A number of African players have shown their talent at a number of big-name clubs. But some of them have made a name for themselves at Spain’s top two clubs (Real Madrid and Barça), and are arguably among the best in the world. We have ranked the best African footballers who have played for Real Madrid and Barcelona.
The combined ranking of the best African players at Real Madrid and Barcelona
1. Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon-Barça)
Samuel Eto’o’s time at Barça was remarkable. The Cameroonian established himself as one of the club’s best players at the time. Joining the club in 2004 from Mallorca, Etoo’ quickly adopted Barça’s style of play. He was impressive in his first season with Barça (25 goals in La Liga), helping the club to the La Liga title. His goalscoring talents also saw him score in the 2006 Champions League final against Arsenal, which the Catalans won.
Samuel Et’o’s best season with Barça came in 2008/09. The Cameroonian and his team-mates achieved a treble (La Liga, Champions League, Copa del Rey) under Pep Guardiola, and he finished as the team’s top scorer that season.
2. Seydou Keita (Mali- Barcelona)
Having arrived at the club in 2008 from Sevilla, Seydou Keita has triumphed at Barça alongside Samuel Eto’o. The Malian won over his coach, Pep Guardiola, and the Catalan fans with his explosiveness on the pitch. Keita was versatile on the pitch, able to handle several positions in midfield.
His ball recovery and vision were impressive, making him one of the key men in Barça’s style of play. During his years with the Catalan club, Seydou Keita won several major trophies with the club: three La Liga titles, two Champions League titles, a Copa del Rey and several other trophies. His perfect contribution to the team has made him a much-appreciated player at Barça.
3. Mahamadou Diarra (Mali – Real Madrid)
The former Mali player has been a big hit with the Merengue club. After arriving from AS Monaco, Diarra became one of Fabio Capello’s mainstays. The defensive midfielder was renowned for his physical strength and impeccable ball recovery. He played a key role in Monaco’s La Liga title triumph in the 2006/07 season. Unfortunately, injuries hampered his career at Real Madrid.
3. Yaya Touré (Côte d’Ivoire – Barcelona)
Yaya Touré, one of Africa’s greatest players, has made his mark at Barça. Having arrived in 2007 under Frank Rijkaard, the Ivorian also made his mark under Pep Guardiola. He was a formidable midfielder who facilitated the transition between attack and defence.
He played a crucial role at Barça and contributed to the team’s success. He was part of the historic Barça team that won the treble in the 2008-2009 season (La Liga, Champions League and Copa del Rey). Forming a trio with Iniesta and Xavi, he won several trophies with the Catalan club.
5. Geremi Njitap (Cameroon – Real Madrid)
The arrival of the former Cameroon midfielder coincided with a period of success at Real Madrid. After arriving at the club in 1999, Geremi Njitab triumphed with the Merengue.
The former Cameroon international triumphed with Real Madrid. He won two La Liga titles and a Champions League with the club. During this success, Njitap played an essential role in the team. His physical presence and explosiveness contributed to Real’s success.
6. Mickaël Essien (Ghana – Real Madrid)
Lacking game time at Chelsea, Mickael Essien is on loan to Real Madrid for one season with an option to buy. He is reunited with his former coach, José Mourinho. With his experience, Essien helped the team win a number of titles, including La Liga in the 2012-2013 season.
7. Emmanuel Amunike (Nigeria – Barcelona)
The former Nigeria international played for the Catalan club during the 1996-1997 season. Amunike spent just one season at Barça. He managed to win a number of titles with the Catalans, including La Liga and the UEFA Super Cup. Unfortunately, due to injuries he left the club after just one season.
8. Achraf Hakimi (Morocco – Real Madrid)
The Parisian right-back has played for several major European clubs. With his speed and ability to contribute to attacks, Hakimi was included in the first team during the 2017-2018 season. After some promising performances, however, Hakimi was loaned out to Borussia Dortmund for the next two seasons.
9. Emmanuel Adebayor (Togo – Real Madrid)
The Togolese striker joined the club in January 2011. Adebayor was on loan to Real Madrid, who needed to strengthen their attack due to injuries, for the second half of the 2010-2011 season. He scored several important goals for the club, and won the Copa del Rey by beating Barça in the final.
10. Pierre Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon- Barcelona)
After bursting onto the scene at Dortmund, Aubameyang was attracting interest from all the big names in Europe. He joined Barcelona from Arsenal. Unfortunately, the Gabonese has not had much time to showcase his talent, as he did at Dortmund and Arsenal.
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