When it comes to football, the continent of Africa has consistently produced some of the most talented and decorated footballers. These footballers have stood out for their skills and remarkable achievements.
From Cameroon legend Samuel Eto’o to Ivory Coast great Yaya Toure, this list explores the top 5 most decorated African footballers in history;
Samuel Eto’o (18 trophies)
Cameroon great Samuel Eto’o, widely described as the greatest African footballer of all time, is the most decorated African footballer in history with 18 trophies. Eto’o enjoyed a hugely successful career with spells across Mallorca, Barcelona and Inter Milan. He won three La Liga titles, two Copa Del Rey titles, two Spanish Super Cups, three UEFA Champions League titles, one FIFA Club World Cup, one Serie A title, two Coppa Italia titles and one Italian Super Cup.
Eto’o also won gold medal for Cameroon in the 2003 Olympics as well as two African Cup of Nations trophies – 2000 and 2002.
He also won several individual accolades which includes the African footballer of the year award four times and two golden boot awards at the African Cup of Nations, in 2006 and 2008.
Yaya Toure (18 trophies)
The former Manchester City midfielder ranks second on this list having won 18 trophies, same as Eto’o. The iconic figure enjoyed a top-level playing career with trophy-laden spells at Olympiacos, Barcelona and Manchester City. Toure won two trophies at Olympiacos before moving to Barcelona, where he was won two La Liga titles, one UEFA Champions League title, one UEFA Super Cup, one FIFA Club World Cup, one Copa Del Rey and one Spanish Super Cup.
The legendary midfielder then moved to England to join Manchester City in 2010 where he won three English Premier League titles, two League Cups, one FA Cup and one FA Community Shield before ending his career in China with Qingdao Huanghai where he won the Chinese League One title in 2019.
Yaya Toure was also the recipient of multiple individual awards including winning the African footballer of the year award on four occasions.
Didier Drogba (17 trophies)
Former Ivory Coast forward Didier Drogba won 17 trophies in an illustrious career, enjoying spells across Chelsea (twice), Olympique Marseille and Galatasaray. Drogba won four English Premier League titles, four FA Cup titles, three English League Cups, one UEFA Champions League title, one Turkish Super League amongst other trophies.
The Chelsea legend also finished second with Ivory Coast twice in the African Cup of Nations, in 2006 and 2012, while he was also the recipient of two African footballer of the year awards in 2006 and in 2009.
Nwankwo Kanu (17 trophies)
The Super Eagles legend Nwankwo Kanu appears on this list having claimed 17 trophies during his playing days. ‘Papilo’, first won the Nigerian Premier League in 1993 with Iwuanyanwu Nationale now referred to as Heartland FC, before moving to Europe with spells across Ajax Amsterdam, Inter Milan, Arsenal and Portsmouth.
Kanu won three Dutch Eredivisie titles, two English Premier League titles, one UEFA Champions League, one UEFA Super Cup amongst other titles. He was also part of Nigeria’s Dream Team that won gold medal at the 1996 Olympics, while he was also the recipient of two African footballer of the year awards in 1996 and 1999.
Seydou Keita (17 trophies)
Mali legend Seydou Keita also won 17 trophies in his playing career. The elite midfielder won two trophies in France before making the switch to Spain with Barcelona, where he won 14 trophies between 2008 and 2012.
Keita finished third with Mali on two occasions at the African Cup of Nations, in 2012 and 2013 and was named in the team of the tournament on four occasions between 2002 and 2013.
