African Players That Have Won UCL Trophies

Who are the African players that have won UCL trophies? How many Nigerian footballers have won the Champions League? Which South African player has won the Champions League? Which African player has the most trophies? Which player has the most UCL trophies? Did Kanu win the Champions League? Did George Weah win the Champions League? Which African goalkeeper has won the Champions League? Who was the first African goalkeeper to win the Champions League? Which goalkeeper has the cleanest sheets in Champions League? How many clean sheets does Mendy have in the Champions League? Who won the Golden Glove in UCL 2021? Who is the best keeper in UCL?

See Also: Players With Most Champions League Appearances

Let’s now see the list of African players who won the UEFA Champions League.

Names Of African Players That Won Champions League

Hakim Ziyech (Morocco) : Chelsea FC, 2020 – 2021

Ziyech won the 2021 UEFA Champions League Final with Chelsea but did not come off the bench in the final match against Manchester City. He started ten matches and scored two goals in Chelsea’s run to the final of the competition. Also, he was selected as one of the 20 best players in the UEFA Champions League for the 2018–19 season.

Edouard Mendy (Senegal) : Chelsea FC, 2020 – 2021

Mendy became the first African goalkeeper to play in a final of the UEFA Champions League and the first since Bruce Grobbelaar, who appeared in the 1985 European Cup Final. Mendy also equalled the record for the most clean sheets in a UCL season with nine and kept another clean sheet in the final to help Chelsea win their second title. He was also awarded both the UEFA Goalkeeper of the Year and The Best FIFA Goalkeeper of 2021, becoming the first African goalkeeper in football’s history to win both awards.

Naby Keita (Guinea) : Liverpool FC, 2018 – 2019

Keïta is another one of the African players that have won UCL trophies but he was injured and out of the matchday squad as his Liverpool teammates secured the win in the 2018/19 Champions League final against Tottenham Hotspur.

Mohamed Salah (Egypt) : Liverpool FC, 2018 – 2019

Salah became the most expensive Egyptian player of all time when he signed for Liverpool for £36.9 million. It was at this club that Salah won the UEFA Champions League and finished third for the Best FIFA Men’s Player in 2018 and 2021. He also holds ranks as Liverpool’s ninth-highest all-time top goalscorer.

Sadio Mane (Senegal) : Liverpool FC, 2018 – 2019

The Senegalese earned Liverpool an early penalty in the 2019 UEFA Champions League Final against Tottenham, only 24 seconds after the kick-off after his cross was judged to have hit Moussa Sissoko’s arm inside the penalty area. Teammate, Salah subsequently converted from the spot to open the scoring, and Liverpool ultimately won the match 2–0 to claim the title.

Joel Matip (Cameroon) : Liverpool FC, 2018 – 2019

Job Joël André Matip is one of the African players that have won UCL trophies as he assisted Divock Origi’s goal in the 87th minute of the 2019 UEFA Champions League Final, which saw Liverpool defeat Tottenham 2–0 to win the title.

Achraf Hakimi (Morocco) : Real Madrid FC, 2017-2018

He made two appearances in the 2017–18 UEFA Champions League as Madrid won their third consecutive and 13th overall title. Although Hakimi was not in the squad for the final of the competition, he received a medal and is credited as the first Moroccan player to win the Champions League.

Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast) : Chelsea FC, 2011-2012

Drogba scored the equaliser from Juan Mata’s corner in the 88th minute in the 2012 Champions League final, taking Chelsea into extra time and then penalties. He also scored the winning penalty in the 4–3 penalty shootout that led Chelsea to the victory over Bayern Munich.

Salomon Kalou (Ivory Coast) : Chelsea FC, 2011-2012

Kalou is one of the African players that have won UCL trophies. He netted a vital away goal in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final clash with Benfica after some great work from strike partner Fernando Torres. He started both the 2012 Champions League final, which Chelsea won.

Michael Essien (Ghana) : Chelsea FC, 2011-2012

Essien was an unused substitute in Chelsea’s Champions League run, culminating in the Blues’ victory over Bayern Munich in the final, making Chelsea the first London-based club to win the title.

