The UEFA Champions League, widely regarded as the greatest European club competition in the world, has been a stage for footballers to display their exceptional talents. African footballers have consistently made their mark, scoring crucial goals and leading their team to victory.
This list takes a look at the top 5 highest scoring African footballers in UCL history.
Mohamed Salah
Egyptian king Mohamed Salah is the highest scoring African in the history of the UEFA Champions League. The 33-year-old has scored 47 goals – two for Basel, one for AS Roma and 44 for Liverpool, from 88 appearances in the competition.
Salah’s impressive goal scoring record includes a 10-goal feat in the 2017-18 season, finishing second only to Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo, who bagged 15 goals to claim the golden boot award. The two-time African footballer of the year was also on target as Liverpool defeated Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 in the final in 2019.
Didier Drogba
Chelsea legend Didier Drogba is the second African with the most goals in the UEFA Champions League, with his 44 strikes coming from 92 appearances in the competition. The former Ivory Coast captain played an influential role in the Blues UCL-winning run in 2012, including scoring and winning the player of the match award in the final win over Bayern Munich, to hand the London side their first title.
Drogba also featured for Olympique Marseille and Galatasaray in the competition, scoring five and three goals respectively for both teams.
Samuel Eto’o
Cameroon legend Samuel Eto’o is one of the most successful African footballers in Europe, having won three UEFA Champions League titles, with spells across Barcelona and Inter Milan. The former Chelsea striker scored 30 goals from 78 appearances in the competition.
Eto’o became the first African player to score in two UCL finals when he scored in the 2009 final against Manchester United, having already scored the equalizer for Barcelona in the 2006 edition against Arsenal.
Sadio Mane
Senegal winger Sadio Mane is Africa’s fourth all-time top scorer in the UEFA Champions League with 27 goals from 63 appearances. The 33-year-old scored 24 goals for Liverpool, including a goal in the 3-1 loss to Real Madrid in the 2018 final.
Mane scored 10 goals in that campaign, finishing joint-second alongside teammates Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah. He was also instrumental in the Reds opening goal in the 2019 final win over Tottenham Hotspur, his shot striking the outstretched arms of Moussa Sissoko inside the area, hence allowing Salah to slot in the penalty kick for the opener.
Riyad Mahrez
Algerian winger Riyad Mahrez rounds off this list as the fifth highest goalscoring African in UCL history, with his 20 strikes coming from 55 appearances for Manchester City.
The former Leicester City forward was influential in the Cityzens run to the 2021 final, losing to Chelsea, before eventually claiming a first-ever title in 2023.
