Mohamed Salah and Samuel Eto'o headline the Top 10 Richest Footballers in Africa [2023]

Top 10 Richest Footballers in Africa [2023]

Mohamed Salah and Samuel Eto'o headline the Top 10 Richest Footballers in Africa [2023]

David Ben 23:55 - 05.04.2023

African footballers sure know how to hold their own when it comes to the wealth-list in football.

Football as we know it is one of the most popular sports in the world with millions of people watching and following the game regularly and passionately supporting their favorite teams and players.

There are so many superstars in the beautiful game commanding mammoth figures at their club sides and seemingly ensuring stadiums are full as fans jostle to watch them perform every week.

Africa is certainly not left out of the class of those superstars in question with the continent boasting of a considerable number of stars playing at the very highest level of the game and raking huge amounts of money.

These African stars have managed to build their own brand identity and establish a level of reputation on a global scale just like their European counterparts, even though the figures are far from comparable with the Messis' and Ronaldos' of this world.

In this article, we will review the top 10 richest African footballers by Net Worth.

But who is the richest African footballer in the world?

Who is the Richest African Footballer in the World?

As of April 2023, Samuel Eto'o is the richest African footballer on the planet.

The former Cameroon international is estimated to have a net worth of $95 million, making him the world's No.1 richest African footballer.

However, we will now review the world's top 10 richest footballers in Africa in 2023 by net worth, using figures from Wealthy Gorilla and Celebrity Net Worth.

Revealed: Top 10 Richest African Footballers in the World (2023)

10. Sadio Mané (Net Worth) - $20 million

Top 10 Richest footballers in Africa
Sadio Mane is among the richest African footballers in the world
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Sadio Mané is a 30-year-old Senegalese professional footballer who plays as a forward for Bundesliga club Bayern Munich and the Senegal national team. 

Mane is widely regarded as one of the best players in the world and amongst the greatest African players of all time.

He is known for his pressing, dribbling, and speed. 

Mané began his professional career with Ligue 2 club Metz at the age of 19, but he departed after one season to join Austrian club Red Bull Salzburg in 2012 for a fee of €4 million, winning a league and cup domestic double in the 2013–14 season.

 Later that summer, Mané transferred to English club Southampton for a club-record fee of £11.8 million. 

While at St.Mary’s, he set a new Premier League record for the fastest hat-trick, scored in 176 seconds in a 6–1 win over Aston Villa in 2015. 

Mané signed for fellow Premier League club Liverpool in 2016, for a reported fee of £34 million. 

He helped the Merseyside Reds reach back-to-back UEFA Champions League Finals in 2018 and 2019, winning the latter.

 He also finished as the league's joint-top goalscorer in the 2018–19 season, winning the Premier League Golden Boot. 

Mané then helped end Liverpool's 30-year league title drought by winning the 2019–20 Premier League. 

In October 2021, he scored his 100th Premier League goal, becoming the third African to reach the landmark. 

Mané finished fourth and second in the 2019 and 2022 editions of the Ballon d'Or, respectively; and in The Best FIFA Men's Player he ranked fifth in 2019 and fourth in 2020. 

In the summer of 2022, Mané joined Bundesliga club Bayern Munich on a contract with the German side until 30 June 2025.

 The fee was reported to be €32 million (£27.4m) potentially rising to €41 million (£35m) based on appearances plus individual and team achievements.

 At international level, Mané has registered 35 goals in 95 appearances for the Teranga Lions of Senegal since his debut in 2012. 

Mane is currently Senegal’s all-time top goalscorer, and third in all-time appearances. 

He represented Senegal at the 2012 Olympics, as well as the 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2021 editions of the Africa Cup of Nations. 

In the 2019 tournament, Mané helped Senegal to a runners-up finish, and a year later, was named African Footballer of the Year.

 In the 2021 AFCON final, Mané scored the winning kick in the penalty shoot-out against Egypt to give Senegal their first Africa Cup of Nations title and he was also named the Player of the Tournament. In 2022, he was crowned African Player of the Year for the second time. 

Mané also represented his nation at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, in its second-ever appearance in the competition. 

