Football enjoys so much followership across the globe and Africa is no exception. Africa has produced and continues to produce some of the finest football players in the world. Most footballers started playing for fun but in today’s world football is not just a sport it has evolved to a serious money-spilling business. We take a look some the richest African football players and their net worth.
10. Sulley Ali Muntari
Sulley Muntari journey into being a Ghanaian professional footballer started when he appeared in a youth tournament from there to Ghana U20 to the senior national team, Black Stars. ';;;;Bad boy Muntari';;;; as tagged by Ghanaians has been successful in his football career and has a total net worth is $5 million US dollars. The 34-year-old has played for many European clubs such as Udinese, Portsmouth, Milan and Deportivo de La Coruña (Spain) and others. He won the Serie A, Coppa Italia, Supercoppa Italiana, UEFA Champions league and FIFA Club World Cup with Inter Milan while also winning the FA Cup with Portsmouth. His net worth is 5 million US dollars.
9. Christopher Samba
Christopher Samba is a Congolese defender. Samba played for various football clubs including Hertha BSC, Blackburn Rovers, and Dynamo Moscow. Besides, Christopher Samba plays for Republic of the Congo national team. His highest transfer cost was 15 million Euros. His estimated net worth stands at US $7 Million and much of his wealth comes from the contract he signed with Anzi Makhachkala where he was paid $160,000 as weekly salary. Born in France, this talented footballer plays for the Championship Club Aston Villa as a defender.
8. Seydou Keita
Seydou Keita is a versatile footballer who can play as both a central midfielder and a defensive midfield. Keita represented Mali and appeared in seven Africa Cup of Nations tournaments. He starred for Lens, Sevilla, Barcelona and Roma. He won numerous titles in his career and earned juicy pays making hin one of the richest African football players.
7. John Mikel Obi
Mikel came into football prominence with his stellar performances at the FIFA Under -17 Championships in Finland. Born John Michael Nchekwube Obinna but, in 2003 the Nigerian Football Association mistakenly submitted “Mikel” as “Michael” for the tournament in Finland and has since then stuck to his new name.
Mikel has played for Norwegian side Lyn Oslo, Chelsea, Tianjin Teda (China). He recently moved back to England with Middlesbrough. Mikel was on a weekly wages of £140,000 in his Chinese club before returning to English football. Besides, Obi Mikel is the captain of the Nigerian national football team. He is worth an estimated 30 million US dollars.
6. Asamoah Gyan
Asamoah Gyan is a Ghanaian forward. His net worth is 23 million US dollars.
Gyan played for such football clubs as Udinese, Rennes, Al Ain, and Shanghai SIPG.
Moreover, Gyan is the current skipper of the Black Stars of Ghana and now plays for Turkish outfit Kayserispor.
5. Michael Essien
Michael Essien is a Ghanaian midfielder. His net worth is 35 million US dollars. Essien played for Chelsea, Real Madrid and Milan among other clubs. He is popular for his energetic all action displays from the centre of the pitch and won several titles in his career. He is also former captain of Ghana national team. Michael Essien holds a record for transfer amount for an African football player. He was sold to Chelsea for 26 million pounds. In 2007, the salary of the Ghanaian midfielder was 90 thousand pounds a week.
4. Emmanuel Sheyi Adebayor
The all-time top scorer from Togo is one of the richest African footballers and has benefitted from numerous lucrative contracts at some of Europe’s top clubs. Emmanuel Adebayor plays as a striker for the Turkish club Istanbul Basaksehir. He has played forReal Madrid, Manchester City, Arsenal, Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur in the past. In 2008, while playing as a member of Arsenal, the talented player was voted as the African Footballer of the Year. He is currently the all-time top goalscorer of Togo with 31 goals. While at Manchester City, Adebayor got a salary of $268,000 per week. The player is known to have indulged in charity causes. He has initiated many projects in Togo and across Africa and the SEA foundation that implements different welfare projects across the continent. Emmanuel Adebayor is one of the greatest footballers in the world with a net worth of about $45 Million.
3. Yaya Toure
Yaya Toure is an Ivorian central midfielder. Yaya started his football career at the age of 18. Also, the footballer has won African Player of the Year award four times – a record. At present, Yaya Toure plays for Olympiakos (Greece.) He won an unprecedented six trophies with FC Barcelona; he would go on to make more history with Manchester City, helping the football club lift their first Premier League Title in 44 years. The Ivorian midfielder received 210 thousand Euros a week in Manchester City. He is worth an estimated $70 million.
2. Didier Drogba
Didier Yves Drogba Tébily is an Ivorian forward. Drogba is one of the iconic figures not just in Africa football but also on the international stage. Drogba’s net worth is estimated to be 90 million US dollars. Drogba is the highest goal scorer among foreign players in the history of Chelsea. Didier Drogba won the African Player of the Year award two times. Didier Drogba’s wages in Chelsea was 105 thousand pounds a week and he spent eight years in London where he won a number of titles including the Premier league and Champions league earning him a legend status among the club fans. He was on a salary of 200 thousand pounds a week at Shanghai Shenhua (China). At present the Ivorian striker plays for Phoenix Rising ( USA). Didier Drogba spends much money on charity. He founded his fund and has spent about 1 million pounds on it. Besides, Drogba allocates earnings for charity from his advertising contracts with Samsung, Pepsi and Nike.
1. Samuel Eto’o Fils
Cameroonian football star, Samuel Eto’O tops the list as Africa’s richest football player.He is a joint record holder of the African Player of the Year awards having won it four times. His move to Anzhi Makhachkala made the highest paid footballer the time, earning $25 Million annually. The estimated net worth of this footballer is $95 Million, allowing him to lead an extravagant lifestyle with multiple mansions, super-cars, and high-flying private jets, along with generous donations to various charities. Samuel Eto’o has played as a striker for some of the biggest clubs in Europe including Barcelona, Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Antalyaspor, and Chelsea. His extraordinary goal-scoring capability has not only rewarded him with huge wages but great sponsorship deals. He is known worldwide for his stamina and considered as one of the greatest African footballers.
