This content discusses the best African footballers in the world at the moment. Although they don’t get the same amount of spotlight as European or South American footballers, African soccer stars are unique with their own attributes. They are generally big, tall guys with tremendous physiques and relentless stamina. People often consider these guys as angry rough men but these guys are very charming as teammates. And the successors of Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto’o, etc. have shown tremendous performances in European football in recent years. Some of them are also featured in the Ballon d’Or top list. Well, let’s find out who are the best African soccer players in 2022. Top 10 Highest Paid African Football Players 2021 [Weekly Wages Confirmed].
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Best African Footballers in the World Right Now (2022)
#1. Mohamed Salah (Egypt, Liverpool)
Who else but Mohamed Salah to top the chart? This guy is simply the best African footballer in the world right now. The Egyptian has been the standout performer for Liverpool in the past few seasons. He was one of the main reasons behind the All Reds’ 6th UCL glory. While he also helped the side win their first-ever Premier League title in 30 years. Individually, the right winger has been in red hot form throughout the last couple of seasons. One can understand how sensational he has been, by looking at his recent stats.
In the 2020-21 campaign he bagged 22 Premier League goals and finished just behind Tottenham skipper Harry Kane who netted 23 goals on that occasion. Salah also had 6 UCL goals beside his name. But in the 2021-22 campaign, he has been much more ruthless. Before joining the Egypt squad for the AFCON, he has already bagged 16 league goals in the campaign and is way ahead of the 2nd place holder. The former Basel man has also found the net on regular occasions in the European arena. In the group stage, he scored as many as 7 goals, the 3rd best behind Haller and Lewandowski. Salah has got the rewards for his performances, as he finished 3rd in the “FIFA Best” award for 2021. Salah also grabbed 7th place in the Ballon d’Or chart.
#2. Riyad Mahrez (Algeria; Manchester City)
With sensational football skills, Riyad Mahrez is simply the man for the big occasions. The Algerian is one of the most valuable players in the Man City squad and Pep Guardiola truly keeps the faith in him on the big games. He is one of the regular set-piece takers in the team along with Kevin De Bruyne. Mahrez has been consistent throughout his Man City career. His 20 goals/assists in the 2019-20 campaign were followed by 15 G/A in 2020-21. This season, he has already netted on 6 occasions and also provided 4 assists in the English top flight. While, with 5 UCL goals in the group stage, he has been the top performer for the Citizens.
#3. Sadio Mane (Senegal; Bayern Munich)
The former Liverpool star definitely makes it to the top 5. Since making his move to the Premier League, his seasonal goal-scoring stat was never confined within the single digit. This stat might clear you, how consistent he has been at the English top flight! During his 2 seasons at the St. Mary’s, he bagged as many as 21 Premier League goals. And then he joined the Anfield-based side and since joining the All Reds his PL scoring tallies read 13, 10, 22, 18, 11! This season, he has already scored 8 league goals in his 20 appearances and is on the verge of taking it to the double-digits. Mane also played a vital role in Liverpool’s 2018-19 UCL victory and 2019-20 EPL glory. Securing the 4th spot in the 2019 Ballon d’Or list, was one of his highlighting achievements. In the 2022-23 season, he joined Bundesliga giant Bayern Munich.
#4. Edouard Mendy (Senegal, Chelsea)
Just a year ago, almost half of the soccer world could rarely recognize Edouard Mendy. But the Senegalese is now not only one of the best GKs on the planet but also the winner of the FIFA Best Goalkeeper Award 2021. The Chelsea gloveman was simply unbelievable in the 2020-21 campaign. In fact, the former Reims keeper has accumulated a whopping 29 clean sheets from just 53 appearances for club and country in 2021. He was one of the main reasons why the Blues could lift their 2nd ever UCL title. And with eye-catching performances, now Mendy is not only the best African keeper in the world but also one of the top 5 footballers in Africa according to our experts and also according to ESPN.
#5. Achraf Hakimi (Morocco, PSG)
At just 23, Achraf Hakimi is already the best African side-back in the world. The PSG right-wing back does have enormous potential within him and so far he has been able to show it on the field. Although he couldn’t establish himself as a starter in his early days at Real Madrid the Dortmund move proved really lucky for him. In his first season at the Signal Iduna Park, he scored 2 league goals and provided 4 assists. And in the very next campaign, the number got increased to more than twice as he netted 5 and made 10 assists!
Very next season, he joined Inter Milan and the stats just got better. Despite mainly being a defender, his attacking ability and stats are simply elegant. He helped the Black and Blues win their first Scudetto in more than 9 years. His league stat for the 2020-21 campaign reads 7 goals, 8 assists, and 13 clean sheets! All this brilliance on the field didn’t go unnoticed. Nasser Al Khelaifi lured the Moroccan for a whopping 60 million euros (70.9 million USD). Currently, he is playing for the French giants and has gathered 3 goals and 3 assists so far from his 18 league appearances.
#6. Kalidou Koulibaly (Senegal, Chelsea)
Kalidou Koulibaly is the 3rd Senegalese to feature in the list of the Best African Footballers in the World. But on a chart that is full of attacking players, he is one of the few defending stars. In fact, Koulibaly is considered the most solid African center-back of recent times. To be honest, he truly is a sensational defender. This 6 feet 1-inch tall strong guy is an asset at the backline for any side. His physical strength along with good decision-making ability makes him one of the hotcakes in European football. In the 2021-22 campaign, he has featured in 14 league games so far and claimed 8 clean sheets. Apart from these, the center half also bagged 2 goals while providing 2 more assists. The Senegal national team captain joined the Premier League giants Chelsea in 2022-23.
#7. Sebastian Haller (Cote d’Ivoire, Borussia Dortmund)
Sebastian Haller is one of the most in-form forwards in the world right now. The Ivorian has been so so good that he has scored in all 6 group stage games of the UEFA Champions League this season. And he has become just the 2nd player in history to do so after the league’s all-time top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo. In those 6 games, he has bagged as many as 10 goals and is currently leading the chart. He is not only one the best among the Africans but also is one of the best strikers in European football as well. He joined Borussia Dortmund in 2022-23 but unfortunately, he has been diagnosed with cancer and currently is in medical care. Most Expensive Trophies in Sports (20+).
Special Mentions:
- Pierre Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon, Chelsea)
- Victor Osimhen (Nigeria, Napoli)
- Franck Kessie (Cote d’Ivoire, FC Barcelona)
- Emmanuel Dennis (Nigeria, Nottingham Forest)
- Hakim Ziyech (Morocco, Chelsea)
- Kelechi Iheanacho (Nigeria, Leicester City)
- Said Benrahma (Algeria, West Ham)
- Wilfried Ndidi (Nigeria, Leicester City)
- Patson Daka (Zambia, Leicester City)
- Wilfried Zaha (Cote d’Ivoire, Crystal Palace)
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