bird TenX: Ten African footballers who have won the most trophies in history

Over the years, African players have been key to the performances of the world’s top footballing teams, Here are ten African footballers who have won the most trophies with their club and national teams.

Oliver Ochieng, bird story agency

As the 2024/25 European football season heats up, with teams across the Premier League, Bundesliga, Serie A, La Liga and beyond already several games in, the stage is set for another year of thrilling football action.

This season offers yet another chance for African footballers to continue their remarkable legacy on foreign soil, following in the footsteps of icons like Samuel Eto’o and Riyad Mahrez, whose triumphs are forever etched in the annals of football history.

In this TenX edition, bird shines a spotlight on ten African players with an impressive trophy cabinet, celebrating those who have made their mark with both their European clubs and national teams.

Samuel Eto’o Fils – 18 trophies

The 43-year-old president of the Cameroonian Football Federation (FECAFOOT) remains one of the best footballers Africa has ever seen. At the height of his prowess, the four-time Africa Footballer of the Year’s strike rate was extroadinary. With over 290 goals in over 530 club matches, Eto’o played for some of the best teams in Europe — Real Madrid, Barcelona, Inter Millan and Chelsea — winning the Champions League at both Barcelona (2006, 2009) and Inter Milan (2010).
His 18 trophies include an Olympic gold medal and two Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) titles with the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon.

Yaya Toure – 18 trophies

The former Barcelona, Manchester City and Ivory Coast midfielder is currently serving as an assistant coach for the Saudi Arabia national team. Yaya Touré began his playing career at Ivorian club ASEC Mimosas before having stints with, among others, Olympiacos and Monaco en route to moving to Barcelona in 2007. He represented the Elephants in six Africa Cup of Nations, finishing runner-up in 2006 and 2012, before captaining the side to victory in 2015.
The widely traveled Ivorian is on par with Eto’o in the number of trophies won, courtesy of his successful stints with Barcelona and Manchester City. However, Toure only won one Africa Cup of Nations crown, compared to Eto’o’s two.

Seydou Keita – 17 trophies

Another Barcelona legend on the list. At his prime, the versatile midfielder operated, to great effect, as a defensive midfielder. He started his youth career in Mali and his professional career with Marseille before his career took him to clubs in France, Spain, China, Italy and Qatar. It was in Spain that he enjoyed huge success, winning 2 Champions League and 3 La Liga crowns. Keita represented Mali from the age of 18, appearing in seven Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and winning 102 caps. Unfortunately, the retired midfielder never landed his hands on an Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) crown.

Didier Drogba – 17 trophies

With 65 goals, the retired striker is the all-time top scorer for the Ivory Coast national team. He is best known for his career at Chelsea, where he scored 164 goals to become the Blues’ fourth highest goal scorer of all time, behind Frank Lampard (211), Bobby Tambling (202) and Kerry Dixon (193). The widely-travelled Ivorian featured for sides in France, China, Turkey and the United States, among others. He won 4 Premier League and a UEFA Champions League crown with Chelsea, but the prestigious AFCON title evaded his hands, as he was only capable of leading his Elephants side to runners-up positions in 2006 and 2012. Drogba was synonymous with physical strength, speed, ability in the air, powerful and accurate strikes, and ball retention. He was named African Footballer of the Year twice, in 2006 and 2009. Very active on social issues in Africa, Drogba played a vital role in the peace process in his home country, after which he was appointed a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

Nwankwo Kanu – 17 trophies

One of the two Nigerians on this list. A member of the Arsenal ‘Invincibles,’ Kanu is widely considered one of the greatest African footballers of all time.
The former forward played for Dutch side Ajax, Inter Milan of Italy, and English clubs Arsenal, en route to West Bromwich Albion and Portsmouth. His collection of accolades includes a FIFA U-17 World Cup medal and an Olympics gold medal with Nigeria, a UEFA Champions League medal with Ajax, a UEFA Super Cup, three Eredivisie titles, three FA Cup medals, two Premier League titles with Arsenal, and two African Player of the Year awards, amongst others.
He, however, missed out on the AFCON title.

Samuel Kuffour – 15 trophies

The Ghanaian played as a center-back. Kuffour is widely known for his physical power and best remembered for his time with Bayern Munich, which he represented for over a decade, winning a total of 14 honors and playing in nearly 250 official matches. The 47-year-old also featured for Asante Kotoko in Ghana, Ajax in the Netherlands, and Torino, Livorno and AS Roma in Italy.
In 2003, Kuffour revealed to the BBC that he wanted to be a priest or a missionary when he retired from football, but that has yet to materialize. He also spoke about the surprised reaction of some German players as he prayed before games. Although he never landed an AFCON title, he led Ghana to the FIFA U-17 World Championship in 1991.

Riyard Mahrez – 14 trophies

The only player still active on this list. During the 2015/2016 season, the Algerian winger who features for Al-Ahli in the Saudi Pro League was named the Algerian Footballer of the Year and the PFA Players’ Player of the Year as he helped Leicester City win the Premier League title. He then signed for Manchester City in 2018, winning the Premier League, FA Cup and EFL Cup in his first season. He went on to win a further four league titles, one FA Cup, two EFL Cups and a UEFA Champions League in 2022–23 as part of City’s continental treble before leaving for Saudi Arabia. He was one of the stars on show as Algeria’s Desert Foxes won the second AFCON title in 2019 in Egypt courtesy of a 1-0 win over Senegal’s Teranga Lions in the final.

Michael Essien – 13 trophies

The Ghanian is one of the few Africans to have gotten the privilege to play for Chelsea, Real Madrid and AC Milan. Essien was not only known for his defensive ability but also for his knack for scoring long-range goals.
The former midfielder is currently a member of Danish Superliga club Nordsjælland’s coaching staff. He will be remembered for propelling Chelsea to two Premier League titles and a Champions League crown.

Kwadwo Asamoah – 13 trophies

The 35-year-old former Ghanaian former professional footballer mainly played as a left midfielder or left-back; he was also occasionally deployed as a central midfielder. He began his professional career with Italian club Udinese in 2008, before earning him a transfer to Juventus in 2012, where he played a key role in helping the club to six consecutive Serie A titles between 2013 and 2018, among other titles.
He joined Inter Milan in 2018 and Cagliari in 2021, representing Ghana in four Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and two FIFA World Cups. All the 13 titles under his belt were won while playing for Juventus.

John Obi Mikel – 11 trophies

The second Nigerian on this list. defensive midfielder. The 37-year-old former defensive midfielder began his career with local club Plateau United before joining Norwegian club Lyn at the age of 17 in 2004. In 2006, he made a controversial transfer to English club Chelsea after Manchester United claimed they had already signed him. Good tidings were in store, as he stayed with Chelsea for 11 years, where he won all the 11 titles under his belt, including two Premier League titles, four FA Cups, and the 2011/12 Champions League.
After leaving Chelsea, he had brief stints at Tianjin TEDA, Middlesbrough, Trabzonspor and Stoke City. On 27 September 2022, he announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 35.

/bird