African player of all time.
• Individual Awards & Honors: Individual brilliance for their performances in both club and country shirts has also been 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 their country.
• 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.

Note: All the stats are taken from Transfermarket & Sportsdunia.

Who is the Greatest African Footballer of All Time?

Choosing the best player in Africa 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?”. As we have explained the ranking factors clearly, let's look in detail at why these players deserve to be the African footballer of all time.

10. Rabah Madjer (Algeria)

Algerian icon Rabah Madjer is an inspiration for millions of African footballers who entered the footballing world after him to play at the highest level possible. He became the first African player to win the European Cup (UEFA Champions League) with Portuguese giants FC Porto. Madjer reached the pinnacle of his career when he helped Porto, mount an impressive comeback to secure European glory in 1987 by defeating Bayern Munich.

Madjer scored a spectacular backheel goal in the ’87 European Cup final; he serves as an inspiration to the younger generation of African footballers. Three years later, the forward led his nation, Algeria, to AFCON glory in 1990. In the AFCON final overwhelmed everyone else. Madjer marched up, scored the penalty with ice-cooled calmness & wrote Algeria’s name on the trophy. While cementing himself as one of the best African players of all time.

9. Abedi Pele (Ghana)

One of the greatest African footballers of his generation, Abedi Pele is sort of an unsung hero; he is the father of Leicester City attacker Jordan Ayew. Interestingly, Abedi earned him "Pele" due to his being an attacking midfielder & his ability to dribble since his younger days on the pitch earned him the nickname “Pele”. The Ghanaian icon's name became an inseparable part of his identity courtesy of his heroics with the Ghana national football team. Abedi won the UEFA Champions League trophy in 1993 with Ligue 1 side Olympique Marseille.

He was named the best African Footballer for three consecutive years from 1991-1993. He helped the Black Stars claim the African Cup of Nations in 1982, beating Libya. His two sons, Andre and Jordan Ayew, followed in his footsteps by, making the Pele-Ayew dynasty a pillar of Ghanaian football. Abedi is one of the best African best players of all time. Post-retirement, he founded Nania FC, a Ghanaian club dedicated to nurturing raw talent, proving that his heart never left the streets of Accra.

8. Michael Essien (Ghana)

Chelsea found Michael Essien at his peak, arriving in the English capital after leading Olympique Lyon to back-to-back Ligue 1 titles in 2004 & 2005, respectively. In 2005, after paying a transfer fee of £24.8 million, he signed for the Blues, and the prized jewel of the Black Stars went on to win the Premier League twice, three FA Cups and the 2012 UEFA Champions League trophy. Essien also went on the play for European giants AC Milan and Real Madrid, but his time at Stamford Bridge was the most successful one. The African icon had achieved everything at the club level during his time at the Blues, though he was unlucky with the Ghana national football team.

He came close to achieving his dream in the 2010 AFCON, only to see his hopes crushed by Egypt in the final. He was a no-nonsense defensive midfielder, nicknamed “The Bison” because of his tenacious style of play, powerful but well-timed tackles & exuding of tireless energy while being offensive and defensive. He is widely regarded as one of the best Chelsea midfielders of all time. Beyond the pitch, he worked with UNICEF in rural Ghana, helping to build schools and clinics, cementing him as a hero for the poor & underprivileged and as one of the best African players of all time.

7. Riyad Mahrez (Algeria)

The Al-Ahli star Riyad Mahrez is not only one of the best African player of all time, but also hailed as one of the best African players in Premier League history, having lifted the coveted Premier League titles four times with Leicester City and Man City respectively. The Algerian made a lasting impact on the African football landscape. From being part of Leicester City’s 2015-16 Premier League triumph, 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 led by Pep Guardiola.

However, Mahrez's biggest achievement will forever remain the victory over Senegal in the 2019 AFCON final, leading the Fennec Foxes to their first international success. The winger scored three goals in that campaign. After establishing his name as one of the best African players of all time, the 34-year-old is currently plying his trade with Al Ahli in Saudi Arabia. The ex-Premier League star Mahrez has amassed over 100 international caps for Algeria with 37 goals and 44 assists to date.

6. Sadio Mane (Senegal)

After bursting into the footballing scene during his time in France, Al Nassr star Sadio Mane has never looked back. He continues to consistently perform at the club level while taking African football to new heights. The Senegal icon is currently plying his trade in Saudi Arabia, after a trophy-laden stint in Europe. Mane's first foray into the English Premier League was when he joined Southampton. He then joined Merseyside outfit Liverpool, where he established himself as one of the best African player of all time.

Mane achieved numerous successes throughout his club career, winning the Premier League, Bundesliga, Austrian Bundesliga, FA Cup, Carabao Cup and UEFA Champions League. The Senegal captain led his country to their first-ever AFCON glory in 2021 by defeating Egypt on penalties. He was nominated for the prestigious Ballon d’Or Award twice. Hailed as a global icon with his humanitarian deeds off the pitch, he has donated millions to financial aid, educational infrastructure, and built hospitals and schools.

5. Yaya Toure (Ivory Coast)

In his prime, Yaya Toure was reminiscent of a perfect box-to-box midfielder, known for his long-range shooting, line-breaking passes, darting runs inside the opposition penalty area & leadership qualities. The Ivorian won every major trophy a footballer can win during an unforgettable club career, but his achievements with Manchester City made him one of the best Man City players of all time. Be it the Champions League, or English Premier League, La Liga, or the FA Cup, he has won it all. He is one of the few midfielders in the history of football to score over 100 goals in his club career.

The legendary midfielder also achieved AFCON glory in 2015 with the Ivory Coast national football team. His impactful runs deeper, as along with Kun Aguero & David Silva, he was the cornerstone on which City's dominance was built. 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.

4. Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon)

One of the finest strikers in the history of football, Cameroonian icon Samuel Eto’o is, without any doubt, one of the best African players of all time. He was the most clinical finisher during his trophy-laden spell with Barcelona, Serie A giants Inter Milan & Chelsea. The Cameroonian was sensational in Barcelona's 2004-05 campaign, helping them lift LaLiga, UEFA Champions League and Spanish Super Cup. Renowned as one of the best Barcelona players to don the Blaugrana colours, Eto'o finished that season with 26 26-goal haul as the top scorer in the Spanish top division.

With 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 back-to-back in 2000 and 2002. Samuel's ruthless finishing also involved some of the funniest ever celebrations. 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 best African players of all time. To date, he is the first & only African player to win a Ballon d’Or 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 Paris Saint-Germain. Amusingly, 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.

George Weah's son, Marsielle 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 icon and a 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. He became the first player from Africa to score 100 Premier League goals. Widely regarded as one of the best Chelsea players ever, 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 icon has amassed 63 goals in 105 caps for the Elephants. Unfortunately, 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 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.

Best African Players of All Time: Honorary Mentions

The honorary mentions include players who have achieved massive feats in football and are now on the verge of being inducted into the list of the best African players of all time.

Achraf Hakimi (Morocco)

What this 28-year-old Moroccan star Achraf Hakimi has achieved in his career is often underrated. When you compare him to the other names mentioned above, it becomes clear that he has everything needed to be considered one of the best African players of all time. What truly set him apart from his peers was his incredible 2024/25 season with PSG, where he won five trophies, including PSG’s first-ever UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Super Cup.

While he isn’t someone who leads from the shadows, his 2024/25 stats proved that he contributed equally and made significant impacts in PSG’s success last season. His performances earned him the CAF Player of the Year award for the first time. With the way he keeps improving day by day, it’s only a matter of time before he enters our rankings of the best African players of all time.