The richest footballers in Africa did not get to where they are by mere playing football, they became the richest through hardwork and dedication in the club's around Europe they signed for. The poverty in Africa drove these players to put in extra shift in training in order to be successful and alleviate poverty from their families.
These players have performed for their clubs, winning titles domestically and various awards for themselves. Some of these players have gone on to win the champions league and become legends for the club's they represented in Europe.
On this note, we have decided to use data and facts that are in the public domain to list the top 10 richest African footballers and their net worth in 2023.
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10 Richest Footballers in Africa and their Net Worth in 2023
10. Sulley Ali Muntari (Ghana) – Net Worth: US $22 Million
The Ghanaian, who plays as a central midfielder for Spanish club Albacete, started his football career professionally when he appeared at a youth tournament in Ghana. Muntari’s performance at the youth competition got him promoted to Ghana’s U20 and later moved to the Ghana national football team AKA The Black Stars.
This successful African player is married to a Canadian-born Ghanaian businesswoman, Menaye Donkor. Donkor is a philanthropist and former beauty queen who was named Miss Universe Ghana 2004 and represented Ghana in Miss Universe 2004.
Muntari has played for the likes of Deportivon De La Coruna in Spain, Portsmouth, Milan and some other notable clubs around the world. His successful career in football makes him our 10th richest footballer in Africa with a total net worth of $22 Million 2023.
9. Asamoah Gyan (Ghana) – Net Worth: US $30 Million
The former Black Stars of Ghana captain started his football career with Liberty Professionals. Gyan scored 10 goals in 16 games for Liberty Professionals in the Ghana Premier League as far back as 2003.
The Ghanaian has played for several notable football clubs globally, including Udinese, Rennes, Al Ain, Shanghai SIPG, Kayserispor, Northeast United in Indian and finally Legon Cities in Ghana before his retirement in 2023.
The former record signing in Sunderland's history has a net worth of US $30 Million. The majority of this colossal sum comes from the various Asamoah Gyan business and his Real Estate investments in Ghana and other parts of the world, talking about the likes of Baby Jet Promotion, Mama Vits Noodles and Rice etc. He's married and blessed with children..
8. Michael Essien (Ghana) – Net Worth: US $35 Million
Michael Kojo Essien has donned the Ghana National Team jersey more than 50 times, represented Ghana in several tournaments. The midfielder has represented different clubs including French sides Bastia and Lyon; English Premier League club, Chelsea; Spanish La Liga club, Real Madrid; Italian Serie A club, AC Millan; Sabail FK, an Azerbaijani football club based in Baku. Now retired, Essien's net worth is estimated to be around $35 million.
7. Emmanuel Adebayor (Togo) – Net Worth: US $45 Million
Sheyi Emmanuel Adebayor is one of the richest footballers in Africa as a result of the numerous lucrative contracts he benefited from while playing football. The Togolese international was born in Lome, Togo in February 1984. He spent his youth playing for OC Agaza and Metz. Adebayor went ahead to play for the likes of Manchester City, Arsenal, Crystal Palace, Tottenham Hotspurs and Spanish team Real Madrid.
The talented player was voted as the 2008 African Footballer of the Year. He is currently the all-time top goalscorer for the Togo national football team.
Adebayor is known to have indulged in charity causes and has initiated many projects in Togo and across Africa and the SEA foundation that implements different welfare projects across the continent. Adebayor with a net worth of $45 Million in 2023 ranks 7th in African richest players.
6. Seydou Keita (Mali) – Net Worth: US $51 Million
Seydou Keita is an ex-Malian footballer who started playing football professionally at the age of 17. By the time he was 20, he made his debut for Mali national football team in 2000 in a FIFA World Cup Qualifier.
The versatile midfielder, who operated as both a central or defensive midfielder, has appeared in seven African Cup of Nations tournaments.
Keita most especially played for Lens and Barcelona, winning 14 titles with the Catalan club after signing in 2008. In 2012, he joined the Chinese Super League Club FC Dalian Aerbin where he is paid €14 million per year. He retired from the game at the age of 37 and is blessed with many mansions, luxurious cars worth millions of dollars and other assets to his name.
