This article will explore the top 10 richest footballers in Africa according to Forbes Africa’s list in 2021.
African footballers are becoming more and more popular and there is a big market for them.
There have been many African players that have left their original club to go to clubs in Europe. One such example is Yaya Toure, who played for Manchester City between 2010-2013 before leaving to go back to his old club Barcelona FC.
The richest footballers in Africa are mostly from South Africa, Nigeria, and Egypt. Most of them make their money by playing for European clubs.
Nevertheless, they also get paid when they play for their national team which puts them on ESPN and other TV networks around the world.
Some footballers also earn money through endorsements or commercials such as Nike, Gatorade, Pepsi, Puma, Samsung Galaxy etc.
However, there are many African footballers who are worth more than $5 million. They play for some of the biggest clubs in Europe and they have a net worth that is at least five times higher than the average footballer.
The richest footballers in Africa 2021
Here is a quick list of the top 10 Richest Footballers in Africa and Their Net Worth
- Samuel Eto’o- Cameroon ($100m)
- Mohamed Salah- Egypt ($90m)
- Didier drogba- Cote d’Ivoire ($90m)
- Yaya Toure – Cote d’Ivoire ($70m)
- John Obi Mikel- Nigeria ($60m)
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang- Gabon ($50m)
- Emmanuell Adebayo- Togo ($45m)
- Mikel Essien – Nigeria ($35m)
- Odion Ighalo- Nigeria ($30m)
- Asamoah Gyan – Ghana ($23m)
Here is a list of the ten richest African footballers, with their net worths and their clubs:
#1. Samuel Eto’o | $100 million
- Date of birth: March 10, 1981
- Age: 40
- Height: 1.8m
- Nationality: Cameroonian
- Current club: He plays for Qatar SC before his retirement
- Role-playing: striker
- Transfer worth: free transfer
- Estimated net worth :$95million
- Marital status: married
- Total number of goals scored :426
Samuel Eto’o is a retired Cameroonian footballer who played as a striker. He spent most of his career playing for clubs in Europe, having played for Real Madrid, Barcelona, Inter Milan, and Chelsea over the course of his career.
Eto’o began his football career playing for the club Tonnerre Yaoundé in 1994 and he was first discovered by the Cameroon national team during a friendly match against Niger in 1996.
He made his debut with Cameroon two days later against Guinea, scoring two goals and becoming a full member of the team at 18 years old. He continued to play for both club and country until 2006 when he left to join Barcelona.
As the most decorated African player of all time, he is a four-time winner of the African Player of the Year award – 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2010. Among other records, Eto’o retires as Cameroon’s all-time top scorer
Samuel Eto’o can be considered one of Africa’s most successful footballing exports. He current net worth stands at $100 million dollars, making him the richest footballer in Africa.
#2 Muhammad Salah | $90 million
- Date of birth: June 15, 1992
- Age: 29
- Height: 1.75m
- Nationality: Egyptian
- Current club: Liverpool FC
- Role-playing: attack – right-winger
- Transfer worth: £36.5m
- Estimated net worth: $70 million
- Marital status: married
- Total number of goals scored: 125
Muhammad Salah is a professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder, winger, or striker for English club Liverpool and the Egyptian national team.
Born in Giza, Egypt, Salah started his career playing youth football at Cairo club El Mokawloon before joining Alexandria’s El Mokawloon El Arab Sporting Club (Arab Contractors) in 2006 as a 16-year-old
Salah began his senior career with Arab Contractors in Egypt before moving to Europe to join Swiss side Basel in 2012. He helped them to win their first league title for 14 years as well as reaching the 2013 UEFA Europa League final.
In 2014, he joined Italian side AS Roma on loan from Chelsea, where he played for two seasons. Salah then signed for Liverpool in 2017 after winning the UEFA Champions League and EFL Cup with Roma.
He made his international debut on 15 November 2011 at the age of 18 against Niger in the qualifying rounds of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations and has represented Egypt at four Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and three FIFA World Cups.
