Top 10 greatest African players in history: number 1 is not Drogba, Eto'o

Africa is one of the continents that has produced many talented players in the history of world football. They have supplied top-quality players to the world's premier competitions, rivaling talents from South America or Europe. Below, let's review the 10 players considered the best in the history of football on this Black continent.

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10. Nwankwo Kanu – Nigeria

Nwankwo Kanu is one of the most decorated players in African football history, with achievements including the Dutch league title, Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, Intercontinental Cup, UEFA Cup, Premier League, FA Cup, English Super Cup, and Olympic Gold Medal. Personally, he has won the "African Player of the Year" award twice in 1996 and 1999.

Kanu rose to prominence while playing for Ajax, showcasing technical prowess and excellent goal-scoring abilities. After leaving the Netherlands, the player born in 1976 moved to Inter Milan and later to Arsenal. Kanu represented Nigeria 87 times but couldn't lead the national team to victory in the African Cup of Nations.

9. Riyad Mahrez - Algeria

Alongside Kolo Toure, Mahrez is one of the two African players to win the Premier League with two different clubs. He played a crucial role in Leicester's triumph in the 2015/16 season.

After moving to Manchester City, he became an integral part of Pep Guardiola's squad, contributing to the team winning 12 trophies, including a historic domestic treble in the 2022/23 season.

8. Michael Essien – Ghana

Essien was known as one of the world's premier central midfielders and spent the peak years of his career at Chelsea. He won numerous titles, including two Ligue 1 titles, two Premier League titles, four FA Cups, one League Cup, and one Champions League. He was also voted the "African Player of the Year" by BBC in 2006 and the "Best Ghanaian Player" in 2008.

7. Yaya Toure – Ivory Coast

Similar to Essien, Yaya Toure is regarded as one of the finest central midfielders that Africa has produced.

While playing for Barcelona, Toure excelled, winning La Liga, Copa del Rey, Champions League, and FIFA Club World Cup. After moving to Manchester City, the Ivory Coast star became an integral part of the team, helping them secure two Premier League titles. In early 2015, Toure, along with Ivory Coast, won the African Cup of Nations by defeating Nigeria in the final. He won the "African Player of the Year" award for four consecutive years from 2011 to 2014.

6. Jay-Jay Okocha – Nigeria

Jay-Jay Okocha is one of the most skillful players from Africa, known for his speed and agility. While he did not play for many top European clubs except Paris Saint-Germain, Okocha is still widely recognized and loved by fans.

The midfielder, born in 1973, made a significant impact in the Premier League with Bolton Wanderers from 2002 to 2006. Okocha helped Nigeria win the African Cup of Nations in 1994 and was voted the best player in Nigeria for seven years.

5. Roger Milla – Cameroon

It would be a significant omission not to include Roger Milla in this list because he is a legend of African football who played a pivotal role in advancing the continent's presence on the world football map. At the 1990 World Cup, at the age of 38, Milla helped Cameroon become the first African team to reach the quarter-finals.

Four years later, he set another record by becoming the oldest player to participate in the FIFA World Cup at the age of 42. In 2007, Milla was voted the Best African Player of the last 50 years.

4. Abedi Pele – Ghana

This three-time winner of the African Player of the Year award is best remembered for his successful stint with Marseille. Abedi Pele played a crucial role in helping the Ligue 1 club win the Champions League in 1993. Besides, Pele scored 33 goals in 67 appearances for Ghana, winning the Africa Cup of Nations in 1982.

3. Samuel Eto'o – Cameroon

Samuel Eto'o is the most successful African player in European football, representing top clubs such as Barcelona, Inter Milan, and Chelsea. Alongside Yaya Toure, he holds the record for winning the African Player of the Year award four times. At the club level, the "Black Panther" won three La Liga titles, two Copa del Rey trophies, three Champions League titles, one Serie A title, and two Italian Cups. He also secured two Africa Cup of Nations titles with the national team.

2. Didier Drogba – Ivory Coast

"The Elephants" have one of the most complete and outstanding strikers in the history of African football in Didier Drogba. Drogba was twice voted the Best African Player and achieved success at Chelsea with three Premier League titles, four FA Cups, three League Cups, and one Champions League.

In 2012, Drogba was honored as Chelsea's greatest player of all time. In the national team of Ivory Coast, Drogba scored 65 goals in 104 appearances, ranking fourth on the list of top scorers for his country.

1. George Weah – Liberia

George Weah is the greatest player in the history of African football. The former AC Milan striker is the only player from the continent to win the Ballon d'Or, European Player of the Year, and FIFA World Player of the Year.

In his illustrious career, Weah played for Monaco, PSG, AC Milan, Chelsea, Manchester City, and Marseille. He won championships in Liberia, France, Italy, and the FA Cup. At the national team level, he scored 13 goals in 30 appearances for Liberia. In 1996, George Weah was honored with the title of the Best African Player of the Century.