Africa’s 10 richest footballers

Mohamed Salah is currently the richest football player in Africa and his net worth is 140 million dollars.

Here is the full list of the top ten richest footballers in Africa right now:

1. Mohamed Salah — $140 million

Mohamed Salah is currently the richest football player in Africa and his net worth is 140 million dollars. The Egyptian forward built his fortune through a successful football career, lucrative contracts and huge endorsement deals.

Before leaving Liverpool in 2026, Salah reportedly earned more than £400,000-a-week and earned around $27 million a year from football.

Its total gaming revenue reached about $160 million, with sponsorships and other commercial deals bringing in about $18 million a year.

Salah’s latest contract added another major source of income. In August 2026, he moved to Turkish club “Trabzonspor” on a two-year contract worth 17 million euros per season.

The package includes a salary of €10 million and a signing fee of €7 million annually. With the full contract, he will pocket €34 million excluding bonuses and endorsement income. He will also receive 20% of merchandise sales under his name.

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2. Riyad Mahrez — $125 million

Riyad Mahrez is the second richest football player in Africa with a fortune of 125 million dollars. Mahrez made his name at Leicester City after joining the club in 2014.

He was instrumental in the 2015-16 Premier League title, when Leicester shocked the football world. His performances earned him the PFA Players’ Player of the Year, making him the first African winner of the award.

In 2018, Mahrez moved to Manchester City. He won the Premier League, domestic cups and the UEFA Champions League. He was also part of City’s historic treble-winning campaign in 2022-23.

Mahrez moved to Saudi Arabia in July 2023 and signed a 4-year contract with Al-Ahly. His reported salary is more than £870,000 a week, worth around $54 million a year. He is expected to earn about $216 million, the salary is reported to be tax-free.

3. Sadio Mane — $100 million

Sadio Mane is currently the richest footballer in Africa with a net worth of $100 million. Playing alongside Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino, he became a key figure in Jurgen Klopp’s successful Liverpool side.

During his time at the club, he won the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, League Cup, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup.

He also shared the Golden Boot of the Premier League in 2019. After leaving Liverpool in 2022, Mane spent one season at Bayern Munich, winning the Bundesliga before joining Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia.

Mane now earns about $54 million a year, including about $50 million from soccer and $4 million from endorsements. His Al Nassr earnings exceeded $120 million in tax-free wages until mid-2026, making him one of Africa’s biggest football earners.

4. Samuel Eto’o – $95 million

With a net worth of $95 million, Samuel Eto’o is one of Africa’s most successful footballers. The former Cameroon striker’s career spanned more than two decades and he played for some of Europe’s biggest clubs.

Eto’o moved to Barcelona for €24 million in 2004, winning La Liga and the Champions League before moving to Inter in 2009 as part of a Zlatan Ibrahimovic deal.

But in 2011, when he signed a contract with the Russian club Anji Makhachkala, his salary was high. The move made Eto’o the world’s highest-paid footballer at the time, with an annual salary of €20 million after tax.

He then played for Chelsea, Everton and several clubs in Europe until his retirement in 2019. Apart from his football earnings, Eto’o has also invested in property and used his wealth to support others including former Cameroon captain Norbert Ovona.

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5. Didier Drogba — $90 million

Didier Drogba is another rich African football player with a net worth of $90 million. During his playing career, he was among the highest paid footballers in the world, earning around $15 million a year.

Drogba became one of Africa’s most popular players, especially during his successful spell at Chelsea. The powerful striker was known for his physical strength, finishing and ability to make important plays.

Drogba invested part of his fortune in business. He reportedly bought a 5% stake in a gold mine in Ivory Coast, an investment seen as a way to support development in his home country.

6. Kalidou Koulibaly — $90 million

Kalidou Koulibaly has built a fortune worth 90 million dollars. During his years in Serie A, Koulibaly earned a hefty salary before moving to Chelsea, where he earned around £15 million a year, or around $19 million.

His move to Saudi Arabia took his earnings to another level. At Al Hilal, Koulibaly reportedly earns 34.7 million euros per season, which equates to around $38 million, excluding salary tax.

After three seasons, his earnings in Saudi Arabia alone exceeded 110 million dollars. Moreover, Koulibaly earns around $3 million annually from endorsements.

7. Yaya Toure — $70 million

Former soccer star Yaya Toure is worth $70 million. The Ivorian midfielder has enjoyed a very successful career and earned significant wages.

Toure spent most of his peak years at Manchester City and was one of the highest paid players in the Premier League. Between the 2014/15 and 2017/18 seasons, Toure earned approximately $11.4 million per season from Manchester City. During these four seasons, his income from football reached about 45.8 million dollars.

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8. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang — $50 million

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is also among the richest footballers in Africa with a net worth of $50 million. Aubameyang enjoyed his most profitable years during his time in England.

It is reported that he earned 10.4 million dollars in “Arsenal” in 2018-19, and it increased to the same figure in 2019-20. He also made about $13 million in 2020-21, followed by about $6.5 million in 2021-22.

His move to Chelsea in the 2022-23 season brought about $8.3 million. Previously, during the 2017-18 campaign, he earned nearly $4.7 million. Aubameyang earned around $53.3 million in these reported Arsenal and Chelsea seasons.

9. Moussa Diaby — $49 million

Moussa Diaby is currently one of Africa’s highest-paid footballers, with a net worth of $49 million. The French-born winger currently plays for Saudi Arabia’s “Al-Ittihad” club.

Diaby’s current deal pays him around £254,000-a-week, which equates to around £13.2m a year. His contract with Al-Ittihad runs until June 2029, giving him a few more years at one of the Saudi league’s highest-paid clubs.

His career has grown significantly since his early days at Paris Saint-Germain. After his move to Bayer Leverkusen, his weekly wages rose to between £48,000 and £49,000. His move to Aston Villa in 2024 brought another huge rise, taking his wages to £5.2m a year.

10. John Obi Mikel — $45 million

John Obi Mikel is one of the most successful footballers in Nigeria with a net worth of around $45 million. He started his professional career at Plateau United before moving to Norway and joining Lyn as a teenager in 2004.

Mikel’s career took a major turn in 2006 when he completed a controversial move to Chelsea after Manchester United also claimed to have agreed a deal with the player.

He spent 11 years at Stamford Bridge, becoming one of the club’s most successful periods. During his time with Chelsea, Mikel won two Premier Leagues, four FA Cups and the 2012 UEFA Champions League.

After leaving England, he continued his career in clubs such as Tianjin TEDA, Middlesbrough, Trabzonspor, Stoke City and Kuwait SC. Mikel also represented Nigeria from 2005 to 2019, making 91 appearances and scoring six goals.

He has participated in two World Cups and five Africa Cup of Nations, winning the 2013 edition. He also helped Nigeria win the bronze medal at the 2016 Olympics.