5 African players with the most La Liga goals

Samuel Eto'o (left) is one of the most prolific African scorers in La Liga history.
Samuel Eto'o (left) is one of the most prolific African scorers in La Liga history.

Unlike the English Premier League and the French Ligue 1, the Spanish La Liga doesn't boast many African scorers in its rich history.

However, some of the continent's favourite sons have starred in the division over the years, with the likes of Samuel Eto'o, Yaya Toure and Michael Essien, to name a few, coming to mind.

Five most prolific African goal-scorers in the La Liga

The all-time La Liga goalscoring chart is dominated by Spanish, Argentinian, French and Uruguayan players. But there are a few African players in their midst too.

On that note, let's have a look at the five most prolific La Liga scorers hailing from Africa.

#5 Valmiro Lopes Rocha - 34 goals

'Valdo' scored for four different sides in the La Liga.
'Valdo' scored for four different sides in the La Liga.

Surprisingly, Valmiro Lopes Rocha, or 'Valdo' as he was popularly known, started his career at Real Madrid in 2001 but played just one game for Los Blancos.

A lack of game-time led to a loan spell with Osasuna the next year, where the former Cape Verde winger made his mark with 120 La Liga appearances in five seasons.

Valdo went on to play for three other La Liga teams as well, doing so for Espanyol, Malaga and Levante, but never enjoyed the same success.

His best tally in a La Liga campaign was six goals which he scored in the 2006-07 season with Osasuna and in 2011-12 season with Levante.


#4 Youssef El Arabi - 43 goals

Youssef El Arabi has scored the most La Liga hat-tricks (2) in Granada's history.
Youssef El Arabi has scored the most La Liga hat-tricks (2) in Granada's history.

Among the best Moroccan exports of the last decade, Youssef El Arabi has scored 235 goals in 409 games, but only 73 of them have come in the top-five leagues.

One such team is La Liga club Granada, the only team with whom El Arabi never lifted any trophy but enjoyed four productive years. He scored 44 goals from 130 games in the La Liga for Granada, more than anyone in the club's history!

Youssef El Arabi was particularly on form during the 2015-16 season, his last in the La Liga, where the striker scored 16 goals to save the Andalusian club from certain relegation.

#3 Christopher Ohen - 42 La Liga goals

Christopher Ohen was an underrated striker in the La Liga during the 90s.
Christopher Ohen was an underrated striker in the La Liga during the 90s.

Nigeria has consistently produced talented attacking stars over the years, but Christopher Ohen is one of the less celebrated ones.

An absolute beast during his prime in the 90s, Christopher Ohen had his greatest years with now-second division side Compostela, whom he helped achieve promotion to the La Liga in 1994.

Ohen replicated his form in the La Liga, too, netting 42 goals in four seasons, a tally that includes his career-best 17 scored in the 1996-97 campaign.


#2 Frederic Kanoute - 89 goals

Frederic Kanoute's best years came with Sevilla.
Frederic Kanoute's best years came with Sevilla.

Frederic Kanoute played for many top teams like Lyon, West Ham United, Tottenham Hotspur and Sevilla. But it was with the La Liga side that he enjoyed his greatest success.

He netted 136 goals from 290 appearances for Sevilla in seven seasons and won six titles, which included back-to-back UEFA Cups in 2006 and 2007.

His amazing goal-tally includes 89 strikes in the La Liga, where he netted 21 goals during the 2006-07 campaign to finish only behind Ruud van Nistelrooy and Diego Milito in the race for the Golden Boot.


#1 Samuel Eto'o - 162 goals

Samuel Eto'o spent exactly a decade in the La Liga, where he enjoyed the most productive spell of his career.
Samuel Eto'o spent exactly a decade in the La Liga, where he enjoyed the most productive spell of his career.

Could it have been anyone else? Samuel Eto'o is a bonafide La Liga legend, the most prolific and the most decorated African player in the history of the Spanish top flight.

Rejected at Real Madrid, the Cameroonian ace started his career with Real Mallorca at the age of 17, where his scoring prowess over the next five years made him a bright, young prospect.

Impressed by his talent, Barcelona prised him away in 2004. Eto'o became a legend of the game with the Blaugrana, playing a crucial role in their treble-winning campaign in 2008-09.

Eto'o plied his trade in Catalonia for five years, netting 108 La Liga goals in 144 games. He won the Golden Boot in 2005-06 and had a 30-goal haul in 2008-09.

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Edited by Bhargav