The Top African Goalscorers in Champions League History (so far)
The Africans with the most goals in the Champions League
The Champions League has undoubtedly witnessed many of the world’s best-ever footballers come and go, with these players hailing from every corner of the globe.
Each continent has boasted world-class players in the competition at one stage or another, with Europeans and South Americans perhaps unsurprisingly dominating the headlines time after time.
However, there have been plenty of African stars to stand out in Europe’s elite competition, a handful of whom have gone on to do remarkable things!
The likes of Yaya Toure and George Weah certainly fall into this category, but only a select few have earned a place among Champions League goalscoring royalty.
Excluding qualifying, here are the top 5 African goalscorers in the Champions League.
5. Riyad Mahrez - 17 goals
Manchester City winger Riyad Mahrez has been one of the leading attackers in the Premier League in recent times.
His achievements are all the more impressive given the fact that he has fallen victim to Pep Guardiola’s constant squad rotation.
However, the time spent off the pitch domestically has freed up some time for the Algeria international to showcase his talents in Europe. And he hasn’t disappointed!
While Man City haven’t managed to go all the way in the Champions League just yet, Mahrez has constantly posed a threat, whether from scoring goals or providing assists for his teammates.
The Algerian has 17 goals from his 48 appearances in the competition, all of which have come for the Manchester outfit.
It began in fine fashion, with the attacker netting four goals in his debut campaign in 2016/17.
Tallies of one, one and four followed in the next three seasons, with assists taking the place of his goals.
But last season saw Mahrez return to his very best, with the City star netting seven goals in 12 Champions League games.
4. Sadio Mane - 24 goals
Sadio Mane will forever be known as a Liverpool legend for his stunning feats during his time at Anfield, with many supporters currently missing their former hero this season, in what has been a drop in standards for Jurgen Klopp’s men.
The Senegal international was the bright spark on many famous nights under the lights on Merseyside, with the winger hitting 24 Champions League goals for the Reds.
Whether it be mazy runs leading to outrageous finishes or superb jumping headers, Mane was never too far away from a huge goal for the English side.
Many of his strikes were indeed match-winning, with his individual brilliance often the only talking point on an off night for Liverpool.
Defenders all over the world are all-too aware of just how impossible it is to mark the attacker when he is at the top of his game, which is almost always!
Mane has yet to find the back of the net in the Champions League for new club Bayern Munich, but given his outstanding record in the competition, it won’t be long before the Senegal star is firing on all fronts.
3. Samuel Eto’o - 30 goals
A 15-year spell across several top European clubs is evidence of the glowing reputation of former Cameroon international Samuel Eto’o.
The striker hit 30 Champions League goals across 78 matches. He netted 16 of those for Spanish giants Barcelona, 10 for Italian outfit Inter Milan, and three and one for Chelsea and Mallorca respectively.
It’s hard to know whether Barcelona or Inter Milan produced his best football, as he has a fantastic record at both clubs.
Perhaps it is best to simply appreciate both spells, with Eto’o lifting two Champions League titles with the former, and another one with the latter.
Moreover, the Cameroonian helped Barca to three La Liga trophies, before securing a historic treble for Inter.
His ruthlessness in front of the goal was key to all of those successes, with the forward widely regarded as one of the greatest finishers of his generation.
Unfortunately for Premier League fans, Eto could not quite replicate such feats in his later years, but both Chelsea and Everton will still remember his time in England fondly, such was the respect he garnered for his previous achievements.
2. Mohamed Salah - 37 goals
Liverpool star Mohamed Salah has set the footballing world alight ever since arriving at Anfield, having previously been let go by Premier League rivals Chelsea.
The Blues will still be struggling to come to terms with the decision, with the Egyptian going on to have a remarkable career in front of goal for the Reds. And he isn’t finished yet!
Salah sits second in the list with 37 goals, with those strikes coming in just 73 matches.
It’s worth remembering that not all of the strikes have come for Liverpool, with two coming for Basel and one coming for Roma, leaving the other 34 with the Merseyside outfit.
He’s already ahead of the likes of iconic players Ferenc Puskas, Gerd Muller and Wayne Rooney.
Perhaps more impressive is the fact that the Egyptian is a winger, with his goals largely down to individual brilliance, helped of course by Klopp’s fluid attacking system at Liverpool.
At 30, Salah still has plenty to give on the goals front, with the Reds looking likely to continue their presence in the Champions League for many years to come.
Should they keep hold of their phenomenal winger for the long term, there’s no telling just how many goals he can score.
1. Didier Drogba - 44 goals
Sitting top of the list when it comes to the best African goalscorers in Champions League history is Chelsea and Ivory Coast legend Didier Drogba.
The lethal forward terrified opposition defenders with his mere presence, and his formidable stature furthered once he had the ball at his feet.
Even the world’s best defenders were out-muscled and outwitted by the powerful striker, who could unleash a venomous strike at any given moment, often catching goalkeepers by surprise.
By the time they could react, it was too late, with the ball already fizzing into the back of the net.
Drogba netted 36 of his Champions League goals for his beloved Chelsea, with five coming for Marseille and the other three arriving during his time at Galatasaray.
All three clubs will count themselves as privileged to have once had the Ivorian among their ranks.
It remains to be seen whether Salah and his fellow Africans can break the superb record set by the legendary Drogba.
He scored his 44 goals in 92 games across a 12-year period.
