At a Glance:
- Multiple African players have won the UEFA Champions League, each delivering crucial goals and historic performances in finals.
- Some made history with unique records like scoring in multiple finals or earning Final Man of the Match honors.
- Their success helped elevate African football’s global profile and contributed to their clubs’ landmark achievements.
The UEFA Champions League, Europe’s most prestigious club competition, has long been the gold standard in world football.
While the tournament has been historically dominated by European and South American stars, African footballers have increasingly left an indelible mark—lifting the trophy, scoring pivotal goals, and delivering historic performances on the grandest stage.
From Samuel Eto’o’s unparalleled three-title legacy to Didier Drogba’s iconic final heroics for Chelsea, African footballers have not only participated but profoundly shaped Champions League history.
These stars didn’t just lift trophies—they shifted culture, inspired generations, and proved Africa’s footballing power on Europe’s grandest stage.
This spotlight highlights five African legends who won the UEFA Champions League and left an indelible mark with game-changing moments.
Samuel Eto’o – Cameroon
UEFA Champions League Winner: Barcelona (2005/06, 2008/09), Inter Milan (2009/10)
Legacy: First African to score in two Champions League finals.
The only African to win the UCL three times with two clubs, Eto’o was the heartbeat of Barcelona’s tiki-taka dominance and Mourinho’s tactical Inter Milan.
He scored in two finals, an unprecedented feat for an African player, solidifying his legacy as the most decorated African in Champions League history.
Didier Drogba – Ivory Coast
UEFA Champions League Winner: Chelsea (2011/12)
Legacy: Only African to be named UEFA Champions League Final Man of the Match.
In what remains one of the most dramatic finals, Drogba equalized in the 88th minute against Bayern Munich and buried the decisive penalty in the shootout.
As the only African named Man of the Match in a Champions League final, his warrior-like presence and big-game heroics earned him immortality at Stamford Bridge and across Africa.
Sadio Mané – Senegal
UEFA Champions League Winner: Liverpool (2018/19)
Legacy: Part of the iconic Liverpool trio with Salah and Firmino.
A central figure in Jürgen Klopp’s high-pressing Liverpool, Mané’s speed and instinctive finishing redefined the modern winger’s role.
He scored in the 2018 final and played a pivotal part in the 2019 title run, helping reestablish Liverpool as a European powerhouse.
His UCL success crowned a golden era for Senegalese football.
Riyad Mahrez – Algeria
UEFA Champions League Winner: Manchester City (2022/23)
Legacy: First Algerian to win the Champions League with an English club.
From Ligue 2 to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, Mahrez’s rise is the stuff of legend. Although he didn’t feature in the final, his decisive goals in the semifinals against Real Madrid were key in City’s historic treble.
He became the first Algerian to win the Champions League with an English club.
Michael Essien – Ghana
UEFA Champions League Winner: Chelsea (2011/12)
Legacy: Among the first African midfielders to dominate English and European midfielders.
One of the first African midfield generals in European football, Essien was instrumental in Chelsea’s rise during the late 2000s.
Though injury-hit during the final campaign, his prior UCL contributions—including clutch goals and relentless midfield dominance—cemented his place among Africa’s finest exports.
