Top 10 African Players
- jonjoward1998
- Oct 9
- 7 min read
We've seen many African players light up our game over the years and especially since the turn of the century as the best of them have arguably come on this side of the 21st century.
George Weah was probably the only one from before then to play at a high level as he was one of the finest strikers of his generation and is the only African player to win the Ballon D'or in 1995.
Since his Ballon D'or win, the number of African players that have come over to Europe has increased and the majority of them have gone on to make a big impact for their respective clubs and become some of the best players in the world.
A lot of African players are scouted by European clubs because of the lack of professional clubs in that continent and the level of football in Europe being much higher.
European clubs also give players the opportunity to fulfil their dreams in playing for a top tier team in one of the top leagues in the world.
But I do think Morocco's journey to the semi finals in 2022 will have given other African countries hope that they can go far.
None of that squad made onto the list unfortunately including Achraf Hakimi, who probably could've been included as he's been one of the best full backs in Europe over the last few years.
Now here is the list:
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Mohamed Salah
Yaya Toure
Didier Drogba
Michael Essien
Sadio Mane
Riyad Mahrez
Kalidou Koulibaly
Kolo Toure
Samuel Eto'o
Kolo Toure
Toure is one of the most underrated players of his generation as he didn't always get the credit he deserved and especially when he was at Arsenal.
He was a key member of the Invincibles side in 2004 where he had a very good partnership with Sol Campbell which played a massive part in Arsenal going the entire season undefeated.
But he didn't get as much praise as the likes of Henry, Bergkamp and Vieira got as he quietly went about his business whilst the others were getting most of the plaudits.
He was a defender who was strong, committed, a top tackler, calm and a brilliant reader of the game.
Kalidou Koulibaly
Koulibaly was one of the best defenders around in his prime as he was quick, good in the air, strong, could time his tackles to perfection, and was also comfortable in possession as he liked to carry the ball up the pitch.
He was sensational at Napoli as he was arguably the best defender in Serie A at the time due to his abilities as a defender and influence he had on Napoli defensively.
As I was surprised that it didn't work out for him at Chelsea as I thought he would be a like-for-like replacement for Antonio Rudiger as he was a similar kind of player to him in that he was quick and a solid all-round defender.
But he just never adapted to the pace of the Premier League and struggled to replicate the form he showed at Napoli.
Michael Essien
Essien was a midfield powerhouse on his day as he had lots of energy and could do both sides of the game in getting back to make crucial challenges defensively and getting forward to create chances offensively.
He was also a brilliant striker of the ball as he could hit the ball with such power from almost any distance outside the penalty area.
He was an integral part of both Premier League title winning sides he was part of at Chelsea in 2006 and 2010 respectively because of his energy and all-round game in the middle of the park.
Riyad Mahrez
Mahrez was an incredible player to watch in his prime as he was a handful for any full back due to his pace, agility and his ability to beat players in one v one situations and cut inside to score goals.
He first put himself among the best players in Europe during Leicester's Premier League title winning season in 2016 where his goals and assists played a massive part in them achieving the impossible.
He got his big move to Man City a couple of seasons later where he went on and established himself as one of the best attacking players in Europe by playing a key role in every success he achieved there.
He won everything on offer during his time at City including three Premier League titles, two League Cups, two FA Cups and the Champions League in 2023 as part of the treble City won that season.
Sadio Mane
Mane showed a lot of promise when he was at RB Salzburg and Southampton as a young player, but it was at Liverpool where he became one of the best attacking players in Europe.
Liverpool were always a better team when he was playing because of his pace and work rate off the ball as well as his ability to score goals.
He was the player who led the high press for the reds under Jurgen Klopp through his incredible work rate and energy off the ball.
He won everything on offer during his time with the reds and he was an integral part of everything they won during his time at the club.
Yaya Toure
Toure was one of the best midfielders of his generation because of the energy he had and his ability to run into the box and score goals.
He was part of that first successful Barcelona side under Pep Guardiola which won the treble in 2009 where he was used in a more defensive role and even filled in at centre back on the odd occasions, including the Champions League final in 2009.
But it was at Man City where he was at his best as he turned into an all-round box-to-box midfielder in breaking into the box to score goals and getting back to stop the opposition.
He scored many important goals during his time at City the majority of them played a key role in the success he achieved during his time at the club.
He was one of the players who took City onto another level when he arrived as his goals and all-round performances played a key role in City's success during the early years of the Abu Dhabi ownership.
Samuel Eto'o
Eto'o was an incredible goal scorer on his day but I do feel that he was a bit underrated as he didn't always get the credit he deserved and wasn't talked about in the same bracket as some of the other top strikers in Europe.
He had everything you wanted from a central striker in pace, agility, work rate and the ability to score all kinds of goals.
He was sensational at Barcelona as he scored a lot of important goals, including the ones he scored in the 2006 and 2009 Champions League finals, and the majority of them played a key role in the success he achieved during his time there.
He won everything on offer in the game including three La Liga titles at Barca, the Serie A title at Inter Milan, three Champions Leagues with two coming at Barca and one with Inter, and two Africa Cup of Nations with Cameroon in 2000 and 2002.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Aubameyang was one of the best strikers in Europe when he was in his prime and he's still delivering the goals today at the age of 36 at Marseille.
Throughout his career he's been a striker who has had incredible pace, movement and the ability to score a variety of goals and many of them.
He was very much that player at Dortmund where his goal record was incredible and also in his first few seasons at Arsenal until he signed that new contract.
He has had some disciplinary issues off the pitch and especially when he was at Arsenal as he was forced out of the club because of a disciplinary issue.
But when he has stepped out onto a football pitch, he's been an incredible player to watch and one of the finest marksmen of his generation.
Didier Drogba
Drogba was a man for the big occasion as he always scored big goals in big games including cup finals and games against big teams.
He was a handful to play against when he was at Chelsea as he was big, physical, strong, good in the air and could score almost any kind of goal.
He won everything on offer during his time at Chelsea including four Premier League titles, four FA Cups, three League Cups and the Champions League in 2012 with his winning winning penalty being the goal that won it for the blues.
His goals played a massive role in every success he achieved at Chelsea and he was someone who changed the role of a striker by being able to play up front on his own.
Mohamed Salah
Salah had to be my no.1 because of his goal record since he's been at Liverpool and the numbers he's produced season after season.
He's been right up there among the best players in Europe since he's been at Liverpool with the goals he's scored and the majority of them have been instrumental to the success the reds have had in recent seasons.
He never got much of a chance at Chelsea and he has proven proven ever since that they were crazy to let him go and especially since he's been at Liverpool.
He's won everything on offer with Liverpool including two Premier League titles, two League Cups, the FA Cup and Champions League in 2022 and 2019 respectively, and he's also bagged every individual award going including four Premier League golden boots and three PFA Player of the year awards.
MY TOP 10:
Mohamed Salah
Didier Drogba
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Samuel Eto'o
Yaya Toure
Sadio Mane
Riyad Mahrez
Michael Essien
Kalidou Koulibaly
Kolo Toure
Comments