There are many great people in Africa who are rich, but in most cases, it is always celebrities and businesspeople. However, footballers are also one of the richest people in Africa that you may not notice. Football is a game watched by millions of people across the globe. African footballers even earn more than some players in other parts of the world.
The sportsmen who made the top 10 richest African footballers list all enjoyed successful professional football careers, competing for elite football clubs. Although the majority of the players have stopped competing actively on the field, they are now advancing the sport and mentoring young athletes at home.
Unfortunately, Africa players are often rewarded more than they should in terms of salary and wages compared to their European counterparts, which often accounts for why it is almost difficult for newer but active players to emerge on the list of richest African footballers. For example, the top ten footballers in the world right now are dominated by players from Europe and South America, albeit for the right reasons.
Top 10 Richest Footballers in Africa
In a descending order, here are the top ten richest footballers in Africa as well as their net worth and their career status as footballers.
10. Sadio Mane – $30 Million
Sadio Mane is the tenth richest footballer in Africa, with a net worth of $30 million. He is a Senegalese footballer and now one of the most paid African players in the Premier League. Sadio Mane earns as much as 100,000 pounds in a week. He started his career at 19 with Metz Club before he joined Australian Club Red Bull. He later was transferred to Southampton and signed for £11.8 million. He is currently a player at Bayern Munich Football Club.
9. Michael Essien – $35 Million
Michael Essien is the ninth richest footballer in Africa in with a net worth of $35 million. Essien, though now retired from international football was once regarded as one of the best midfielders in the world. Essien, in his prime bossed the Chelsea midfield for years until he left. Michael Essien, though no longer plays active football, he has towed the career path of a football coach and currently in Denmark, coaching FC Nordsjælland.
8. Kolo Touré – $40 Million
Kolo Toure is the eighth richest footballer in Africa and an Ivorian legend with a net worth of $40 million. He is a player who has broken several records in the Premier league. He started his career at ASEC Mimosas before he moved to Arsenal in 2002. Kolo Toure made several appearances for the team. In 2009, Kolo Toure was signed by Manchester City. He was the reason Manchester city was able to its first league title.
7. Emmanuel Adebayor – $40 Million
Emmanuel Adebayor is a Togolese and the seventh richest footballer in Africa, with a net worth of $40 million. He is a player earning as much as $16.7 million per year. He began his career playing for De Lome Club before he was recognized and brought to France in 1999. Emmanuel Adebayor made his debut in 2001, and Arsenal signed him in 2006 for £3 million.
6. Pierre Emrick Aubameyang – $50 Million
Pierre Emrick Aubameyang is a Gabonese star player and the sixth richest African footballer with a net worth of $50 million. He was once a player who earned £350,000 per week. He started his career at AC Milan, an Italian club, but he never appeared as a club player because of his loan spells. In 2018, he won a FA Cup for Arsenal as the top goal scorer. He is currently a player in Barcelona after his contract was canceled in Arsenal.
5. Mikel Obi – $60 Million
Mikel Obi is the richest Nigerian footballer but the fifth in Africa, with a net worth of $60 million. Mike Obi has won several matches for his country both at the national and international levels. He began his career at a Club in Plateau State, Nigeria, before joining Norwegian Club in 2004 at 17. Mike Obi sought to be transferred to English Club in 2006, where he first officially signed. He spent almost 11 years in Chelsea FC with several goals before he moved to China in 2017.
4. Yaya Toure – $80 Million
Yaya Toure is an Ivorian and the fourth richest African footballer with a net worth of $80 million. He started his career at the Ivorian club at the age of 18. This is the club where he was able to make history. His performance at his country’s football match draws the attention of Europe. He gained access to playing for Metalurh, Olympiacos, and Monaco before he later moved to Barcelona in 2007.
Yaya Toure played over 100 matches for Barcelona and also was one of the legends that won six trophies in 2009. He later moved to Manchester City, where he scored several goals, but the most noticeable was the one he scored in the 2011 FA Cup. Yaya Toure was the reason Manchester City earned their league title in 44 years.
3. Mohamed Salah – $90 Million
Mohamed Salah is an Egyptian and the third richest African footballer, with a net worth of $90 million in 2022. He is currently a star player for Liverpool FC. He acquired wealth because he is one of the highest-paid footballers earning as high as £400,000 per week.
The young man started his career professionally in 2010. He started his career playing for Al Mokawloon, which he left in 2012 to join the Basel team, where he became popular because he earned two Swiss Super League titles. Mohamed Salah also left Basel in 2014 to join Chelsea for £11 million. He joined his current team, Liverpool, in 2017.
2. Didier Drogba – $90 Million
Didier Drogba is the second richest African footballer player, with a net worth of $90 million. He was an outstanding player when he was still a player at Chelsea. Didier Drogba is a man that can never be forgotten in the history of Chelsea. In Chelsea, he earned $105,000 per week and $325,000 at Shanghai Shenhua.
Didier Drogba signed his first contract at the age of 21. He became the first African football player to score 100 goals and the first to help his club win the UEFA Champions League cup. Currently, he is still the fourth highest goal scorer in Chelsea history. He was also inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame in April 2022.
1. Samuel Eto’o – $95 Million
Samuel Eto’o is the richest footballer in Africa, with a net worth of $95 million. Today, he is one of the most-paid players in the world when he was playing for Anzhi Makhachkala FC in Russia, where he earned $25 million a year. He is a Cameroonian who started in football career at Real Madrid at age 16. He is not just the richest in Africa, he is also one of the footballers with the highest goals.
In history, Samuel Eto’o is also one of the greatest African players, having played for Barcelona and being one of the reasons for winning the UEFA Champions League in 2006 and one of the teams that won the UEFA champions league in 2009. Samuel Eto’o has won several awards, such as the Pichichi Trophy, CAF Youth Player of the Year, and African Player of the Year. Despite retiring from active football, Samuel Eto’o remains the richest footballer in Africa with a net worth of $95 million.