However, he missed the 202 FIFA World Cup in Qatar due to injury, although he was included in the preliminary World Cup squad list. 

Sadio Mane is a versatile forward and one of the most prolific Senegalese players of all time. 

His main traits are his finishing, speed, technique, and trickery in possession, as well as his decision-making, tactical awareness, creativity, agility, balance, control, touch on the ball, and dribbling skills.

 He has often drawn praise in the media for his intelligent play, unselfish play, passing, and his ability to get into good positions, from which he can score goals or create chances for teammates. 

Mane is known for his quiet and timid personality, and his ability to cope with pressure has also been highlighted as one of his main strengths. 

Beyond his offensive, technical, and creative qualities, his high defensive work-rate has also been noted by pundits, as well as his ability in the air, despite his stature of 1.75m (5' 9").

 Mané primarily operates as a winger on the left flank, a position which allows him to cut into the centre and shoot on goal with his stronger, right foot.

 During the 2021–22 season with Liverpool, following the arrival of Luis Díaz, Mané began playing in a more central position in attack. 

Outside of football, Mane has also been famed for his incredible philanthropy.

 In 2019, Mané donated £250,000 ($319,103; €284,813) to build a school in his home town of Bambali, Senegal.

 In March 2020, Mané donated £41,000 ($52,564; €46,083) to the national committee fighting COVID-19 in Senegal. 

In 2021, he donated £500,000 ($684,932; €561,987) towards the construction of a hospital in Bambali.

 Mane has also financed the building of a school, petrol station and a post office for his local community, supplying the school with free laptops and internet from the 4G internet service he financed in the village.

 In total, Mane has spent more than £700,000 ($684,932; €561,987) on these upgrades. 

In addition, he also commissioned a €70-a-month stipend to each family in his 2,000-person hometown. 

This is roughly equivalent to a month's wage for a Senegalese citizen on a minimum wage.

 Following Senegal’s triumph at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, he was appointed a Grand Officer of the National Order of the Lion by President of Senegal Macky Sall. 

How does Sadio Mane make his money? 

Mane primarily makes his money by playing football.

 The Senegalese skipper is the highest-paid player in Bayern Munich with an annual pay check of £19.4 million. 

As of 2023, Sadio Mane is estimated to have a net worth of $20 million, placing him amongst the richest African footballers in the world.

9. Victor Moses (Net Worth) - $20.6 million

Victor Moses is among the Richest African footballers in the world
Victor Moses Net Worth
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Victor Moses is a 32-year-old Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a winger on either flank for Russian club Spartak Moscow. 

He has also been deployed as a wing-back at times during his career. 

Moses began his career in the Championship with Crystal Palace, before his performances caught the eye of Wigan Athletic, where he made his Premier League debut in 2010. 

After two years, following improvement in his performances, Moses was courted by the then-European champions Chelsea.

In the summer of 2012, he eventually signed for them.

Despite ten goals in all competitions during his first season, he spent his second season on loan at fellow Premier League giants Liverpool, before going on a third loan at Stoke City and a fourth on loan at West Ham United

Moses was recalled to Chelsea for the 2016–17 season under Antonio Conte where he made 34 appearances as Chelsea won the Premier League. 

After failing to impress during the next campaign, Moses spent subsequent loan spells with Fenerbahçe, Inter Milan and Spartak Moscow in the following seasons. 

Moses signed for Inter Milan on a six-month loan deal with an option to buy on 23 January 2020.

 He was one of three former Premier League players to join Inter Milan in the January window, alongside Ashley Young and Christian Eriksen.

In July 2021, Chelsea confirmed that Moses had completed a permanent transfer to Spartak Moscow, ending his nine-year association with the club. 

Spartak announced on the same day that he signed a two-year contract with the club.

On 10 February 2022, Moses extended his contract with Spartak to 2024.

 Moses won the 2021-22 Russian Cup with his club on 29 May in a 2-1 Old Russian Derby victory over Dynamo Moscow.

Born in Nigeria, Moses represented England youth teams at under-16, under-17, under-19 and under-21 levels, but opted to play for Nigeria as opposed to being fully capped for England.