Over the years, Salah has been crowned the PFA Player of the year 2018, African Player of the Year 2018/2019, CAF Most Promising Talent of the Year 2012, Premier League Player of the Month 2018,2019, FWA Footballer of the Year 2018, Premier League Golden Boot 2017,2019, BBC African Footballer of the Year 2017, and many more.
His current net worth is estimated to be over $90 million, thus making him among the richest footballers in Africa.
Also read: See Top 3 Highest Paid Nigerian Professional League Players
#3. Didier Drogba | $90 million
- Date of birth: March 11, 1978
- Age: 43
- Height: you 1.88m
- Nationality: Ivorian
- Current club: Retired
- Role-playing: Striker
- Transfer worth: April 12, 2017, Arizona United
- Estimated net worth :$90 million
- Marital status: married
- Total number of goals scored: 159goals
Didier Drogba is a retired Ivorian professional footballer. He is the all-time top scorer for the Ivorian national team and captained the Ivory Coast at four Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.
Drogba played professionally for 16 seasons, mostly at Chelsea, with whom he won 10 major trophies. He is best known for his powerful striking ability, as well as his physical strength and ability in the air. Drogba was nominated six times for African Footballer of the Year and won three English Premier League Player of the Month awards while playing at Chelsea; he also was voted Chelsea’s greatest player by other players in 2018 poll.
Drogba has scored more goals than any other African player in European football (104), and holds the record as African player with most goals scored in Europe.
Awards: Ten trophies for Chelsea and Galatasaray (4 FA Cups, 2 League Cups, 2 Community Shields, 1 Champions League, and 1 Turkish Super Cup) African Footballer of the Year, Ivory Coast Player of the Year, FIFA World Player of the Year, BBC African Footballer of the Year, amongst others.
The Ivorian footballer is one of the most influential players in Africa and also in European football. He was named African Footballer of the Year four times and has also been decorated as one of BBC’s African Heroes for his humanitarian efforts.
#4 Yaya Toure | $70 million
- Date of birth: May 13, 1983
- Age: 35
- Height: 1.88m
- Nationality: Ivorian
- Current club: Qingdao Huanghai
- Role-playing: Midfielder
- Transfer worth: July 3, 2019
- Estimated net worth :$70 million
- Marital status: married
- Total number of goal scored: 79
Yaya Toure is a retired Ivorian footballer. He played for clubs in his home country, as well as France, Spain and England.
Toure was born on 13 May 1983 in Bouaké, Ivory Coast. He began his career at ASEC Mimosas before joining French side Olympique de Marseille in 2002. Toure went on to make over 150 appearances for the club (including qualifying matches) and helped them win the Ligue 1 title in 2010.
Touré’s father was a professional player for Stella Club d’Adjamé in Abidjan, and he has three brothers who also play football: Kolo, Yaya and Ibrahim.
In 2010, after eight seasons with Marseille, Toure signed for Spanish club FC Barcelona who needed an extra defensive midfielder due to injuries to regular midfielders who play that position.
Yaya Touré is worth $70 million and is an Adidas ambassador with a net worth of $150 million according to Forbes. He was ranked as richest footballer on African soil by GoalAfrica back in 2011 and he was named by Time Magazine as one of its 100 most influential people in 2014 due to his popularity in African football.
#5 Mikel Obi | $60 million
- Date of birth: April 22, 1987
- Age: 35
- Height: 1.88m
- Nationality: Nigerian
- Current club: Trabzonspor
- Role-playing: Midfielder
- Transfer worth: free transfer July 1, 2019
- Estimated net worth: $60 million
- Marital status: married
John Obi (born 22 April 1987) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Kuwait Premier League club Kuwait SC.
Mikel began his career with local club Plateau United, before joining Norwegian club Lyn at the age of 17 in 2004. 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.
The Nigerian legend has a total of 10 major winners’ medals all at Chelsea: 2 Premier League 2009–10, 2014–15,4 FA Cup 2006–07, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2011–12,2 Capital One Cup 2006–07, 2014-15, 1 UEFA Champions League2011–12, 1 UEFA Europa League 2012–13. Mikel also won the African Cup of Nations in 2013.
John Mikel Obi is very wealthy and currently number 4 on our list of top 10 richest footballers in Africa with an estimated net worth of $50 million.
