Friday, September 27, 2024

Latest

Related Posts

10 of the Richest African Footballers, Current and Former

Affiliate Disclosure: Some links on Spotcovery.com are affiliate links. If you click and purchase through these links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products and services we believe will provide value to our readers. Thank you for your support!
spot_img

Footballers are some of the highest-paid people in the world today. Their salaries are wildly big, and they show that by the kind of lifestyle they live. Some of the best-paid footballers, former and current, come from Africa. All of them have played club football in Europe, where they attract big contracts. Additionally, they also feature in international tournaments. 

Who are the richest African footballers in 2023? Read below to find out.

Become an insider.  Subscribe to our newsletter for more top trending stories like this!

People Also Read: Which Team Does Jude Bellingham Play For?

1. Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon) – $95 million

Former Cameroonian footballer Samuel Eto’o. Image Source: Wikimedia licensed under CC BY 2.0

Samuel Eto’o is the richest African footballer, with an estimated net worth of $95 million. The former Cameroonian international heads the Cameroonian Football Federation (FECAFOOT). He’s considered to be one of the finest African strikers, and that can be seen by the types of clubs he played for. 

Some of the biggest clubs he played for were Inter Milan, Barcelona and Chelsea. Additionally, he won individual awards that added to his wealth. These include:

  • 4 African Player of the Year Awards
  • 6 CAF Team of the Year
  • 2 UEFA Team of the Year  

2. Didier Drogba – (Ivory Coast) – $90 million

Didier Yves Drogba Téliby is the second richest footballer in Africa. He is the former captain of the Ivory Coast and the country’s leading scorer. His net worth is $90 million, which he’s largely made from his footballing career. In 2004, when he signed for Chelsea from French club Marseille, he joined for a club record fee of £24 million or $31 million.

At one point in his career, he was one of the highest-paid footballers, pocketing a staggering $15 million. His time at Chelsea cemented his place as one of the best African footballers and players in the world, having won multiple titles including the UEFA Champions League.

In 2020, the Ivorian contested for the president of his country’s football federation but didn’t get any votes. 

3. Mohammed Salah – (Egypt) – $90 million

Popularly known as the Egyptian King, Mohammed Salah is the third richest African footballer with a net worth of $90 million. The professional footballer plays for English Premier League side Liverpool whom he joined in 2017 for a club record fee of £34.3 million or $44 million. 

In 2022, Salah became the highest-paid Liverpool player in history when The Reds offered him a new contract worth £350,000/$457,000 per week or $22m annually. Prize money has also contributed to his net worth. After an impressive first season at Anflied, he received numerous awards: 

  • 2017, 2018: African Player of the Year 2019
  • 2017: BBC African Footballer of the Year

Additionally, the Egyptian has lucrative contracts with brands like Vodafone Egypt, Adidas and Falkens Tires.

People Also Read: 10 Most Successful National Football Teams in Africa

4. Yaya Touré – (Ivory Coast) – $70 million

Yaya Toure ranks fourth in our list of the richest African footballers. He has a net worth of $70 million. He was famous for his prowess in disrupting the opposition midfield. His talents saw him play for Olympiacos, Monaco, Barcelona and Manchester City, among other clubs. 

Toure won the African Cup of Nations with Ivory Coast in 2015. He’s received numerous individual accolades: 

  • African Footballer of the Year
  • Ivory Coast Footballer of the Year
  • BBC African Footballer of the Year

5. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – (Gabon) – $60 million

Pierre Emerick Aubameyang is the fifth richest African footballer. According to CA Knowledge, his net worth in 2023 is $60 million. Despite his disciplinary issues, he’s been able to find bigger clubs like Arsenal, Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund and Chelsea. He lives a flashy lifestyle and is known for his love for cars.    

Join our Spotcovery Global Black Community Facebook Group for early access to exclusive content and to share in a lively discussion.

5. John Obi Mikel – (Nigeria) – $60 million

The former Chelsea midfielder is among the richest African footballers. His time at Stamford Bridge was the most significant in his career. He joined in 2006 and played for the Blues for 11 years. During his time, he won the Premier League twice and the Champions League once. Mikel lifted the Africa Cup of Nations with Nigeria in 2013.  

Become an insider.  Subscribe to our newsletter for more top trending stories like this!

6. Seydou Keita – (Mali) – $51 million

Former Malian footballer Seydou Keita also features in our rich list. He is worth $51 million. His stint with Barcelona is the most prolific of his career. He joined the Catalan club in 2008 from Sevilla and spent four years there. During this time, he won everything there was to win, from La Liga, Super Copa, and FIFA Club World Cup to the Champions League

After he left Barca, he joined the Chinese Super League before returning to Spain with Valencia. His final two clubs were Roma and El Jaish.

People Also Reach: 10 Richest Football Clubs in Africa

7. Emmanuel Adebayor – (Togo) – $45 million

The Togolese international is one of the richest African footballers. He played for a number of high-profile clubs in England like Arsenal Football Club, Tottenham Hotspur, Crystal Palace and Manchester City. He represented his national team Togo 88 times and remains the team’s top scorer. 

8. Michael Essien – (Ghana) – $35 million

The Ghanaian international is one of the richest African footballers in Africa, with a net worth of $35 million. He started his career in Europe in Bastia. The midfielder moved to Lyon and then Chelsea, where he made his name. He spent nine years at the club and then went to AC Milan. Essien played 59 times for the Ghanaian national football team. 

9. Sadio Mane – (Senegalese) – $25 million

The Senegalese footballer ranks ninth on the list of the richest African footballers. He has a net worth of $25 million. He joined Bayern Munich during the 2023 summer transfer window from Liverpool. At Bayern, he is earning $320 000 per week, which explains his huge net worth. However, the player left after one season and now plays for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League. The club paid a transfer fee of around £24m and earns £650,000 a week.

People Also Read: Top 12 African Players in the Premier League in 2023

10. Kevin-Prince Boateng – (Ghana) – $25 million

Kevin-Prince Boateng joins the list of the highest-paid African footballers. Although he was legible to play for Germany, he chose to represent Ghana, the country of his father’s birth. His brother Jerome Boateng represents Germany. 

Kevin Prince has played for some of the biggest clubs in Europe. He started out in Hertha Berlin and then moved to Tottenham Hotspur. He then went on to represent Borussia Dortmund, Portsmouth, AC Milan and Barcelona, among others. 

Those are the top 10 richest African footballers in Africa in 2023. These players continue to thrive financially even though some of them have retired. It shows that good investment outside their careers is important as football is a short career. 

Nearly 80% of consumers visit directories with reviews to find a local business. List your business for free in our exclusive Spotcovery Black-Owned Business Directory.

Spotcovery offers unique and fresh daily content on Black culture, lifestyle, and experiences. We talk about everything black, black people, black-owned and black-owned businesses. We also deliver authentic and relevant content that will inform, inspire and empower you! The future of black media is critical to today’s black experience! Our primary audience includes African American, African, Afro-Caribbean, and people of African heritage. Black culture is for the culture!

Become an insider.  Subscribe to our newsletter for more top trending stories like this!

Agnes Amondi
Agnes Amondi
Agnes Amondi is a sports enthusiast who enjoys sharing sports knowledge. Over the years, she has also written on different niches, and she now brings that experience at Spotcovery. She writes sports content and also, Arts & Culture, Recipe, Beauty and more.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here
Captcha verification failed!
CAPTCHA user score failed. Please contact us!

Popular Articles