 He made his debut for the Nigerian senior team in 2012 and earned 38 caps and scored 12 times before retiring from international matches in 2018. 

He played in Nigeria's winning campaign at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, as well as the campaign in the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Victor Moses is one of the richest Nigerian footballers and as of April 2023, the 32-year-old winger is estimated to have a net worth of roughly $20.6 million, placing him among the richest African footballers in the world.

9. Michael Essien (Net Worth) - $35 million

Michael Essien among the richest African footballers in the world
Michael Essien Net Worth

Michael Kojo Essien is a 40-year-old Ghanaian former professional footballer who played as a midfielder and is currently a member of Danish Superliga club Nordsjælland's coaching staff. 

Michael Essien was also capped for the Ghana national team more than 50 times.

 During his prime, Essien was considered one of the best midfielders in the world.

Essien started his career playing for Liberty Professionals in Ghana. 

In 2000, he moved to France to join Bastia, where he would spend three seasons and appear in over 60 matches before joining reigning Ligue 1 champions Lyon in 2003. 

At Lyon, Essien won back-to-back league titles in 2003–04 and 2004–05, and won Ligue 1 Player of the Year in 2005.

 During his five-year stint in France, he acquired French citizenship. 

In 2005, Essien signed with Premier League club Chelsea for a £24.4 million transfer fee and, at the time of his signing, was the most expensive African footballer in history.

 At Chelsea, Essien helped the club win the Premier League in 2006 and 2010, as well as three FA Cups and one League Cup. 

He won the UEFA Champions League with Chelsea in 2011–12, while he was also part of the Blues team which finished as runner-ups in the 2007–08 UEFA Champions League, having lost the finals on penalties against Manchester United. 

Michael Essien has won the Chelsea Goal of the Season award twice, in the 2006–07 and 2008–09 seasons. 

Essien has also represented clubs like Real Madrid, AC Milan and Panathinaikos amongst others.

He is also a former Ghanaian international.

 At youth level, he represented his country at the 1999 FIFA U-17 World Championship and 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship, with the latter team finishing as runner-up.

Essien made his senior team debut in January 2002 and has represented his nation at three Africa Cup of Nations tournaments. 

Essien has also represented Ghana at the 2006 and 2014 FIFA World Cups.

Essien was a physically strong midfielder, who often played in a central midfield role and was known for his powerful shooting from distance.

 He was often touted as a box-to-box midfielder for his ability to exert energy in supporting both offensive and defensive play, and for his powerful and tough tackling playing style, which has earned him the nickname "The Bison".

 Essien was also versatile as he could play as a defender, both on the right of defence and in the centre. 

In addition to his incredible work-rate, physicality, and defensive skills, Essien also possessed good technique, vision, tactical intelligence, and leadership qualities.

In August 2020 it was revealed, that Essien was training with Danish Superliga club Nordsjælland, where he also got the opportunity to be part of the work around the Superliga team and several of the club's academy teams.

Nordsjælland is in partnership with Right to Dream Academy in Ghana.

The club eventually confirmed the following month, that they had affiliated with Essien as part of the club's coaching team for the 2020–21 season. 

However, details of his current contract with the club is not yet known.

As of 2023, Michael Essien has a net worth estimated to be around $35 million, making him one of the richest African footballers in the world in 2023.

7. Emmanuel Adebayor (Net Worth) - $45 million

Emmanuel Adebayor is one of the richest African footballers in the world
Emmanuel Adebayor Net Worth

Sheyi Emmanuel Adebayor is a 39-year-old Togolese former professional footballer who played as a striker. 

He previously played for Premier League clubs Arsenal, Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace, as well as Ligue 1 club Metz, Monégasque team Monaco, LaLiga club Real Madrid, Turkish clubs İstanbul Başakşehir and Kayserispor, Paraguay's Club Olimpia and Togolese club Semassi.

 He was voted African Footballer of the Year for 2008 while playing at Arsenal,and during his latter career, when he joined Olimpia Asunción in 2020, he became the highest-paid player in Paraguay. 

