In Africa, the career of a footballer is not only a journey of conquering successes on the pitch, but also a story of perseverance, effort and sometimes even miracles. Behind trophies and tickets to Europe's big teams, there are arduous roads and battles to overcome social and economic prejudices. These players not only represent their nation's pride on the pitch, but are also contributors to positive changes in the community. Here is a list of the 10 richest football player in Africa shared by Win tips bet!
Top 10 richest football player in Africa
1. Sadio Mane – $20 million
Sadio Mane is a versatile forward known for his exceptional goal-scoring ability and various technical skills. He possesses speed, technique, and outstanding ball control, along with creativity and tactical awareness in his gameplay. Mane is also highly regarded for his decision-making, agility, balance, dribbling, and feinting abilities. In addition to offensive qualities, he contributes significantly to defensive tasks for his team.
Currently, Sadio Mane has moved to play for Al Nassr club in Saudi Arabia, where he will be teammates with Cristiano Ronaldo. Beyond the pitch, Mane is renowned for his charitable activities and positive social contributions. He has been involved in building hospitals and schools for the people in his homeland, Senegal.
As of estimates up to 2023, Sadio Mane is ranked among the wealthiest African football players in the world, with an estimated net worth of $20 million. This is a clear testament to Mane's success both on and off the field, bringing pride to African football.
2. Victor Moses – $21 million
Victor Moses began his career in the Championship with Crystal Palace before moving to Wigan Athletic, where he made his Premier League debut in 2010. At Wigan, Moses quickly gained attention for his talented and versatile style of play.
After two impressive seasons at Wigan, Victor Moses attracted the interest of top European clubs like Chelsea. He joined Chelsea in the summer of 2012. There, Moses continued to develop and achieved significant titles including the Europa League and Premier League.
Although born in Nigeria, Victor Moses played for England's youth teams at U-16, U-17, U-19, and U-21 levels. However, he chose to represent the Nigerian national team in his international career. He made his debut for Nigeria in 2012 and earned 38 caps, scoring 12 goals before temporarily retiring from the national team in 2013. Victor Moses is known as a talented player with speed and technique, capable of playing multiple attacking positions and being an integral part of the clubs he played for.
3. Michael Essien – $35 million
Michael Essien is a midfielder known for his exceptional physicality and often played in the central midfield position. He was recognized as a box-to-box midfielder, utilizing his energy to support both attacking and defensive phases of play. Essien's playing style is seen as powerful and robust, earning him the nickname "The Bison." In addition to his work rate, physicality, and defensive skills, Essien also possesses good individual technique, vision, high tactical intelligence, and excellent leadership qualities.
Essien's career was closely associated with major European football clubs. He played for Chelsea, where he left a profound mark during the 2000s. At Chelsea, Essien was a pillar of the team, winning significant titles such as the Premier League and FA Cup. Later, Essien moved to AC Milan and then Real Madrid, where he continued to achieve success in his career before retiring.
Michael Essien is not only known for his outstanding football talent but also as an ideal role model for professionalism and fighting spirit on the field. He is considered one of Ghana's finest football players and widely admired in the international football community.
4. Emmanuel Adebayor – $45 million
Emmanuel Adebayor is a well-known footballer from Togo, representing the Togolese national team at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, marking Togo's first and only appearance in this tournament to date. He is currently the all-time leading goal scorer for the Togo national team with 32 goals.
Thierry Henry is known for his speed, strength, excellent technique, goal-scoring ability, and great teamwork with his teammates. He had a successful football career and made significant contributions to the clubs he played for.
Henry began his career at Monaco before moving to Juventus and then Arsenal, where he left a deep mark. At Arsenal, Henry was known as one of the world's top strikers, winning numerous titles including the Premier League and FA Cup. He also won the UEFA Champions League and La Liga after moving to Barcelona, where he played alongside Lionel Messi and Xavi Hernandez in a formidable attacking lineup.
However, during his career, Henry also faced discipline-related issues. One of Henry's highlights was winning the World Cup 1998 and Euro 2000 with the French national team.
5. John Mikel Obi – $45 million
John Obi Mikel started his football career at the age of 16 with Enyimba FC in Nigeria, where he quickly attracted attention with his talent. Success at Enyimba paved the way for Mikel to join the Nigerian U-17 and later the U-20 national teams. His excellence drew the interest of European clubs, and in 2006, Mikel joined Chelsea FC. At Chelsea, he spent over a decade and made a significant impact with impressive performances.
