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.
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Who are the richest African footballers in 2023? Read below to find out.
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1. Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon) – $95 million
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 Drogba is the second richest footballer in Africa. 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.
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. He 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.
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4. Yaya Toure – (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.
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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.
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.
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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.
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10. Kevin-Prince Boateng – (Ghana) – $25 million
Kevin-Prince Boateng is one of the richest 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.
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