Top 10 richest football player in Africa today
In Africa, the popularity and success of footballers not only attracted sporting interest but also became cultural and economic highlights. Among these stars, there are names that are not only famous on the pitch, but also achieve incredible achievements financially. Africa’s richest players are not only successful role models in their football careers but also testament to the impact of sport on the community and society. Today with Premiumsoccertips learn about the top 10 richest football player in Africa!
Top 10 richest football player in Africa
1. Sadio Mane – $20 million
As a versatile striker, Sadio Mané is a talented attacking player with many impressive qualities. He possesses accurate shooting ability, high speed, and excellent individual technique, along with good ball control and dribbling skills. Additionally, Mané demonstrates creativity and tactical awareness in his style of play, excelling as an outstanding goal scorer.
Currently, Mané has transferred to Al Nassr club in Saudi Arabia, where he will play alongside Cristiano Ronaldo. He frequently participates in charity activities, supporting the construction of hospitals and schools for the community in Senegal. In 2023, Sadio Mané was estimated to be one of the wealthiest footballers in Africa, with a net worth of around $20 million.
2. Victor Moses – $21 million
Victor Moses began his career in the Championship with Crystal Palace before moving to Wigan Athletic. At Wigan, Moses performed impressively and made his Premier League debut in 2010. He attracted the attention of top club Chelsea and transferred there in the summer of 2012.
Born in Nigeria, Victor Moses has had a notable career with the national team. Although he played for various English youth teams, Moses decided to play for the Nigerian national team at the senior level. He made his debut for the Nigerian team in 2012 and earned 38 caps, scoring 12 goals before temporarily retiring from international football in 2013.
3. Michael Essien – $35 million
Michael Essien is a midfielder primarily known for his central midfield role, characterized by energy and the ability to exert power both in attacking and defensive roles. He is often described as a box-to-box midfielder due to his versatility and ability to operate across the entire pitch, as well as his strong and robust playing style. Therefore, he was nicknamed “The Bison.” In addition to his work rate and defensive skills, Essien also possesses good individual technique, tactical vision, and leadership qualities.
In his career, Essien has played for several top clubs like Chelsea, AC Milan, and Real Madrid. He has left a mark with impressive performances and consistency on the field. Essien is a highly admired player not only for his talent but also for his fighting spirit and commitment in every match.
4. Emmanuel Adebayor – $45 million
Emmanuel Adebayor is a Togolese striker born in 1984. He started his European career with French club Metz in 2001 before moving to Monaco and then Arsenal. At Arsenal, Adebayor was famous for his goal-scoring ability and individual technique, reaching his peak in the 2007-2008 season when he scored 30 goals in all competitions.
Later, Adebayor moved to Manchester City in 2009 in a high-profile transfer. Here, he continued to demonstrate impressive goal-scoring abilities before moving to Real Madrid on loan. He also played for clubs like Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace in the English Premier League.
For the national team, Adebayor was a key player for the Togo national team. He represented the team in major tournaments such as the Africa Cup of Nations and the FIFA World Cup 2006. He is the top goal scorer in the history of the Togo national team with 32 goals.
In his later career, Adebayor moved to play in various leagues around the world, including Turkey and Paraguay. He announced his retirement from professional football in 2023, ending a memorable journey in international football.
5. John Mikel Obi – $45 million
John Obi Mikel is a Nigerian footballer with an impressive career that began at the age of 16 when he joined Enyimba football club in the Nigerian Premier League. Mikel’s success at Enyimba helped him gain fame and earned him a call-up to the Nigerian U-17 national team.
Subsequently, Mikel moved to Europe and signed with Chelsea FC, where he stayed for many years and achieved significant success. He won the UEFA Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup, and Europa League with Chelsea, becoming an integral part of the team.
In international career, John Obi Mikel represented the Nigerian national team for 14 years, from 2005 to 2019, playing 91 matches and scoring 6 goals. He won the Africa Cup of Nations in 2013 with the Nigerian national team.