Adebayor represented the Togo national team at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, the country's debut, and to date only, appearance at the World Cup. 

In January 2010, Adebayor was one of the players involved when the Togo team's bus came under gunfire on the way to the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations in Angola, after which he retired from national team duty. 

In 2013, he returned to the Togo team for the 2013 African Cup of Nations in South Africa, where he helped them to qualify for the quarter-finals. 

He is currently Togo's all-time top goalscorer with 32 goals.

 After his spell at Olimpia, Adebayor signed for Togolese Championnat National club Semassi in July 2021. 

In his prime, Adebayor drew comparisons to Super Eagles of Nigeria and Arsenal legend Nwankwo Kanu due to their similar playing style. 

He even wore the number 25 shirt at Arsenal, like his Idol, and the number 4 shirt at international level, while he was even given the nickname "Baby Kanu" in the media. 

Adebayor was also known for his pace, strength, and technique, as well as his goalscoring and ability to link up with his teammates. 

However, he was also notorious for his lack of discipline, in particular in his early career.

 On March 21, 2023, Adebayor announced his retirement from professional football, aged 39. 

Adebayor is one of the richest African footballers of all time and has made most of money from playing football as well as endorsment deals.

 He is currently a brand ambassador for 22Bet and recently showed off his multi-million dollar mansion on his social media. 

As of 2023, Emmanuel Adebayor boasts a net worth of around $45 million, making him one of the richest African footballers in the world.

6. Mikel Obi (Net Worth) - $45 million

Mikel Obi is one of the richest African footballers in the world
Mikel Obi Net Worth

Mikel John Obi is 35-year-old former Nigerian former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder, although he could also play in a variety of roles in the midfield.

 In 2006, he made a controversial transfer to English club Chelsea after Manchester United claimed they had already signed him. 

He stayed with Chelsea for 11 years, before moving to China with Tianjin TEDA in 2017. 

After two years in China, he returned to England on a short-term deal with Middlesbrough, before joining Trabzonspor on a free transfer in July 2019.

 Mikel moved back to England in August 2020 joining Stoke City. 

In a 14-year international career between 2005 and 2019, he played 91 times for Nigeria, scoring six goals and winning the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations title with the Super Eagles.

 In July 2019, Mikel said that the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations would be his last tournament for Nigeria. 

He retired at the end of the competition, in which Nigeria came third.

 Mike is widely regarded as one of the most talented Nigerian midfielders of all time and is also one of the most successful Nigerian footballers of all time, having won every major trophy during his spell in Europe. 

He is also one of the most popular players in Nigerian football as well as one of the richest.

 As of 2023, Mikel Obi has an estimated net worth of $45 million, making him one of the richest African footballers in the world.

5. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Net Worth) - $50 million

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is one of the richest African footballers in the world
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang Net Worth

Pierre-Emerick Emiliano François Aubameyang is a 33-year-old professional footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Chelsea. 

Aubameyang is renowned for his pace, finishing, and off-ball movement and is considered as one of the best African strikers of his generation.

 Born in France, he is a former Gabonese international and is the country's all-time top goalscorer. 

Aubameyang began his senior club career playing for Italian club AC Milan, but never appeared for the club as he went on a series of loan spells in France.

 He moved to Saint-Étienne in 2011. At Saint-Etienne, he won a Coupe de la Ligue title and joined Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund in 2013. 

At Dortmund, Aubameyang finished as the league's top goalscorer in the 2016–17 season and won a DFB-Pokal.

 He also ranks as the club's seventh highest all-time goalscorer.

 In 2018, Aubameyang was the subject of a then-club record association football transfer when signed for Arsenal in a transfer worth £56 million (€60 million), making him the most expensive Gabonese player of all time and one of the most expensive African players ever. With Arsenal, he won an FA Cup and finished as the league's joint-top goalscorer in the 2018–19 season. 

In 2022, Aubameyang joined Barcelona after terminating his Arsenal contract by mutual consent.

 However, he returned to the Premier League after he signed for Chelsea F.C. at the end of the 2022 summer transfer window. 

Aubameyang is Gabon's all-time top goalscorer.

