Greatest African Sports Stars of All Time
The greatest African athletes in history — from Muhammad Ali and Pelé to Eliud Kipchoge, Haile Gebrselassie and beyond.
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The greatest African athletes in history — from Muhammad Ali and Pelé to Eliud Kipchoge, Haile Gebrselassie and beyond.
Eliud Kipchoge
The greatest marathon runner in history — sub-two-hour marathon achiever and two-time Olympic champion.
Olympic Gold Marathon 2016 (Rio), 2021 (Tokyo)
Haile Gebrselassie
The greatest runner of the 1990s and 2000s — 27 world records including multiple marathon and 10,000m records.
Olympic Gold 10000m 2x (1996,2000)
Kenenisa Bekele
Ethiopia's most decorated male athlete — world record holder at 5,000m and 10,000m and marathon runner of extraordinary longevity.
Olympic Gold 5000m, 10000m Athens 2004
Didier Drogba
Didier Yves Drogba Tébily was born in Abidjan, Ivory Coast in 1978 and became Chelsea's most important striker of the Roman Abramovich era,
338 career goals · Champions League 2012 (Chelsea)
Jay-Jay Okocha
So good they named him twice — PSG's Nigerian wizard whose skill and flair made him one of football's most entertaining players.
African Player of Year 1998
Sadio Mané
Liverpool forward who lit up the Premier League and won the Champions League, league title and AFCON with Senegal.
294 career goals · Champions League 2019 (Liverpool)
Hakeem Olajuwon
Nigeria-born champion widely considered the finest centre of the 1990s and the greatest shot-blocker in NBA history.
21.8 ppg career · NBA MVP 1994
Tirunesh Dibaba
The Baby-Faced Destroyer — three Olympic gold medals in the 5,000m and 10,000m and the most dominant female distance runner of her generatio
Olympic Gold 5000m, 10000m Athens 2004 – wait: Beijing 2008 10000m
Nwankwo Kanu
The gentle giant — Nwankwo Kanu's quiet dignity and extraordinary natural ability made him one of the most beloved figures of West African f
Champions League 1995 (Ajax)
Yaya Touré
The engine of Manchester City's transformation from perennial mid-table side to Premier League dynasty — Yaya Touré's extraordinary physical
201 career goals · Champions League 2009 (Barcelona)
Kolo Touré
Fearless Ivorian defender who was a key figure in Arsenal's 'Invincibles' season and later won the Premier League with Manchester City.
14 career goals
Asamoah Gyan
Ghana's all-time leading scorer whose missed penalty against Uruguay at the 2010 World Cup became one of football's most painful near-miss m
UAE League (Al Ain)
Riyad Mahrez
Leicester City's PFA Player of the Year during his miraculous 5000-1 title win and Manchester City's Champions League winner.
222 career goals · Champions League 2023 (Manchester City)
Siya Kolisi
The first Black Springbok captain — World Cup winner in 2019 and 2023, a symbol of a transformed South Africa.
Rugby World Cup 2x (2019,2023)
Ernie Els
The Big Easy — four majors across two decades and one of the most elegant swings in golf history.
US Open 1994 1997
Gary Player
The Black Knight — one of only five players to complete the career Grand Slam.
9 majors · 163 tour wins
Said Aouita
Moroccan middle-distance legend who was the first man to hold world records simultaneously at 1,500m, 2,000m, 3,000m and 5,000m and won Olym
Net worth $2m
Joel Embiid
The Process — the most dominant scoring centre of his generation and an MVP who transformed the Philadelphia 76ers.
0× NBA champion · 27.9 ppg career
Genzebe Dibaba
The world record holder in the 1500m and indoor mile — Tirunesh's younger sister who carved out her own legacy with world records at multipl
Olympic Gold 1500m Rio 2016
Hicham El Guerrouj
Mile and 1500m world record holder — the finest middle-distance runner since Coe and Ovett.
Olympic Gold 1500m and 5000m (Athens 2004)
Achraf Hakimi
The most dynamic attacking full-back of his generation — Morocco's World Cup hero and PSG's most exciting player.
60 career goals · Champions League (2022 finalist)
Mohamed Salah
Mohamed Salah Ghaly was born in Nagrig, Gharbia Governorate, Egypt in 1992. He developed at El Mokawloon before Basel and then Chelsea, wher
363 career goals · Champions League 2019 (Liverpool)
Sadio Mané II
From a village without electricity to Champions League winner — Africa's Player of the Year and a champion with Senegal.
296 career goals · Champions League (2019)
Salomon Kalou
Skilful Ivorian forward who provided consistent goals and assists during Chelsea's successful era.