Also read: Top 10 Richest Footballers In The World (2021)
#6 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang | $50 million
- Date of birth: April 22, 1989
- Age: 32
- height: 1.87m
- Nationality: Gabonese, French
- Current club: Arsenal
- Role-playing: Striker
- Market value: €35 million
- Estimated net worth: $50 million
- Marital status: married
Aubameyang is a professional footballer who plays as a striker for Borussia and the Gabon national team. He is also the captain of his national team.
The man was born on 18th June 1989 in Laval, France. After nine years, he started playing football professionally with the French club AC Milan in 2007. But after two seasons, he was loaned to Ligue 1 side AS Monaco for the 2008-2009 season and then to AC Milan again in 2009-2010 season.
In July 2010, Aubameyang transferred from AC Milan to top-flight German club Borussia Dortmund for €13 million naming him as the most expensive African player at that time. He wears number 17 shirt at his current team.
Aubameyang has won many individual awards including: Premier League Golden Boot 2019, African Player of the Year 2016, Premier League Player of the Month 2018, CAF Africa’s finest XI 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019.
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#7 Emmanuel Adebayo | $45 million
- Date of birth: April 22, 1987
- Age: 37
- Height: 1.91m
- Nationality: Nigerian
- Current club: Trabzonspor
- Role-playing: Midfielder
- Transfer worth: free transfer July 1, 2019
- Estimated net worth: $60 million
- Marital status: married
Sheyi Emmanuel Adebayor a Togolese professional footballer who plays as a striker. He previously played for English clubs Arsenal, Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace.
He also played for French side Metz, Monégasque team Monacon as well as Spanish team Real Madrid, Turkish clubs İstanbul Başakşehir and Kayserispor, and Paraguay’s Olimpia Asunción.
This popular footballer is another richest player who originates from Nigeria and is well known all over the world.
While at Manchester City the striker earned a reported $268,000 a week and by 2015, he has an estimated net worth of $45million.
Adebayor was picked by CAF for the 2008 African Football of the Year on 10 February 2009 at an awards ceremony held in Lagos, Nigeria. He was the first Togolese to win the African Football of the Year.
#8 Michael Essien | $35 million
- Date of birth:3rd December 1983
- Age: 38
- height: 1.77m
- Nationality: Ghanaian
- Current club: Fk Sabail
- Role-playing: Midfielder
- Transfer worth: Fk Sabail March 16, 2019
- Estimated net worth :$35 million
- Marital status: married
Michael Essien is a Ghanaian footballer who played as a midfielder. He was born on February 27, 1982 in Accra, Ghana.He has played for some of the most popular teams in the world including Chelsea, AC Milan, Real Madrid, and Paris Saint-Germain.
Michael Essien was born in 1981 in Accra to a Ghanaian father and an Ivorian mother. His father died when he was three years old, and his mother sent him to live with his grandmother in Ivory Coast when he was eight years old, so that he could attend school there. When he was 12 years old, she sent him back to Accra to live with her sister and pursue his dream of becoming a professional footballer with local club Liberty Professionals.
In 2001, Essien moved up to the Ghana Premier League club Asante Kotoko from the youth team of Liberty Profession
In his early years as a footballer he played for the Liberty Professionals in Ghana. He then moved to Ghanaian team Liberty Sportive where he became known as “The Bison” due to his aggressive playing style. After this he moved to France with Bastia and then joined Lyon before signing with Chelsea in 2005.
As well as being a professional footballer Michael Essien is also an entrepreneur with investments in various business ventures around the world.
Read also: 5 Footballers That Won Champions League With Different Clubs
#9 Odion Ighalo | $30 million
- Date of birth: June 16, 1989
- Age: 32
- Height: 1.81m
- Nationality: Nigerian
- Current club: Al Shabab FC
- Role-playing: Forward
- Jersey no. : 9
- Transfer worth: €3.5 million July 1, 2021
- Estimated net worth: $30 million
- Marital status: married
Odion Ighalo is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Chinese club Changchun Yatai. He also played for the senior national team of Nigeria on 20 occasions, scoring 8 goals.