 He made his senior debut for Gabon in 2009 aged 19, and appeared in four Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and the 2012 Summer Olympics. 

In 2016, Aubameyang was named African Footballer of the Year; the first Gabonese and second European-born player to win the award. 

In 2018, Aubameyang won the Premier League Golden Boot award alongside Liverpool's Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mané, as the African trio were all tied on 22 goals. 

In the 2021–22 season, Aubameyang was stripped of his Arsenal captaincy with manager Mikel Arteta citing disciplinary reasons, before his exit to Barcelona. 

In May 2022, Aubameyang announced his retirement from international football. 

He made a total of 72 appearances for the Gabon national team and scored 30 goals.

 Aubameyang made most of his wealth from playing football, commanding huge paychecks during his time in Arsenal.

 He also boasts one of the most expensive automobile collection amongst footballers in the world.

 As of 2023, Aubameyang is estimated to have a net worth of around $50 million, making him one of the richest African footballers in the world.

4. Yaya Touré (Net Worth) - $70 million

Yaya Toure is one of the richest African footballers in the world
Yaya Touré Net Worth

Gnégnéri Yaya Touré is a 39-year-old Ivorian professional football coach and former player who played as a midfielder.

 He is an academy coach at Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur.

 Touré aspired to be a striker during his youth and has played centre-back, including for Barcelona in the 2009 UEFA Champions League final. 

However, he has spent the majority of his career as a box-to-box midfielder for club and country, where he has been regarded as one of the world's best players in his position. 

Toure is regarded as one of the greatest African players of all time, and was voted African Footballer of the Year for 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014.

 Touré began his playing career at Ivorian club ASEC Mimosas, where he made his debut at age 18. 

His performances attracted attention from Europe.

 He had stints with Beveren, Metalurh Donetsk, Olympiacos and Monaco before moving to LaLiga club Barcelona in 2007. 

He played over 100 matches for the club and was part of the historic Barcelona team that won six trophies in a calendar year, in 2009. 

In 2010, Touré moved to Premier League club Manchester City, where he scored a number of key goals, most notably the only goals in the 2011 FA Cup semi-final and final. 

He also helped Manchester City to their first league title in 44 years. 

At Manchester City, Although he played in the second leg of the Champions League play-off against Steaua București, coach Pep Guardiola opted to omit Touré from City's Champions League squad.

 Touré's agent, Dimitri Seluk, subsequently stated that Guardiola humiliated Touré by omitting him from the first team. 

In response, Guardiola declared Touré would not be included in the team until he received an apology. 

A few weeks after a public apology to Guardiola on behalf of his agent, Touré made a surprising return to the first team on 16 November, starting against Crystal Palace in which he scored two goals to earn City a 2–1 away win. 

It was announced on 4 May 2018 that Touré would leave Manchester City at the end of the 2017–18 season. 

Touré earned 100 caps for the Ivory Coast from 2004 to 2015, representing the nation at the 2006, 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cup tournaments. 

He also represented them in six Africa Cup of Nations in 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2015, helping them finish runner-up in 2006 and 2012, while captaining them to victory in 2015. 

He is the younger brother of fellow footballer Kolo Touré, who was his teammate at Manchester City and for the national team.

 Formerly a striker, Touré played primarily in the centre of the pitch as either a holding midfielder or as a box-to-box midfielder, often switching between offensive and defensive stances throughout matches in the latter role. 

Touré was a complete and versatile midfielder. He was also capable of playing as a centre-back or in the number 10 role. 

His key strengths were his passing range, vision and physical ability. He was gifted with good technique and ball control, although he also excelled defensively at breaking down opposing attacking plays and winning back possession through his powerful tackling ability. 

He was known for his pace, stamina and physical presence, which was often combined with runs from midfield, and he had been referred to as a "human train" and a "colossus" by various pundits. 

Touré was frequently pushed forward during the latter part of matches, most notably in the penultimate match of the 2011–12 season against Newcastle United where Touré scored two late goals to win the match, and put Manchester City at the top of the league.

 He was also capable of scoring goals due to his powerful striking ability with both feet from distance and was a free kick and penalty specialist. 