60 career goals · Champions League 2012
Michael Essien
Chelsea's Ghanaian powerhouse — African Player of the Year and one of the most complete midfielders of his generation.
Champions League 2012
Victor Moses
Versatile Nigerian winger who won the Champions League with Chelsea and gave outstanding service to Nigeria across multiple tournaments.
Champions League 2012
Samuel Eto'o
Africa's greatest footballer of his era — four-time African Player of the Year and Champions League winner with Barcelona and Inter Milan.
431 career goals · Champions League 2006, 2009 (Barcelona), 2010 (Inter Milan)
Mohamed Aboutrika
Egypt's most beloved modern footballer, a graceful and prolific attacking midfielder known as 'The Magic Scorpion' and champion of social ca
CAF Champions League 2005, 2006, 2008 (Al Ahly)
Abedi Pelé
Ghana's greatest ever footballer and African Player of the Year three times — a key figure in Marseille's Champions League triumph in 1993.
175 career goals · Champions League 1993 (Marseille)
Tatjana Smith
South Africa's golden girl — two Olympic gold medals and the world record holder in breaststroke.
Olympic Gold 100m+200m Breaststroke (Paris 2024)
David Rudisha
The 800m world record holder who produced the greatest 800m performance in Olympic history at London 2012.
Olympic Gold 2x (800m 2012,2016)
Faith Kipyegon
Three Olympic gold medals in the 1500m — the most decorated middle-distance runner in Olympic history.
Olympic Gold 3x (1500m 2016,2021,2024)
Kevin Pietersen
The most naturally gifted England batsman since Denis Compton — 8,181 Test runs and four Ashes series victories before a spectacular falling
8181 Test runs · 47.28 Test average
Tegla Loroupe
Africa's first female marathon world record holder and a global ambassador for peace — three-time world marathon record holder whose speed o
World Record Marathon 2:20:43 (Berlin 1999)
Victor Matfield
The finest lineout forward in rugby history — two World Cup winner with South Africa.
Rugby World Cup 2x (2007,2015)
Jacques Kallis
Cricket's greatest all-rounder, averaging over 55 with the bat and taking 292 Test wickets.
13289 Test runs · 292 Test wickets
Moses Kiptanui
Moses Kiptanui — the first man to run the 3000m steeplechase in under eight minutes and one of Kenya's most significant contributors to the
World Champion 3,000m Steeplechase 3x (1991 1993 1995)
Bryan Habana
77 Test tries — the joint world record holder for Test tries by a back.
Rugby World Cup 2007
Dikembe Mutombo
The greatest shot-blocker in NBA history and one of sport's most generous humanitarians — Dikembe Mutombo's signature finger wag became one
0× NBA champion · 9.8 ppg career
John Smit
South Africa's most-capped captain — led the Springboks to World Cup glory in 2007.
Rugby World Cup 2007
Wilfried Zaha
Crystal Palace's greatest ever player — the forward who was released by United and became a Premier League icon.
112 career goals
Francois Pienaar
The Springbok captain who shared the World Cup trophy with Nelson Mandela — Francois Pienaar's moment on the Ellis Park podium in 1995 is on
Rugby World Cup 1995 (captain)
Cheslin Kolbe
Rugby World Cup winner 2x — the smallest, fastest and most dangerous finisher in world rugby.
Rugby World Cup 2x (2019,2023)
Eben Etzebeth
The most physically dominant lock in world rugby — two World Cup winner.
Rugby World Cup 2x (2019,2023)
Joshua Cheptegei
Ugandan distance running legend who holds the 10,000m world record and won Olympic gold in Tokyo, a fearless competitor who is expected to d
Net worth $2m
Pascal Siakam
Athletic and versatile Cameroonian-Canadian forward who developed from raw prospect to NBA champion and one of the league's most complete po
NBA Champion 2019
Azzedine Ounahi
Energetic and technically gifted Moroccan midfielder whose standout 2022 World Cup performances earned him a move to one of Europe's biggest
WC 2022 Semi-Final (Morocco)
Brigid Kosgei
Kenyan marathon world record holder whose stunning Berlin performance in 2019 produced the first sub-2:02 marathon and established her as th
Net worth $2m
Shaun Pollock
South Africa's finest all-rounder after Kallis and a key figure in the 1990s-2000s golden era.
3781 Test runs · 421 Test wickets
Jacob Kiplimo
Ugandan half marathon world record holder and rising force in long-distance running whose smooth stride and tactical intelligence have produ
Net worth $2m