Ighalo was born in Benin City, Nigeria to Christian parents and attended the University of Lagos. He started his football career playing for various amateur clubs in Nigeria before he moved to England to work as a plumber and play football part-time with amateur club Braintree Town F.C., where he scored 35 goals in only 29 games.
Ighalo’s professional career started when he signed for League One side Wigan Athletic F.C., scoring on his debut against Yeovil Town F.C.. At Wigan
#10 Asamou Gyan | $23 million
- Date of birth: November 22, 1895
- Age: 35
- height: 1.87m
- Nationality: Ghanaian
- Current club: North East United FC
- Role-playing: striker
- Transfer worth: September 19, 2019, on a free transfer
- Estimated net worth: $23 million
- Marital status: married
Asamoah Gyan is a Ghanaian professional footballer and captain of the Ghana national team. Born in Accra, he started his career at Liberty Professionals before moving to Danish club Brondby in 2005. He has played as a striker for various Danish clubs, as well as Turkish club Kayserispor and UAE club Al Ain.
Asamoah Gyan is a Ghanaian footballer who is considered one of the best players in Africa. He plays as a striker for Turkish club Kayserispor and the Ghana national team.
however, Asamoah has lately obtained a license to operate a private airline, ‘Baby Jet Airlines’ in Ghana.
Asamoah Gyan is very wealthy and currently number 8 on our list of top 10 richest footballers in Africa with an estimated net worth of $23 million.
Also read: Lionel Messi Net Worth In 2021
Table showing the top 10 richest footballers in Africa
Richest Footballers In Africa | ||
---|---|---|
Rank | Name | Estimated Net worth |
#1 | Samuel Etoo | $95 million |
#2 | Muhammad Salah | $90 million |
#3 | Didier Yves Drogba | $90 million |
#4 | Yaya Toure | $70 million |
#5 | John Mikel Obi | $60 million |
#6 | Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang | $50 million |
#7 | Emmanuel Adebayor | $45 million |
#8 | Michael Essien | $35 million |
#9 | Odion Ighalo | $30 million |
#10 | Asamoah Gyan | $23 million |
FAQ
Who is the richest footballer in Africa in 2021?
Samuel Eto’o is currently the richest footballer in Africa with an estimated net worth of $100 million in 2021. The retired soccer player is considered one of the greatest African footballers of all time. He has played for different top clubs at the international level including Real Madrid and Barcelona.
In 2011 Eto’o was transferred to the Russian team Anzhi Makhachkala, receiving what was reported to be one of the richest contracts in football history in the process.
Who is the richest soccer player in Africa?
Mohammed Salah is currently the richest footballer in Africa in 2021, with an impressive net worth of $70 Million. Due to his great talent and effort in Liverpool, Salah is currently Liverpool’s highest-paid player with an annual salary of $23.1 million, adding to his previous salaries in the past years.
These salaries have helped him become the richest footballer in Africa in 2021.
Adding to Salah’s salaries is his endorsements with different companies that earn him over $12 million annually. His endorsements include Adidas, DHL International, Electronic Arts, ExxonMobil, Vodafone-USD.
who is the richest footballer in the world?
Cristiano Ronaldo is a Portuguese professional soccer player. He is widely known as the greatest footballer of the era. Ronaldo plays for the Italian football club, Juventus FC, and his national football team.
As of now in 2021, Cristiano Ronaldo’s net worth is more than $500 million. He is one of the highest-paid footballers in the world.
Apart from professional football, Ronaldo has a chain of CR7 gyms and hotels. He has some of the most expensive and luxurious cars.
As of now in 2021, Cristiano Ronaldo is the richest soccer player in the world. He tops the list of richest soccer players.
Also read: Cristiano Ronaldo houses, cars, and private jets in 2021
Conclusion
Today, there are some African footballers that have become rich because of their extraordinary skills. Some of these players have gathered a lot of wealth and fame which might force them to retire from the game in the coming years.
This is one reason why it is important to invest in the future generation of players. It’s also important to invest in making football a more popular sport among African youth so they can enjoy the game for a long time.