Outside of the pitch, Toure was once fined an audacious £54,000 for drunk driving in England – at the time the largest fine for drunk driving in British legal history. 

However, that did not stop him from staking his claim amongst the richest African footballers of all time. 

How does Yaya Toure make his money? 

Toure primarily made his money from playing football. 

He lives in a mansion in the lovely town of Cheshire, where he lives next door to Wayne Rooney with some of the richest soccer players in the world living on his doorstep.

 His mansion made headlines in 2013 after it allegedly caught fire from candles. 

Fortunately, nobody was hurt, and the fire only slightly damaged one room. 

He also loves fast cars and has some of the most expensive cars in the world in his garage.

 As of 2023, Toure is estimated to have a net worth of $70 million, making him one of the richest African footballers in the world.

3. Didier Drogba (Net Worth) - $90 million

Didier Drogba is one of the richest African footballers in the world
Didier Drogba Net Worth

Didier Yves Drogba Tébily commonly known as Didier Drogba or Drogba is a 45-year-old Ivorian retired professional footballer who played as a striker. 

He is the all-time top scorer and former captain of the Ivory Coast national team. 

He is best known for his career at Chelsea, for whom he has scored more goals than any other foreign player and is currently the club's fourth-highest goal scorer of all time.

 Drogba was named Chelsea's greatest-ever player in a poll of 20,000 fans conducted by Chelsea FC Magazine in 2012, and he was also named in the Chelsea team of the 2010–2020 decade by Chelsea's fans in 2020. 

He is regarded as one of the greatest African players of all time and was noted for his physical strength, speed, ability in the air, powerful and accurate strikes, and ball retention.

 Drogba was named African Footballer of the Year twice, winning the award in 2006 and 2009.

 He is also the player with the most runner-up appearances (4), most third-place finishes (3), and most times in the top three (9). 

After playing in youth teams, Drogba made his professional debut aged 18 for Ligue 2 club Le Mans, and signed his first professional contract aged 21. 

After finishing the 2002–03 season with 17 goals in 34 appearances for Ligue 1 side Guingamp, he moved to Olympique de Marseille, where he finished as the third-highest scorer in the 2003–04 season with 19 goals and helped the club reach the 2004 UEFA Cup Final. 

In July 2004, Drogba moved to Premier League club Chelsea for a club record £24 million fee, making him the then-most expensive Ivorian player in history. 

In his debut season, he helped the club win their first league title in 50 years, and a year later he won another Premier League title. 

His displays saw him named in the FIFA World XI for 2007. 

In March 2012, he became the first African player to score 100 Premier League goals.

 Just two months later, he scored in Chelsea's 2012 FA Cup Final win over Liverpool to become the first (and as of 2017, the only) player to score in four separate FA Cup finals. 

He also played in the 2012 UEFA Champions League Final, in which he scored an 88th-minute equaliser and the winning penalty in the deciding shoot-out against Bayern Munich. 

After spending 6 months with Shanghai Shenhua in China, and one and a half seasons with Turkish club Galatasaray where he scored the winning goal in the final of the 2013 Turkish Super Cup, Drogba returned to Chelsea in July 2014. 

With a career record of scoring 10 goals in 10 finals winning 10 trophies at club level, Drogba has been referred to as the "ultimate big game player".

 He joined Canadian club Montreal Impact in 2015 as a Designated Player and played 41 matches over two seasons, scoring 23 goals. 

Drogba became a player–owner for Phoenix Rising of the United Soccer League in 2017, and retired a year later at the age of 40. 

On April 21, 2022, he was inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame. Drogba was an Ivory Coast international between 2002 and 2014, captaining the national team from 2006 until his retirement. 

He led the Ivory Coast to the 2006 FIFA World Cup, their first appearance in the tournament, and also scored their first goal. 

He later captained the Ivory Coast at the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups. 

He was part of the Ivory Coast teams that reached the final of the Africa Cup of Nations in 2006 and 2012, but were beaten on penalties on both occasions. 

On 8 August 2014, he announced his retirement from international football. 

