African football has produced icons whose influence stretches far beyond the pitch. From global trophies to cultural impact, these five players stand above all.
1. George Weah – The GOAT
George Weah remains the only African to claim both the FIFA World Player of the Year and the Ballon d’Or in 1995.
A three-time African Footballer of the Year (1989, 1994, 1995), Weah dominated Europe with AC Milan, winning two Serie A titles, the FA Cup with Chelsea, and Ligue 1 with PSG, while reaching the Champions League final.
His iconic solo goals, like the blistering run against Verona in 1996, are etched in football folklore.
Beyond football, Weah transformed Liberia’s destiny, becoming its president. France Football, IFFHS, and most historians rank him as Africa’s greatest ever.
2. Samuel Eto’o – Cameroon’s Indomitable Lion
Samuel Eto’o rewrote African football history with four African Footballer of the Year awards (2003, 2004, 2005, 2010) and over 350 club goals.
He lifted the UEFA Champions League three times. Twice with Barcelona and once with Inter Milan while winning La Liga’s top scorer title in 2005-06.
Eto’o conquered Africa too, claiming two AFCON titles (2000, 2002) and becoming the tournament’s all-time top scorer with 18 goals.
Olympic gold in 2000 capped a glittering career. CAF and football media consistently place him second among Africa’s all-time greats.
3. Didier Drogba – Ivory Coast’s Titan
Didier Drogba defined clutch performances.
The two-time African Footballer of the Year (2006, 2009) scored Chelsea’s equalizer and decisive penalty in the 2012 Champions League final, cementing his status as a big-game hero.
Drogba won four Premier League titles, four FA Cups, and guided Ivory Coast to their first World Cup in 2006 and two AFCON finals.
With 104 Premier League goals in 254 matches, he is the league’s third top African scorer, inspiring generations across the continent.
4. Roger Milla – Cameroon’s Global Icon
Roger Milla’s 1990 World Cup performance stunned the world.
At 38, he scored four goals, making Cameroon the first African team to reach the quarter-finals. Setting a record as the oldest World Cup goal-scorer for 24 years.
A two-time African Footballer of the Year (1976, 1990) and double AFCON champion (1984, 1988), Milla’s corner-flag dance became a global phenomenon, changing perceptions of African football forever.
France Football ranks him fourth among Africa’s 100 greatest players.
5. Mohamed Salah – The Egyptian King
Mohamed Salah has redefined African excellence in the modern era.
Two-time African Footballer of the Year (2017, 2018), BBC African Footballer of the Year (2017, 2018), and Premier League’s all-time top African scorer with 190+ goals.
He also earned PFA Players’ Player of the Year three times (2017–18, 2021–22, 2024–25) and FWA Footballer of the Year three times (2017–18, 2021–22, 2024–25).
Salah’s trophy cabinet gleams with a Champions League (2019), Premier League (2022), Club World Cup, and three Golden Boots.
He led Egypt to the 2018 World Cup and 2021 AFCON final.
Salah is currently second on the Pharaohs all-time scorers list with 63 goals in 108 appearances (as of October 2025).
Only six shy of Hossam Hassan’s record of 69 goals in 177 appearances.
Ballon d’Or rankings—5th in 2022, 6th in 2021 place him among football’s elite. Edging legends like Abedi Pelé and Yaya Touré.
Africa’s footballing story is rich, but these five players personify its pinnacle.
From Weah’s trailblazing triumphs to Salah’s relentless modern dominance, their legacies continue to inspire millions across the continent and the globe.
