Top 20 richest African footballers and their net worth revealed

The African continent is blessed with many talented people. Among the gifted people are football stars, some of whom are recognised internationally. The richest African footballers have played for local and international teams.

The richest African footballers are worth millions of dollars. Many have accumulated most of their wealth from their soccer careers. Others have multiple streams of income, including football coaching and brand endorsements.

Richest African footballers and their net worth

Check out the list of the top ten richest African footballers in 2023. Some of them are still playing, while others are retired.

20. Kenneth Omeruo - $3 million

Full name: Kenneth Josiah Omeruo

Date of birth: 17 October 1993

Age: 30 years (as of 2023)

Place of birth: Abia State, Nigeria

Team: Kasımpaşa

Kenneth Omeruo plays as Nigeria national team and Kasımpaşa. Omeruo left Standard Liège to join Chelsea in January 2012, and he later signed a loan deal with ADO Den Haag of the Dutch top division. Kenneth Omeruo’s net worth is $3 million.

19. Wilfried Zaha - $4 million

Full name: Dazet Wilfried Armel Zaha

Date of birth: 10 November 1992

Age: 31 years (as of 2023)

Place of birth: Abidjan, Ivory Coast

Team: Galatasaray

Wilfried Zaha plays as left winger for Galatasaray and the Ivory Coast national team. He signed a three-year contract with Galatasaray for a fee of €2.35m and an annual salary of €4.35m. Wilfried Zaha’s net worth is $4 million.

18. Sulley Muntari - $5 Million

Full name: Suleyman Ali Muntar

Date of birth: 27 August 1984

Age: 39 years (as of 2023)

Place of birth: Konongo, Ashanti, Ghana

Sulley Muntari played as a midfielder for such as Udinese, Inter Milan, and AC Milan. In Ghana in 2008, at the African Cup of Nations Tournament, he was chosen as an All-Star Player. Sulley Muntari’s net worth is $5 Million.

17. Kwadwo Asamoah - $6 million

Full name: Kwadwo Asamoah

Date of birth: 9 December 1988

Age: 34 years (as of 2023)

Place of birth: Accra, Ghana

Kwadwo Asamoah was a midfielder or defender for Cagliari Calcio. He was awarded CAF Most Promising African player in 2010 and Ghana Player of the Year in 2012 and 2013. He played for clubs such as Udinese, Inter Milan and Juventus. Kwadwo Asamoah’s net worth is $6 million.

16. Christopher Samba - $7 million

Full name: Veijeany Christopher Samba

Date of birth: 28 March 1984

Age: 39 years (as of 2023)

Place of birth: Créteil, France

Christopher Samba played as a defender for the Congo national team and Aston Villa. Samba played for various football clubs, including Hertha BSC, Blackburn Rovers, and Dynamo Moscow. Christopher Samba's net worth is $7 million.

15. Nwankwo Kanu - $9 million

Full name: Nwankwo Kanu

Date of birth: 1st August 1976

Age: 47 years (as of 2023)

Place of birth: Owerri, Nigeria

Teams: Iwuanyanwu Nationale, Dutch side Ajax, Inter Milan of Italy, Arsenal, West Bromwich Albion and Portsmouth

Nwankwo Kanu started his career in 1992 for Iwuanyanwu Nationale. He started playing for his home country's national team in 1993. The same year, he was signed by the Dutch team Eredivisie AFC Ajax.

He played for Arsenal from 1999 to 2004 and West Bromwich Albion from 2004 to 2006. He finished his career in 2012 at Portsmouth. Nwankwo Kanu's net worth is $9 million.

14. Kolo Abib Touré - $10.5 million

Full name: Kolo Abib Touré

Date of birth: 19th March 1981

Age: 42 years (as of 2023)

Place of birth: Bouake, Côte d’Ivoire

Teams: Manchester, Liverpool, Celtic, and Arsenal

Kolo Abib Touré is one of the richest African footballers. Kolo Abib Touré's net worth of $10.5 million is quite impressive. The former athlete played as a defender for Manchester City, Arsenal, Celtic, Liverpool, and the Ivory Coast national team.

In early 2002, he joined the Premier League team Arsenal. He played for Arsenal until 2009, when he joined Manchester City. He joined Liverpool in May 2013. He retired in September 2017 and is now a Celtic coach.

13. Salomon Kalou - $11 million

Full name: Salomon Armand Magloire Kalou

Date of birth: 5 August 1985

Age: 38 years (as of 2023)

Place of birth: Oumé, Ivory Coast

Team: Arta/Solar7

Salomon Kalou plays as a forward and winger for Djiboutian club Arta/Solar7. He previously played for Chelsea, Feyenoord, Lille, Hertha Berlin and Batafogo. Salomon Kalou's net worth is $11 million.

12. Jay-Jay Okocha - $15 million

Full name: Augustine Azuka Okocha

Date of birth: 14 August 1973

Age: 50 years (as of 2023)

Place of birth: Enugu, Nigeria

Jay-Jay Okocha was an attacking midfielder for teams such as Eintracht Frankfurt, Fenerbahce, Paris Saint-Germain, Bolton Wanderers, Qatar SC, and Hull SC.

In 2003 and 2004, he was named BBC African Footballer of the Year. Jay-Jay Okocha’s net worth is estimated to be approximately $15 million.

11. Benni McCarthy - $16 million

Full name: Benedict Saul McCarthy

Date of birth: 12 November 1977

Age: 46 years (as of 2023)

Place of birth: Cape Town, South Africa

Team: Manchester United

Benni McCarthy is a first-time coach at Manchester United. Benni previously played as a forward for various teams such as West Ham United, Ajax, Porto, Celta Vigo and Blackburn Rovers. He holds a record among the South African national team for being all-time leading goal scorer with 32 goals. Benni McCarthy’s net worth is $16 million.

