Chronicle Editor
Home to more than 1.5 billion people, Africa is rightfully considered a hotbed of culture, exotic wildlife and natural resources. But the continent is also blessed with some of the world’s greatest footballers – many of whom play in Europe today.
For the mavericks, the likes of Didier Drogba, Yaya Toure, Jay-Jay Okocha and former World Player of the Year George Weah evoke fond memories of previous eras. And in 2025, there is much discussion to be had about the best African player in current times.
Top 10 Greatest African Footballers in Europe Ranked
Every generation, African soccer stars have found a way to write their names in the record books and stand on the platform of greatness with players from every part of the world. In 2025, things have not changed, and if anything, there have been more African players.
Below, we have compiled a top 10 list of African footballers plying their trade in the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, and other prominent championships, while also highlighting the importance of picking the right platform in Italy for tips.
10. Andre Onana – Africa’s best goalkeeper
Much-maligned at times, Onana unquestionably remains the best African goalkeeper. Having excelled in the Eredivisie, and latterly at Inter Milan, the Cameroonian is closing in on 100 appearances for Manchester United.
Onana’s time at Old Trafford has seen stupendous saves and calamitous errors in equal measure, but there is a reason he is regarded as a stalwart for his country.
Stellar performances during the 2021 African Cup of Nations helped the Indomitable Lions finish in third place, eventually paving the way for big-money moves to Serie A and the Premier League.
9. Mohammed Kudus – Starboy of the mother continent
Kudus is the second former Ajax player to make our list of top ten African footballers playing in Europe, despite very few people knowing much about him just 12 months ago.
, Kudus has quickly settled in London and set tongues wagging over his driving runs and exciting wing play.
Well on the way to fifty caps for Ghana despite being in the formative stages of his career, Kudus has been linked with a potential transfer away from the Hammers – with Manchester City rumoured to be interested.
8. Amad Diallo – an Ivorian gem
With Manchester United largely floundering in the Premier League and Europa League this season, Amad Diallo has been one of the few success stories.
The winger has cultivated a reputation for delivering at decisive moments – perhaps most notably in United’s dramatic 4-3 FA Cup victory over Liverpool last season – with successive managers calling upon Diallo regularly during a tumultuous period for the Red Devils.
Diallo enjoys a close relationship with Ivory Coast household name Didier Drogba, and many predict the former Rangers loanee could have a bright future in the game. Should things go to plan, the 22-year-old’s projected £34 million transfer from Atalanta could look like a bargain in years to come, making him one of the hottest talents in African football.
7. Ousmane Diomande – excelling already with more to come
Perhaps lesser known to most, Diomande is another Ivorian international whose career trajectory certainly appears to be heading upwards.
Joining Primeira Liga giants Sporting CP for a princely £6m in 2023, the central defender is highly-regarded in Portugal and will likely be considered one of the best centre backs on the planet by the time the 2026 World Cup comes around.
Already excelling at club level, Diomande can rightly view himself as one of Africa’s greatest players despite his tender age. Expect to see more from him in the very near future!
6. Nicolas Jackson – Premier League cult figure in the making
There were a few raised eyebrows when Jackson signed for Chelsea after what seemed like a mediocre spell for Villarreal in La Liga, but the Gambian-born forward has worked hard to prove dissenting voices wrong.
Averaging almost a goal every other game in the Premier League, Jackson’s most noteworthy performance for the Blues came last season when he bagged a hat-trick against Spurs.
Despite his place of birth, Jackson represents Senegal at international level alongside household name and national hero Sadio Mane.
5. Achraf Hakimi – the greatest African defender of all time?
The highest-rated defender on our list, Hakimi recently won the Lion d’Or African Footballer of the Year award and also has two African Youth Player of the Year gongs under his belt.
It’s easy to forget he is just 26 years old, with spells at Real Madrid and Inter Milan preceding his four years (and counting) at Paris Saint-Germain.
Hakimi holds the distinction of being the first Moroccan player to ever win the UEFA Champions League, which he achieved with Los Blancos. A stellar 2024 also saw the Spanish-born full-back appear in L’Équipe’s African Team of the Year – the latest in a long line of impressive personal accolades.
With more than a dozen trophies already under his belt, Hakimi is well on his way to becoming the most decorated African footballer of all time – a record jointly held by Samuel Eto’o and Yaya Toure.
4. Ademola Lookman – African Footballer of the Year
No list would be complete without the 2024 African Player of the Year, and what a worthy winner he was, too. A caught the attention of many, but in truth the former Everton and Charlton forward had been in red hot form for much of the season.
Born in London and originally representing England at youth level, Lookman switched allegiance to Nigeria in 2022 and is now a regular starter for the Super Eagles. Lookman’s incredible campaign even had him in contention for the coveted Ballon d’Or award, although it was ultimately won by Rodri.
Throughout the 2023/2024 season, Lookman lit up the Serie A, scoring important goals and contributing major assists. In fact, he is the reason many African punters started following and betting more on the Italian league.
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3. Victor Boniface – the archetypal deadly powerhouse
The Nigerian has been a revelation since joining Bayer Leverkusen two seasons ago, playing a pivotal role in last season’s remarkable Bundesliga title win. Boniface ended the campaign as Die Schwarzroten’s top scorer and was, for many people, the best player operating in the German league.
Former Liverpool midfielder and current Bayer Leverkusen manager, Xabi Alonso has hailed Boniface for his amazing contributions to his team. Speaking about the player, the Spaniard said, ”Boniface wants to enjoy the game. But not just for himself. He’s not just a classic striker, not just a regular poacher. He’s complete.”
Known for his strength and power, the 24-year-old has also carved out a reputation for being humorous on social media, endearing him to many fans. Despite failing to score at the international level yet, he is well worthy of a place on the list of 10 greatest African footballers due to his exploits at club level.
2. Victor Osimhen – explosiveness and finesse combined
One of the finest players in world football right now, Osimhen has made goalscoring look easy virtually everywhere he has been. If his stats at Napoli and Galatasaray are anything to go by, it would not be unrealistic to speculate that Osimhen could go down as one of the deadliest finishers in the history of African football.
Osimhen’s exploits in the Italian and Turkish top flight stand out, but his goal return for Nigeria (23 in 39 appearances) is equally as impressive. Often the subject of big-money transfer speculation, Osimhen is understandably lauded as one of the greatest strikers on earth, not just Africa.
1. Mo Salah – the greatest African footballer of all?
Seriously, who else? Previous manager Jurgen Klopp described Salah as “the biggest striker Liverpool have had in modern times,” and it’s difficult to disagree.
Leading the Premier League golden boot race yet again, the former Chelsea and Fiorentina forward continues to deliver eye-watering numbers despite the ongoing speculation surrounding his future.
Having won everything on Merseyside, including a Champions League title and Premier League title, the two-time African footballer of the year makes a strong case for being Liverpool’s greatest ever player.
What’s not up for debate, though, is his status as African’s best current player. No arguments, no doubt!
The Bottom Line
There are plenty of potential candidates for the current greatest African player, so it’s difficult to condense a list down to just 10 names. One thing that’s for sure, though, is that African football is on the rise.
This is certainly a sentiment echoed by former Cameroon great Roger Milla, who recently declared: “In terms of individual talent, the gap between African players and players from Europe and South America is closing all the time.”
In the 1970s, Pele – who many would say was the greatest player of all time – claimed an African nation will win the World Cup before the year 2000. And while that premonition has proved to be untrue, there is no doubt that great strides are being made on the continent. Perhaps we could see the Europe/South America duopoly finally broken?
Online Reporter