The UEFA Champions League is the most prestigious club competition in European football, where the best teams from different countries face each other in a knockout tournament. The Champions League has witnessed some of the greatest players in the history of the game, including many from the African continent. In this blog post, we will look at the top five African players who have scored 20 or more goals in the Champions League, and celebrate their achievements and contributions to their teams.
Didier Drogba (44 goals)
Didier Drogba is a legend of Chelsea FC, where he spent eight seasons and won four Premier League titles, four FA Cups, three League Cups, and one Champions League trophy. The Ivorian striker was known for his physical strength, aerial ability, and clinical finishing. He scored 44 goals in 92 Champions League appearances, making him the joint-highest African scorer in the competition's history. He also holds the record for scoring in six different finals (four FA Cups, one League Cup, and one Champions League). His most memorable goal came in the 2012 Champions League final against Bayern Munich, where he headed in the equalizer in the 88th minute and then scored the decisive penalty in the shootout to give Chelsea their first ever European title.
Mo Salah (44 goals)
Mo Salah is one of the best players in the world right now, and a key member of Liverpool FC's formidable attack. The Egyptian winger has been prolific since joining Liverpool in 2017, winning two Premier League Golden Boots, one PFA Player of the Year award, and one African Player of the Year award. He has also helped Liverpool win their first Premier League title in 30 years, and their sixth Champions League title in 2019. Salah has scored 44 goals in 69 Champions League appearances, making him the joint-highest African scorer in the competition's history. He also holds the record for scoring the most goals (11) by an African player in a single Champions League season (2017-18). His most memorable goal came in the 2019 Champions League final against Tottenham Hotspur, where he scored a penalty in the second minute to give Liverpool an early lead and set them on their way to a 2-0 victory.
Samuel Eto'o (30 goals)
Samuel Eto'o is one of the most decorated African players of all time, having won three Champions League titles, four African Player of the Year awards, and two Pichichi trophies (top scorer in La Liga). The Cameroonian striker played for some of the biggest clubs in Europe, including Barcelona FC, Inter Milan, and Chelsea FC. He scored 30 goals in 78 Champions League appearances, making him the third-highest African scorer in the competition's history. He also holds the record for scoring in two different Champions League finals (2006 and 2009) with two different clubs (Barcelona and Inter). His most memorable goal came in the 2009 Champions League final against Manchester United, where he opened the scoring in the 10th minute with a clever finish to help Barcelona win 2-0 and complete a historic treble.
Sadio Mané (27 goals)
Sadio Mané is another star of Liverpool FC's formidable attack, and one of the best wingers in the world. The Senegalese forward has been consistent and explosive since joining Liverpool in 2016, winning one Premier League Golden Boot, one African Player of the Year award, and one Champions League title. He has scored 27 goals in 54 Champions League appearances, making him the fourth-highest African scorer in the competition's history. He also holds the record for scoring a hat-trick in the fastest time (16 minutes) by an African player in the Champions League (against Porto in 2018). His most memorable goal came in the 2018 Champions League semi-final against AS Roma, where he scored Liverpool's first goal in a stunning 5-2 win that put them on course for the final.
Riyad Mahrez (20 goals)
Riyad Mahrez is one of the best playmakers in Europe, and a vital part of Manchester City FC's dominant team. The Algerian winger has been dazzling since joining Manchester City in 2018, winning two Premier League titles, one FA Cup, three League Cups, and reaching his first Champions League final this season. He has scored 20 goals in 57 Champions League appearances, making him the fifth-highest African scorer in the competition's history. He also holds the record for scoring four goals in two consecutive games (against Paris Saint-Germain in 2021) by an African player in the Champions League semi-finals. His most memorable goal came in the second leg of this year's semi-final against PSG, where he scored a brilliant free-kick to seal Manchester City's 2-0 win and their first ever Champions League final appearance.
These are the top five African scorers in Champions League history, who have shown their talent, skill, and passion on the biggest stage of European football. They have inspired millions of fans and young players across the continent and beyond, and have made Africa proud with their achievements and contributions to their teams. We hope you enjoyed this blog post, and feel free to share your thoughts and comments below. Thank you for reading!