In 2018, Drogba retired from professional football at the age of 40. Active in social issues in Africa, Drogba played a vital role in the peace process in his home country.

 In 2007 he was appointed a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme, and in December 2018 he became Vice President of the international organization Peace and Sport.

 Drogba has often been described as a late bloomer, due to his late breakthrough in professional football. 

He was noted for his physical strength, speed, ability in the air, powerful and accurate strikes, and ball retention. 

Initially a right-back in his youth, due to his ability to hold-up the ball with his back to goal, he often played as a centre-forward throughout his professional career.

 Drogba was also known for his free kick ability where he would strike the ball with power and pace. 

Drogba's trademark goal celebration saw him slide on his knees accompanied with an arm pump and a salute to fans – his celebration appears in EA Sports' FIFA video game. 

Drogba is usually ranked among the three greatest African strikers, alongside Liberia’s George Weah and Cameroon’s Samuel Eto'o. 

He has also hosted the 2019 and 2021 editions of the FIFA Ballon d’Or. 

As of April 2023, Didier Drogba’s net worth is $90 Million, making him one of the richest African footballers in the world.

2. Mohamed Salah (Net Worth) - $90 million

Mohamed Salah is among the richest African footballers in 2023.
Mohamed Salah Net Worth
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Mohamed Salah also known as Mo Salah, is an Egyptian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Liverpool and captains the Egypt national team. 

Mo Salah is the highest-paid player in Liverpool and one of the highest-paid players in the Premier League. 

As of April 2023, Mohamed Salah is the highest-paid African footballer in the world, the most-followed African footballer on Instagram, the most-followed Premier League player on Instagram. 

Considered one of the best players in the world and among the greatest African players of all time, Salah is known for his finishing, dribbling, and speed.

 After an impressive season with AS Roma, Salah signed for Liverpool in 2017 for a then-club record transfer of £36.9 million.

 In his first season, he set the record for most Premier League goals scored (32) in a 38-game season and helped Liverpool to the 2018 UEFA Champions League Final. 

Salah went on to be an integral player in the club's Champions League and Premier League title successes the following two seasons, and has since also won the FA Cup and the League Cup.

 Salah has achieved numerous individual accolades, including two PFA Players' Player of the Year awards, three Premier League Golden Boots, the Premier League Player of the Season, the Premier League Playmaker of the Season, and finished third for the Best FIFA Men's Player in 2018 and 2021.

 Salah won the 2018 FIFA Puskás Award for his winning strike in the first Merseyside derby of the 2017–18 season. 

In 2023, Salah became Liverpool's Premier League top goalscorer surpassing Robbie Fowler in the Reds’ 7-0 demolition of Manchester United. 

On 19 February 2022, Salah became the 10th player to score 150 goals in all competitions for the club, and the second fastest (232 matches) after Roger Hunt (226), when he scored the second goal in a 3–1 Premier League win over Norwich at Anfield. 

In August 2022, Mohamed Salah became the first player to score on the opening day six seasons in a row and equalled the record of total goals on opening days set by Wayne Rooney, Frank Lampard, and Alan Shearer.

 Regarded as a quick, mobile, hard-working and tactical player, with good technique and an eye for goal, Salah is predominantly known for his speed, movement, clinical finishing, agility, dribbling skills, first touch, and ball control, as well as his ability to use both his pace and flair on the ball in order to beat opponents, and create scoring opportunities for himself or his teammates. 

Salah is a very versatile forward who primarily plays as a winger on the right flank, a position which allows him to cut into the centre onto his stronger left foot, and either shoot on goal or play quick exchanges with other players and make runs in behind the defence towards goal.

 He can also play in the centre behind the main striker as either an attacking midfielder or second striker.

 Mohamed Salah is the highest-paid Liverpool player, with a weekly pay package of £350,000, and his current contract is set to expire in 2025. 

As of 2023, Mohamed Salah’s net worth is approximately $90 Million, making him the second richest African footballer in the world.

1. Samuel Eto'o (Net Worth) - $95 million

Samuel Eto'o is the no.1 richest African footballer in 2023
Samuel Eto'o is the richest African footballer in 2023

Samuel Eto'o Fils is a 42-year-old Cameroonian football administrator and former player who is the current president of the Cameroonian Football Federation.

