5 greatest African footballers of all time

Samuel Eto'o in action for Cameroon at the 2010 FIFA World Cup
Samuel Eto'o in action for Cameroon at the 2010 FIFA World Cup

#3 Didier Drogba

Drogba reacts during the match against Greece : Group C - 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil
Drogba reacts during the match against Greece : Group C - 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil

Didier Drogba is definitely a name that cannot be left aside when making a list of the greatest African footballers.The Ivorian became the first African to score 100 English Premier League goals while donning the blue colors of Chelsea. He is also the highest goal scoring African player in the history of the UEFA Champions League.

He was involved in a pivotal role that helped Chelsea win their first Premier League title in his debut season. Drogba's late equalizer against Bayern Munich in the 2012 UEFA Champions League final led to a penalty shoot-out which Chelsea won.

Drogba never won an international title with the Ivorian national team, commonly known as the Les Elephantes, but he led them to their first World Cup tournament in 2006. They were runners-up in the 2006 and 2012 edition of the AFCON tournament. Drogba was named African Footballer of the Year in 2006 and 2009.


#2 Samuel Eto'o

Eto'o during an AFCON match vs Gabon
Eto'o during an AFCON match vs Gabon

Samuel Eto'o is hands down one of the greatest players of his generation. Eto'o has had a prosperous career at both club and country level. He has three UEFA Champions League titles – two with Barcelona, one with Inter Milan – and a FIFA World Club Cup, among others. He is one of the few players to win the UEFA Champions League with two different teams consecutively.

Eto'o won two AFCON titles and an Olympic Gold at the 2000 Sydney Olympics with the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon. He is also the all-time top goal scorer in AFCON history and a four-time African Footballer of the Year (2003, 2004, 2005 and 2010)

The Cameroonian's goal scoring prowess made him influential at clubs he played for like Mallorca, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Anzi Makhachkala, Chelsea, Everton and Sampdoria. Eto'o was also a great utility player. He once played as a wing-back and an attacking midfielder, despite being a centre-forward.


#1 George Weah

George Weah at AC Milan
George Weah at AC Milan

Unlike the rest, George Weah, popularly known as King George, may not have won tons of trophies but his individual accolades are something every player could wish for. The most noteworthy accolade being the Ballon d'Or, which till date makes him the only African to receive the honor.

He also won the FIFA World Player of the Year, African Footballer of the Year, BBC African Footballer of the Year and became UEFA Champions League top scorer in the same year (1995) he was awarded the Ballon d'Or. George Weah won two Serie A titles with AC Milan, a Ligue One title with Paris Saint Germain and an FA Cup with Chelsea.

George Weah helped his country Liberia qualify for two editions of AFCON (1996 and 2002), their only appearances ever in the history of the tournament till date. He is among the few Ballon d'Or winners who have never played at the World Cup. He served as an inspiration to many players, including Thierry Henry. George Weah is the current president of Liberia.

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