10. Sadio Mané - $25 million

Full name: Sadio Mané

Date of birth: 10th April 1992

Age: 31 years (as of 2023)

Place of birth: Bambali, Senegal

Team: Bayern Munich

Sadio Mané plays for the Senegal national team and Liverpool, a Premier League club. Before joining Liverpool, he was signed with the Austrian club Red Bull Salzburg, Ligue 2 club Metz, and Southampton.

Sadio Mané's net worth as of 2023 is $25 million, making him among one of the top 10 richest African footballers. Sadio Mané's annual salary is 5 million GBP.

9. Victor Moses - $27 million

Full name: Victor Moses

Date of birth: 12 December 1990

Age: 32 years (as of 2023)

Place of birth: Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria

Team: Spartak Moscow

Victor Moses plays as a wing-back for the Russian club Spartak Moscow. Victor has played for clubs such as West Ham, Inter Milan, Crystal Palace, Chelsea, Stroke City and Liverpool. In July 2021, he signed a two-year club contract with Spartak Moscow, but in February, he extended his contract to 2024. Victor Moses' net worth is $27 million.

8. Asamoah Gyan - $30 Million

Full name: Asamoah Gyan

Date of birth: 22 November 1985

Age: 38 years (as of 2023)

Place of birth: Accra, Ghana

Team: NorthEast United FC

Asamoah Gyan was a footballer who played as a striker for Legon Cities FC and Ghana national team. He represented Ghana at the FIFA World Cup in 2006,2010 and 2014. He is the highest African to have scored more goals at the World Cup. Asamoah Gyan’s net worth is $30 Million.

7. Michael Essien - $35 million

Full name: Michael Kojo Essien

Date of birth: 3rd December 1982

Age: 40 years (as of 2023)

Place of birth: Accra, Ghana

Teams: Chelsea, Sabail, AC Milan, Real Madrid, and Persib Bandung

Michael Essien is a former professional footballer. The Ghanaian athlete was a midfielder and is currently a member of the coaching staff of the Danish Superliga club, Nordsjælland.

Michael started his career at a local club in Ghana after graduating from St. Augustine College. In 2005, the France National Union Professional Footballers voted him the Player of the Year. Today, Michael Essien's net worth is $35 million.

6. Sheyi Emmanuel Adebayor - $45 million

Full name: Sheyi Emmanuel Adebayor

Date of birth: 26th February 1984

Age: 39 years (as of 2023)

Place of birth: Lomé, Togo

Team: AC Semassi FC

Emmanuel Adebayor is a famous Togolese athlete. He started his career in his home country. From 2003 to 2006, he played for Monaco. In 2006 he signed with Arsenal, and in 2009, he signed with Manchester City. In 2012, he signed Tottenham Hotspur. Emmanuel Adebayor's net worth is $45 million.

5. John Obi Mikel - $45 million

John Obi-Mikel is a former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder. He played for Chelsea and the Nigerian national team.

The athlete started his career at Pepsi Football Academy at 12. Later, he played for Nigeria at the FIFA Under-17 World Championships. He signed with Chelsea in 2005. He was Chelsea's Young Player of the Year in 2007 and 2008. John Obi-Mikel's net worth is $45 million as of 2023.

4. Yaya Touré Gnégnéri - $70 million

Full name: Gnégnéri Yaya Touré

Date of birth: 13th May 1983

Age: 40 years (as of 2023)

Place of birth: Bouake, Côte d’Ivoire

Team: Manchester City F.C.

Yaya Touré Gnégnéri started playing football with the ASEC Mimosas Youth Academy team in Cote d'Ivoire. He then relocated to Europe, where he played for Beveren in Belgium.

Later, he signed with AS Monaco before joining Barcelona. In 2010, he joined Manchester City. Today, he is an academy coach for Tottenham Hotspur. Yaya Touré's net worth is $70 million.

3. Mohamed Salah - $90 million

Full name: Mohamed Salah Hamed Mahrous Ghaly

Date of birth: 15th June 1992

Age: 31 years (as of 2023)

Place of birth: Nagrig, Egypt

Team: Liverpool

Mohamed Salah is commonly known as the Egyptian King or The Pharaoh. He is one of the best strikers in the world. At 30, Mohamed Salah's net worth is an impressive $90 million.

The Egyptian King is a key player in the Italian and English leagues. He currently plays as a forward for Liverpool and captains the Egypt national team.

2. Didier Yves Drogba Tébily - $90 million

Full name: Didier Yves Drogba Tébily

Date of birth: 11th March 1978

Age: 45 years (as of 2023)

Place of birth: Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire

Teams: Chelsea, Marseille, Montreal Impact, and Galatasaray

Drogba was one of the highest-paid footballers in the world, earning a salary of $15 million per year. Today, Didier Drogba's net worth is $90 million.

The retired athlete was known for his striking ability and tendency to score goals during big matches. He is a former captain of the Ivory Coast national team.

1. Samuel Eto'o - $95 million

Full name: Samuel Eto'o Fils

Date of birth: 10th March 1981

Age: 42 years (as of 2023)

Place of birth: Douala, Cameroon

Team: Barcelona and Chelsea

Samuel Eto'o Fils is among the top 10 richest African players of all time. The former Cameroonian footballer was one of the highest-paid footballers globally, earning an annual salary of $26 million. Samuel Eto'o's net worth is $95 million. He is regarded as one of the best strikers of all time. In 2004, he joined Barcelona for a transfer fee of 24 million Euros.