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When you think of great African players in the world of football, several legends come to mind. Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto'o, and George Weah, amongst a few others.
In the modern game too, the players from the African continent perform as well, if not better than their European or South American counterparts. Players like Mohamed Salah and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, alongside others, are dominating the scene of world football right now. Here in this list, we rank the current top 5 African players in the world.
Note - Players of African origins who play for other national teams are not taken into consideration, so the likes of N'Golo Kante do not make this list.
#5 Thomas Partey - Atletico Madrid, Ghana
Born in Krobo Odumase in the Eastern region of Ghana, the temperamental Thomas Partey stands like a general at the base of the Atletico Madrid midfield. Signing his first contract with the Spanish team in 2011, Partey is now aged 26 and is one of the best defensive midfielders in the world.
Standing at 6'1", the Ghanian international has been a rock for Diego Simeone for the past two seasons. Only now getting the recognition he deserves, Partey is a strong and versatile midfielder who is superb in the air and has excellent man-marking skills. An indispensable player in the current Atletico team, Partey's last two seasons at the top level of football has earned him a place in this list.
With his best years yet to come, the sky is the limit for this midfielder who is immensely driven.
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#4 Kalidou Koulibaly - Napoli, Senegal
Having recieved the award of the best defender in the Serie A for the 2018-19 season, Kalidou Koulibaly is one of the best defenders in the world, and easily the best African defender right now. Playing for Napoli in Italy, Koulibaly is a mountain of a man who has established himself to be a dominant force at the back in one of the best leagues in the world.
Last season, the Senegalese international played over 4300 minutes of club football, wherein he conceded only 0.8 goals per 90 minutes in Serie A. Koulibaly is as good in the air as he is on the ball, with several of the top attackers in the world having trouble getting past him in both the Serie A, and the Champions League.
Koulibaly is 28 right now, with a few of his peak years still ahead of him. Now one of the most coveted defenders in the world, do not be surprised if you see him make his way to one of Europe's best clubs.
#3 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - Arsenal FC, Gabon
Although number three on this list, there is no one else on here who has been as consistent, for as long, as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The captain of the Gabon National Team, Aubameyang proved his mettle in Borussia Dortmund for years before making a move to the English Premier League, wherein he has been the best player for Arsenal.
A former African Player of the Year, Aubameyang is one of the most lethal strikers in the world, having won the Golden Boot in both Bundesliga, and the Premier League. Since his arrival in the Premier League, no one has scored more goals than the former Dortmund player. This season, it would not be an exaggeration to say that he has been single-handedly carrying Arsenal's season so far.
Even though he just crossed 30 in June, Aubameyang shows no signs of slowing down, and will remain a constant threat to defenders everywhere for the foreseeable future.
#2 Sadio Mane - Liverpool FC, Senegal
With the way he is playing right now, putting Sadio Mane as even number two on any such list seems criminal. This season specifically, Mane has been the best player in the best team on the European continent, as Liverpool sit atop of the Premier League and look poised to advance to the next stage of the Champions League.
Winning a penalty in stoppage time against Leicester City, scoring a 95th-minute winner in a tough game against Aston Villa, the Senegalese international has been the most consistent forward for the Reds this year.
A winner of the Golden Boot last season and already scoring nine goals in the Premier League and Champions League this year, Mane's pace, explosiveness and quick thinking is a menace for any defender facing him.
For his national team, Mane has scored 19 goals in 67 games and is a sure-shot starter. Based on current form, the former Southampton player can even be considered to be the best Premier League player this season.
The only thing keeping him second on this list is his teammate, who plays on the other flank for Liverpool.
#1 Mohamed Salah - Liverpool FC, Egypt
Who else could it have been? As good as Sadio Mane has been this season, it would be unfair to the Egyptian King if he did not finish at the top of this list. Ever since Mohamed Salah has come back to England and joined Liverpool, he has simply been one of the top three forwards in the world.
Breaking the Premier League single-season goalscoring record in 2018, and following that world-class season with another phenomenal one last time around wherein he won the Champions League, Salah has been a genuine miracle worker for the Reds.
Known for his speed, dribbling, and finishing inside the box, Salah is a constant threat to any defence he faces. Having won the last two Golden Boots in England, Salah is a former PFA Player of the Year, as well as the current African Player of the Year, winning the latter back to back.
Poetically, the second and third players on that list during both the years were Mane and Aubameyang, respectively. An icon for Egypt, Salah helped them qualify for the World Cup last year and is by far their best and most important player.
Although Salah has started slowly this season and looks to be a little low on confidence, Liverpool fans do not doubt that the Egyptian will bounce back soon. As of now, he deserves to be on the top of this list.
Honourable mentions -
Riyad Mahrez - Manchester City
Wilfred Ndidi - Leicester City