Apart from his playing career, Mikel has invested in real estate and had successful personal business ventures, contributing to building his wealth. With all his achievements in football and investment, John Obi Mikel has built an admirable career and made progress in both sports and business.
6. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – $50 million
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is the all-time top goal scorer for the Gabon national football team. He started playing internationally for the team in 2009 at the age of 19 and participated in four Africa Cup of Nations tournaments along with the 2012 Summer Olympics. Aubameyang was honored as the African Player of the Year in 2016, becoming the first Gabonese and second European-born player to receive this award.
After beginning his professional career with AC Milan in Italy, Aubameyang never made an appearance for the club and instead had several seasons on loan at clubs in France. He became the most expensive player in Gabonese history and one of the most expensive African players of all time when he joined Arsenal in 2018 for £56 million. Aubameyang is currently playing for Marseille in Ligue 1.
7. Yaya Touré – $70 million
Touré typically played a central midfield role, either as a defensive midfielder or a box-to-box midfielder, seamlessly transitioning between attacking and defensive duties. He could also play as a center-back or as an attacking midfielder. His main strengths included precise passing, game intelligence, and impressive physical fitness.
Touré possessed excellent technical skills and ball control, along with strong defensive abilities to intercept opponents’ attacks and regain possession with powerful tackles. He was also a specialist in long-range and headed goals, as well as a dangerous player in free-kick and penalty situations. In his international career, he participated in six Africa Cup of Nations tournaments in 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, and 2015, contributing to Nigeria’s championship victory in 2015 and finishing as runners-up in 2006 and 2012.
8. Didier Drogba – $90 million
Didier Drogba is a great footballer known not only for his skills but also for his competitive spirit. He is noted for his speed, strength, aerial ability, and powerful and accurate shots, along with excellent ball retention and handling skills. Drogba is famous for shining in important matches, and his goal-scoring record in finals is impressive, with 10 goals in 10 matches and winning 10 titles.
As one of the greatest African players, Drogba is often ranked among the top three strikers in Africa, alongside George Weah and Samuel Eto’o. Besides his on-field career, he has strong ties with major brands like Samsung, Pepsi, Adidas, Nike, and Konami. Drogba is renowned not only for his exceptional goal-scoring ability but also for his passion and love for the game, as well as his passion for luxury cars.
9. Mohamed Salah – $90 million
Mohamed Salah is a renowned player known for his speed, movement, cold finishing ability, and agility in dribbling situations. He is also known for his ball control and first touch, combined with using speed and dribbling technique to outpace opponents and create goal-scoring opportunities for himself or teammates.
Salah primarily plays as a right-sided winger, where he can use his strong left foot to cut inside and unleash dangerous shots or make quick passes to create chances for teammates. He can also play as an attacking midfielder or second striker in the central area. With Liverpool, Salah has made significant contributions to winning multiple titles, including the UEFA Champions League. Salah is one of the most influential players and plays a crucial role in Liverpool’s recent success.
10. Samuel Eto’o – $95 million
Samuel Eto’o is one of the top strikers in the world during his prime and is considered one of the greatest African players of all time. He won the African Player of the Year award a record four times: in 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2010. Eto’o began his career at Real Madrid at the age of 16, joining one of the wealthiest clubs in the world.
Before moving to Mallorca in 2000, where he scored 70 goals, Eto’o was loaned out multiple times due to intense competition from more experienced players. He finished third in the FIFA World Player of the Year voting in 2005 while playing for Barcelona. He was also nominated twice for the FIFA FIFPro World XI in 2005 and 2006.
Aside from his on-field career, Eto’o has invested in numerous real estate projects worldwide, leveraging extraordinary earning potential from his playing days. Samuel Eto’o is a monument of African football and has made a profound impact on the history of this sport.
Conclude
Thus, the inclusion of African players in the list of the richest is a convincing demonstration of the power of football in modern culture. Besides his achievements on the pitch, richest football player in Africa has built admirable careers and is an inspiration for young generations around the world, especially in Africa, to pursue their dreams and achieve great success.
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