The 2023-2024 edition of the Champions League kicks off this Tuesday. Ahead of the matches scheduled for today, Afrique Sports reveals the ranking of the top African goal scorers in the history of this competition.
African players have made their mark in the Champions League. Most of them have lifted the prestigious trophy, contributing by scoring important goals. One such player is Samuel Eto’o, who is the most decorated African in this tournament with four victories. The Cameroonian legend achieved these triumphs with Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, and Inter Milan. Whether it was with Barça or the Nerazzurri, the Indomitable Lion played a crucial role, notably scoring in two finals with the Blaugrana. The current president of the Cameroonian Football Federation occupies the 3rd place with 33 goals.
Salah, the all-time leading African goal scorer in the Champions League
At Liverpool, Mohamed Salah has become a prolific goal scorer. The Pharaoh has become a constant threat to defenders in both the Premier League and the Champions League. With the Reds, the Nagrig native has experienced a meteoric rise with improved statistics. The Egyptian international, with 48 goals, is the all-time leading African goal scorer in the history of the Champions League.
Mohamed Salah also won the competition in 2019 with Liverpool. Unfortunately, the Egyptian will not be playing in the Champions League this season to further enhance his statistics, as Liverpool will only compete in the Europa League. Nevertheless, he can be content with his achievements. His direct competitors in this ranking are either retired or no longer playing in Europe.
Here is the ranking of the top 10 African goal scorers in the history of the Champions League:
1- Mohamed Salah (EGY – Basel, Roma, Liverpool): 48 goals
2- Didier Drogba (CIV – Marseille, Chelsea, Galatasaray): 44 goals
3- Samuel Eto’o (CMR – Real Madrid, Mallorca, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Chelsea): 33 goals
4- Sadio Mané (SEN – Salzburg, Liverpool, Bayern Munich): 27 goals
5- Riyad Mahrez (ALG – Leicester, Manchester City): 20 goals
6- Seydou Doumbia (CIV – CSKA Moscow, Basel, Sporting CP): 19 goals
7- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (GAB – Borussia Dortmund): 15 goals
8- Vincent Aboubakar (CMR – Porto, Besiktas): 14 goals
9- George Weah (LIB – Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan): 14 goals
10- Emmanuel Adebayor (TGO – Monaco, Arsenal, Real Madrid): 14 goals
These players have left an indelible mark on the Champions League with their goal-scoring prowess. Their contributions have not only brought glory to their respective clubs but have also elevated African football on the global stage. As the new edition of the Champions League unfolds, fans eagerly await the emergence of new African goal-scoring talents who will continue to make their mark in this prestigious competition.
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings