All professional footballers are generally well to do financially but there are some who after they hang up their boots, will not need to ever work again. They and their families are set up for life.
A study by French publication, Foot en direct, has revealed the richest African footballers of all time. This includes both active and retired soccer players.
1. Samuel Eto’o – Net Worth: $140 million
Cameroonian footballer Samuel Eto’o Fils is the richest African footballer in history. He is the most successful and most decorated African player of all time. He has also won the African Player of the Year award a record four times. He is as of today the richest football player in Africa. At a point in his career, he was the highest-paid football player in the world during his days with Anzhi Makhachkala where he earned $25 Million annually. As of 2020 He is Estimated to be worth around $150 million. So its official Samuel Eto is still the richest football player in Africa 2020
2. Didier Drogba – Net Worth: $98 Million
At the height of his powers at Chelsea, he was paid $170,000 a week, a figure dwarfed however by the staggering $325,000 he earned in his short spell at Shanghai Shenhua. He also earns $5.2million a year at Galatasaray, however with a number of lucrative sponsorship deals his actual earnings a year are far more. He played for Montreal Impact in the MLS and he earned over $6 million per year. He played for Shanghai Shenhua (China) earning a salary of 200 thousand pounds a week, after which he moved to Galatasaray in Turkey. He left Galatasaray and returned to Chelsea again. He then moved to Phoenix Rising (in the USA). He is known as a philanthropist, spending a lot of money on charity. He is been said to be one of the best players in Africa ever, so it wouldn’t be a surprise he tops the list of the richest Footballers in Africa 2020.
3. Yaya Toure – Networth: $80 million
Ivorian footballer Yaya Toure is one of the richest African footballers. His net worth is currently put at the $80 Million. He plays as a central midfielder and started his career at the age of 18, playing for the Ivorian football side ASEC Mimosa. While at Manchester City, he was on a salary of 210 thousand Euros a week. He is a four-time African footballer of the year award winner. His most recent club is Olympiakos of Greece but his contract was terminated after a few months.He is also recognised as one of Côte d’Ivoire’s ‘Golden Generation’ in football. He was an important player in the Barcelona team that won the Champions League in 2009 and is currently the engine room of Manchester City’s team. He earns a reported $15million a year to reinforce his status as one of the world’s best.
4. Mohamed Salah – Net Worth: $58 million
Salah agreed to a long term contract with Liverpool for 50 million Pound in 2017, which was a club record. He, thus, became Liverpool’s first-ever Egyptian player and scored in his debut match against ‘Watford.’ He was named as ‘Player of the Month’ for August by Liverpool fans. In the 2017 ‘Africa Cup of Nations,’ he turned out as one of the leading goal scorers and helped his team to the finals. He also earned a place in ‘CAF Team of the Tournament.’ As of 2019, Mohamed Salah’s net worth is $58 Million dollars. He may not be the richest Footballer in Africa 2020 right now, but he is on the way to be.
5. Emmanuel Adebayor – Net Worth: $40 Million
Emmanuel Adebayor net worth and salary: Emmanuel Adebayor is a Togolese professional soccer player who has a net worth of $45 million dollars. Sheyi Emmanuel Adebayor was born in Lome, Togo in February 1984. He spent his youth playing for OC Agaza and Metz. In 2001 he was called up to the Metz senior team. From 2003 to 2006 he played for Monaco. During that time he helped Monaco reach the 2004 UEFA Champions League Final. In 2006 he signed with Arsenal for $3 million pounds. He was nicknamed “Baby Kanu” after his resemblance to player Nwankwo Kanu. Adebayor signed a five-year contract for $25 million pounds with Manchester City in 2009. He was loaned out to Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur during that time. He signed permanently with Hotspur in 2012 for $5 million pounds. He is a forward and was named the African Footballer of the Year in 2008. He has also played internationally for Togo since 2000. He played for Togo in their only appearance at the World Cup in 2006. In 2010 the team’s bus came under gunfire when they were headed to the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations. He is Togo’s all time goal scorer with 27. He is married and has a daughter. Adebayor was the Togo Footballer of the Year from 2005 to 2008. He is definitely now considered one of the richest African footballers 2020
6. Mikel Obi – Net Worth: $53 million
John Obi Mikel is a Nigerian football player who has a net worth of $53 million. John Obi Mikel plays midfield for Chelsea and is part of the Nigerian national team. Mikel’s career began when he was chosen for the Pepsi Football Academy at the age of 12 and went on to play for Nigeria at the FIFA Under-17 World Championships. While there, he led Nigeria to the finals and was named second best player in the tournament. In 2005, it was announced that he would sign with Manchester United, but days later, Chelsea also issued a similar announcement that they had come to an agreement with Mikel. Mikel joined a press conference with Manchester United and eventually signed a deal with the European club. A few weeks later, Mikel reportedly went missing while watching a match in the stands and Manchester United accusing Chelsea of kidnapping the football star.
7. Sadio Mane – Net Worth: $42 million
Mane’s contract sees him take some £150,000 per week, according to The Guardian. His annual salary of around £7.8million puts him behind Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino, his partners in Liverpool’s deadly attack.Salah leads the way in the Reds squad on around £200,000 per week, followed by Firmino and centre-back Virgin van Dijk on £180,000.
8. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – Net Worth: $41 million
Aubameyang’s deal until 2021 at Arsenal gives him a weekly wage of £198,000. That means he earns well over £10m annually, as well as an extra £300,000 should he register a combined 25 goals and assists per season. top african songs 2020
According to German newspaper Der Spiegel, he received a £2.26m Champions League bonus despite Arsenal finishing sixth last season and fifth this campaign in the Premier League.
9. Michael Essien – Net Worth: $32 million
As of 2020, Michael Essien has an estimated net worth of $45 million, mostly earned through his soccer career. His annual salary was around $ 1 million while playing for his current club of Persib Bandung and has a market worth in the region of £450,000 as of 2017 with his highest being £ 40.50 million in 2005. He used to receive an annual salary of $4.7 million while playing for Chelsea.
10. Asamoah Gyan – Net Worth: $30 Million
There have been many rumors regarding his net worth and how much money he actually has right now. Despite all the rumors, his estimated net worth is around 30$ million. Most of the money comes from his contracts with famous African football clubs, but also from his endorsements. He is even listed as one of the richest people in Ghana right now, and his popularity doesn’t seem to be going away. In 2012, he got into boxing promotion and even arranged his boxing debut. The show took palace in Ghana and the second boxing show he organized was held in 2019
