Drogba and Eto’o shine in the ranking of the most successful players in the African Ballon d’Or competition
The African Ballon d’Or, created in 1970, recognizes footballers who have left their mark on the history of soccer on the continent and beyond. A recent ranking honors the most successful players in this prestigious trophy. Among them, Samuel Eto’o and Didier Drogba feature in the top 5, testifying to their immense contribution to African soccer.
The 10 most-awarded players in the African Ballon d’Or :
1- Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon)
A four-time winner (2003, 2004, 2005, 2010), Eto’o is an icon of world soccer. His exploits with FC Barcelona, Inter Milan and the Cameroon national team, with two African Cup of Nations titles (2000 and 2002), have left an indelible mark.
2- Yaya Touré (Côte d’Ivoire)
Touré, another four-time winner (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014), shone as a midfielder for Manchester City and the national team. His victory at the CAN 2015 crowned an exceptional career.
3- Abedi Pelé (Ghana)
A three-time winner (1991, 1992, 1993), Abedi Pelé left his mark on the history of Olympique de Marseille, notably in their Champions League triumph in 1993.
4- George Weah (Liberia)
A three-time winner (1989, 1994, 1995), Weah remains the only African to have won the Ballon d’Or worldwide (1995), a feat that underlines his extraordinary talent.
5- Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast)
A two-time award-winner (2006, 2009), Drogba is a Chelsea legend. His decisive performance in the 2012 Champions League final remains memorable.
6- Sadio Mané (Senegal)
With two titles to his name (2019, 2022), Mané is an icon of modern soccer. Winner of the CAN 2021 with Senegal and a Liverpool mainstay, he embodies current African excellence.
7- Mohamed Salah (Egypt)
A two-time winner (2017, 2018), Salah shines through his consistency with Liverpool and his leadership of the Egyptian national team.
8- Nwankwo Kanu (Nigeria)
A two-time award-winner (1996, 1999), Kanu made his mark with successes at Ajax, Arsenal and at the 1996 Olympic Games with Nigeria.
9- Roger Milla (Cameroon)
With two trophies (1976, 1990), Milla is a legend of world soccer, famous for his exploits at the 1990 World Cup at the age of 38.
10- El Hadji Diouf (Senegal)
A two-time winner (2001, 2002), Diouf was one of the heroes of Senegal’s 2002 World Cup triumph, when the Lions of Teranga reached the quarter-finals.
This ranking illustrates the wealth and influence of African talent in the history of world soccer.
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