The Golden Ball award is usually presented to the best performing player over the period of a season and it has been in motion since 1956. The 2026 edition will take place in October, with 30 nominees set to compete for the chance of being named the winner of the prestigious award.
Only one African footballer has won the award since its inception, although several others have finished in high positions after making history with their performances for their club side.
Here are the top five African player rankings in the history of the award.
George Weah (Winner, 1995)
African legend George Weah remains the only player from Africa to have won the Golden Ball award following his incredible triumph in 1995.
The Liberian great enjoyed a stunning season playing for Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan.
Weah was also the first player not from Europe, to win the award, and he later won the FIFA World Player of the Year in that same year, laying hands on the two biggest individual prizes in football in the same year.
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Sadio Mane (2nd place, 2022)
Senegalese forward Sadio Mane came close to winning the Golden Ball in 2020, but only finished second, with former France and Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema, winning the award after an outstanding individual campaign for club.
Mane also enjoyed a remarkable season, helping Senegal to their first-ever Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title in 2021, scoring the winning penalty kick in the final and helped them seal qualification for the 2022 FIFA World Cup tournament as well.
He also helped Liverpool to the final of the Champions League and played a big role in their FA Cup and League Cup success.
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Mohamed Salah (4th place, 2025)
Egyptian superstar Mohamed Salah earned a stunning fourth place finish in the last edition of the Golden Ball award, only finishing behind winner Ousmane Dembele, Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal and Vitinha in the final rankings.
Salah enjoyed a stunning individual season and masterminded Liverpool’s Premier League triumph under Arne Slot, finishing as the top scorer and also the player with the most assists.
He won several other awards and eventually finished fourth in the Golden Ball after previously finishing in fifth place in 2019 and 2022.
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Didier Drogba (4th place, 2007)
Ivorian legend Didier Drogba also earned a remarkable fourth place finish in the 2007 Golden Ball award ceremony.
The former Marseille forward enjoyed a remarkable season with Chelsea in the Premier League but only missed out on the award majorly after he did not win the Premier League or Champions League.
Instead, Brazil legend Kaka won the award, while Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi finished second and third respectively, with Drogba earning a fourth place finish.
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Samuel Eto’o (5th place, 2009)
Arguably Africa’s greatest footballer of all time, Samuel Eto’o finished fifth in the 2009 Golden Ball award ceremony after an outstanding season.
The Cameroon legend enjoyed an amazing season with Barcelona, winning the treble with the Spanish club.
Eto’o was also named in the CAF Team of the Year and ended up winning the Africa Men’s Player of the Year award in 2010, marking his fourth triumph.