In his international career, Mikel played for the Nigerian national team over 90 times from 2005 to 2019. He was an integral part of the Nigerian team that won the African Cup of Nations in 2013. Additionally, Mikel had notable successes with Chelsea, winning major titles such as the UEFA Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup, and Europa League.
After retiring from professional football, Mikel focused on investment and business, especially in real estate. He has built a diverse and successful career outside of football, demonstrating his influence and versatility.
You can refer to: List of the best online bookmakers in 2024
6. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – $50 million
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is the top goal scorer in the history of the Gabon national team. He began his international career in 2009 at the age of 19 and participated in four Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and the 2012 Summer Olympics. In 2016, Aubameyang was honored as the African Player of the Year, becoming the first Gabonese player born in Europe to receive this award.
At club level, Aubameyang started his career with AC Milan in Italy but later moved to France to play for other clubs. In 2018, he became Gabon's most expensive transfer when he joined Arsenal for £56 million. Currently, Aubameyang plays for Marseille in the French Ligue 1.
7. Yaya Toure – $70 million
Yaya Toure is a versatile and complete player, often playing in central midfield as a holding midfielder or box-to-box midfielder. He switches between offensive and defensive roles, serving as a second player in the team's scheme. Toure can also play as a central defender or even as a number 10 if needed.
Known for his passing ability, vision, technique, and good ball control, Toure is also skilled in defense and often disrupts opponents' attacks to regain possession. He is an excellent free-kick and penalty taker, scoring goals from set-pieces and powerful headers.
Toure had a notable career in the Africa Cup of Nations, representing his national team in six tournaments from 2006 to 2015. He helped his team win the title in 2015 and finish as runners-up in 2006 and 2012. Toure is considered a great player of his generation and has left a deep mark in African football.
8. Didier Drogba – $90 million
Didier Drogba is a legendary player known for his physical strength, speed, aerial prowess, and precise finishing technique. He is also known for his ability to hold up the ball and organize attacks. Drogba shone in big matches, with an impressive scoring record, especially in finals, scoring 10 goals in 10 finals and winning 10 titles.
As one of the greatest African players of all time, Drogba is often ranked among the top three African forwards alongside George Weah and Samuel Eto'o. Besides his on-field career, Drogba has connections with major brands such as Samsung, Pepsi, Adidas, Nike, and Konami. He is famous not only for his excellent goal-scoring ability but also for his passion and love for the game, as well as his hobby of collecting luxury cars.
9. Mohamed Salah – $90 million
Salah is a prominent versatile forward known for his speed, fluid movement, and precise finishing skills. He is also known for his agility, dribbling technique, and good ball control. Salah can use both speed and finesse in dribbling to bypass opponents and create goal-scoring opportunities for himself or teammates.
Salah primarily plays as a right winger, allowing him the freedom to move and utilize his strong left foot to create scoring chances. He can also make runs behind the opposing defense to find scoring positions. Additionally, Salah can play as a second striker or attacking midfielder, supporting teammates in attack and scoring goals.
With Liverpool, Salah has made significant contributions to winning major titles, including the UEFA Champions League. Salah is considered one of the top players in football today, showcasing flexibility and effectiveness in attack.
10. Samuel Eto'o – $95 million
During his peak career, Eto'o was regarded as one of the top strikers in the world and one of the greatest African players of all time. He won the African Player of the Year award four times in 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2010. At the age of 16, Eto'o joined Real Madrid, one of the wealthiest clubs in global football.
Before moving to Mallorca in 2000, Eto'o struggled for regular playing time at Real Madrid due to strong competition from more experienced teammates. He scored 70 goals before moving to Mallorca. In 2005, while at Barcelona, Eto'o finished third in FIFA's World Player of the Year voting. He was also nominated for the FIFA FIFPro World XI in 2005 and 2006. After retiring, Eto'o found success in investing in various real estate projects worldwide, leveraging significant income potential from his playing career.
Conclude
The list of African footballers in the top 10 richest football player in Africa is a clear testament to the immense influence of football in modern society. In addition to their achievements on the pitch, they have built remarkable careers and become a very important source of motivation for the young generation, especially in Africa, fueling the desire to pursue their dreams and achieve incredible success. Thank you for following our article!
See also: List of top 10 famous soccer players with number 24