5. John Obi Mikel (Nigeria) – Net Worth: US $60 Million
Mikel’s football career started at the age of 16 with Enyimba football club of Aba in Nigeria Football League. His success in this club paved the way for him to play for Nigeria’s U-17. His football career became a success since then and went on to sign for Chelsea FC where he won many titles including the UCL in 2012.
The former Super Eagles skipper has played for some international clubs other than Chelsea. He played for Norwegian side Lyn Oslo, Chinese club Tianjin Teda and Middlesbrough.
Mikel Obi's net worth of US $60 Million in 2023 ranks him the 5th richest footballer in Africa. John Mikel Obi investment in real estate and several other endorsements is where most of his wealth comes from. He is married to Olga Diyachenko.
4. Yaya Toure (Cote D'Ivoire) – Net Worth: US $70 Million
Gnégnéri Yaya Toure is one of the finest African players. Toure began his football career with the ASEC Mimosas youth academy team in Cote d'Ivoire in the mid-90s. The former Cote D'Ivoire captain won the AFCON title, won titles in Spain with Barcelona and England with Man City. He also played for Olympiacos in Greece.
Now retired, Yaya Toure's net worth of $70 million dollars, puts him in 4th richest footballer in Africa in 2023.
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3. Mohamed Salah (Egypt) – Net Worth: US $90 Million
Mohamed Salah is an Egyptian forward who currently plays for Liverpool FC in England. He was born in Egypt on June 15, 1992. Reports say that Salah was academically endowed growing up but he chose to follow his dream of becoming a professional footballer.
Salah has become one of the greatest forwards of modern football and a legend for Liverpool and English football, winning various awards and titles with the club. He was awarded 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 winner 2017 & 2019, BBC African Footballer of the Year 2017 and more awards.
Salah's net worth of $90 million in 2023 is enough proof of his huge weekly salary and a successful player he's become. Mo Salah has endorsement deals with top brands like Adidas, Falken Tyres, and Uber.
2. Didier Drogba (Cote D’Ivoire) – Net Worth: US $90 Million
Since his 2004 transfer to Chelsea at the age of 26, Didier Yves Drogba Tébily has signed a number of lucrative contracts. He was paid a staggering $105,000 a week when he was at his peak with Chelsea, a figure dwarfed however by the whopping $325,000 he earned in his short spell at Shanghai Shenhua.
Though retired, Drogba, however, had a number of lucrative sponsorship deals but his actual earnings a year were far more. Drogba won the Champions League with Chelsea in 2012 along with many other titles and awards to his name. Didier Drogba's net worth is estimated to be US $90 Million at the moment, making him the 2nd richest footballer in Africa.
1. Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon) – Net Worth: US $95 Million
Samuel Eto'o Fils is the richest footballer in Africa. He is currently the richest and most influential football player in Cameroon with an estimated net worth of $95 million with endorsements worth $3m. Now retired, he's the president of the Cameroon Football Association.
Eto, who played as striker for Barcelona, Inter Milan, Chelsea and other clubs, is regarded by pundits as one of the best strikers in the world and the best striker to have come out of Africa in his playing days.
Samuel Eto'o Awards include Pichichi Trophy (2006), African Player of the Year (2010, 2006, 2005), CAF Youth Player of the Year (2001), CAF Africa’s finest XI (2009, 2007, 2006), CAF Award for Best Ten players of the last 50 years (2008).
The Cameroonian was in fact once the highest-paid player in the world while he was with Russian football club FC Anzhi Makhachkala with a whopping $25millon a year. Samuel Etoo's net worth is pegged at $95 million, making him the richest African footballer.
The wealth of these 10 richest African players we have brought to you is an illustration of how Africans can rise beyond poverty to pursue their passions and become the happiest people in the world with fulfilling lives and careers. These football stars elevated their families from poverty and through their exemplary lives, other rich African players will arise to upstage what we have in this list in the coming years.
This article was most recently revised and updated 3 months ago