Eto’o is hands down the richest African footballer in the world. 

In his prime, Eto'o was regarded by pundits as one of the best strikers in the world, and he is regarded as one of the greatest African players of all time, winning the African Player of the Year a record four times: in 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2010. 

Eto'o moved to Real Madrid as a 16-year-old. 

Due to competition in his position with more experienced players, he had several loan spells, before signing for Mallorca in 2000 where he scored 70 goals.

 His impressive form saw him join Barcelona in 2004 where he scored 130 goals in five seasons and also became the record holder for the most appearances by an African player in La Liga. 

Eto’o was a key member of the Barcelona side that won three LaLiga titles, and was a key member of the Barcelona attack, alongside Ronaldinho, that won the 2006 UEFA Champions League Final, with Eto'o scoring in the final. 

He was also part of a front three of Lionel Messi and Thierry Henry that won the 2009 UEFA Champions League Final, with Eto'o again scoring again in the final.

 He is the second player in history to score in two UEFA Champions League finals. 

At Barcelona, Eto'o came in third for the FIFA World Player of the Year in 2005 and was twice named in the FIFA FIFPro World XI, in 2005 and 2006. 

He signed with Inter Milan for the 2009–10 season, where he became the first player to win two European continental trebles following his back-to-back achievements with Barcelona and Inter.

 He is the fourth player in Champions League history, after Marcel Desailly, Paulo Sousa, and Gerard Piqué, to have won the trophy two years in a row with different teams. 

After brief spells with Anzhi Makhachkala, Chelsea, Everton, and Sampdoria, Eto'o found prolific form again in the Süper Lig with Antalyaspor having scored 44 goals in 76 league games. 

In 2015, he received the Golden Foot Award. As a member of the Cameroon national team, Eto'o was a part of the squad that won the Gold Medal at the 2000 Olympics. 

He also won the Africa Cup of Nations in 2000 and 2002. 

Eto'o has participated in four World Cups and six Africa Cup of Nations. 

He is the all-time leading scorer in the history of the Africa Cup of Nations, with 18 goals, and is Cameroon's all-time leading scorer and third most capped player, with 56 goals in 118 caps. 

Eto'o announced his retirement from international football in August 2014.

 Eto’o has also played for clubs like Real Madrid, Mallorca, and Everton. 

Eto'o was a fast, strong, and energetic forward, who was known for his stamina, work-rate, ability in the air, and his accurate finishing ability both with his head and feet.

 He was a powerful and prolific goalscorer with good technique, composure in front of goal, and an ability to play off other forwards. 

Eto'o was primarily deployed as a central striker.

 He has also been renowned for his leadership, opportunism and mentality throughout his career. 

During his prime, he was regarded as one of the best strikers on the planet.

 Beyond his speed and goalscoring, Eto'o was also known for his first touch, close control, and passing ability in his prime; and as he got older, he maintained his dribbling skills in his later career, which he used to his advantage to beat defenders and create chances for teammates.

 In his mid-thirties Eto'o incorporated an ‘old man’ routine in his goal celebration, a response to José Mourinho who jibed that he was too old. 

The celebration is featured in EA Sports’ FIFA video game FIFA 18. 

In December 2021, Eto'o was elected President of the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT), before being appointed as an ambassador for the just concluded FIFA 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

 How does Samuel Eto’o make his money? 

While Samuel Eto’o’s salary has declined in recent years following his retirement from soccer, he nevertheless maintains an impressive income through his business ventures.

 Eto’o's incredible earning capacity from his playing days has made it possible for him to invest in multiple real estate properties around the world. 

He owns a luxury home in Paris and a $20 million property in Portofino in Italy. 

He is also a fan of sportscars and has also owned some of the most expensive cars in the world, including a Ferrari 458 Italia Mansory Siracusa and a Bugatti Veyron.

 As of 2023, Samuel Eto’o’s net worth is estimated to be $95 Million, making him the No.1 richest African footballer in the world.

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