John Obi Mikel (Nigeria) : Chelsea FC, 2011-2012

Mikel is one of the Nigerian players that have won the Champions League, especially in recent times. He played the full 120 minutes as the sides played out a 1–1 draw. Chelsea played a tough defensive battle as Chelsea claimed a 4–3 victory in the penalty shootout.

McDonald Mariga (Kenya) : Inter Milan 2009 – 2010

Mariga is the first Kenyan footballer to play in the UEFA Champions League when he entered the field as a late substitute against Chelsea.

Sulley Muntari (Ghana) : Inter Milan, 2009-2010

During his time with Internazionale, Suleyman Ali “Sulley” Muntari helped the team win the Champions League in 2009–10.

Seydou Keita (Mali) : FC Barcelona, 2008-2009, 2010-2011

Keita is among the few African players who have won the champions league twice. He is the first Malian player to ever represent the Catalans. He made significant appearances for Barca when they won the title in 2008/09 and 2010/11.

Yaya Touré (Côte d’Ivoire) : FC Barcelona, 2008-2009

His first UEFA Champions League match for Barça was against Schalke 04 in the 2007–08 quarter-final, securing a 2–0 aggregate victory and a berth in the semi-final. In the 2009 Champions League Final, Touré played at centre-back due to injuries and suspensions of first-choice defenders, despite having only played there twice before for Barcelona.

Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon) – FC Barcelona, 2005-2006, 2008-2009, Inter Milan, 2009-2010

Eto’o is the only African player to have won the UEFA Champions League three times with two different clubs. He was a key member of the Barcelona attack that won the 2006 UCL Final, with Eto’o scoring in the final. Again, he was part of a front three of Lionel Messi and Thierry Henry that won the UCL Final in 2009, with Eto’o again scoring in the final. He is the second player in history to score in two Champions League finals. He signed with Inter Milan for the 2009–10 season, where he became the first player to win two European continental trebles following his back-to-back achievements with Barcelona and Inter. He is the fourth player in Champions League history to have won the trophy two years in a row with different teams.

Djimi Traoré (Mali) : Liverpool FC, 2004-2005

Traoré made the starting line-up for Liverpool in the 2005 Champions League Final against Milan. After conceding the free-kick that led to Paolo Maldini’s goal in the opening minute, in the second half his play improved, and a goalline clearance to deny Shevchenko a likely winner contributed to his winning a Champions League medal as Liverpool fought back from 3–0 down to draw 3–3 and beat Milan 3–2 on penalties.

Benni McCarthy (South Africa) : FC Porto, 2003-2004

He was instrumental in Porto’s run in the 2003–04 UEFA Champions League victory. He scored two goals against Manchester United to defeat them in the second round. He is also the only South African footballer to have won the UEFA Champions League.

Samuel Kuffour (Ghana) : FC Bayern Munich 2000-2001

Samuel Osei Kuffour spent 11 seasons with Bayern, rising from the youth teams to be a prominent first-squad member who lifted the UEFA Champions League with the club. He was an integral part of the squad that won the 2000–01 Champions League.

Geremi Njitap (Cameroon) – Real madrid, 1999 -2000, 2001 -2002

In his three years at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Geremi won two Champions League winners medals with the Spanish giants. He scored a goal against Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals of the 2001–02 UEFA Champions League. At Real Madrid, Geremi was nominated for the Ballon d’Or of 2000.

Ibrahim Tanko (Ghana) : Borussia Dortmund 1996-1997

Tanko was a late substitute in the three matches he partook in Borussia’s 1996–97 UEFA Champions League victorious run. Injuries and loss of form led to an eventual demotion to the Borussia Dortmund II where he made 24 league matches from 1998 to 2000.

Nwankwo Kanu (Nigeria) : Ajax, 1994-1995

Kanu is another Nigerian player that has won the UEFA champions league. He came on as a sub in Ajax’s 1995 UEFA Champions League final win over AC Milan. And the next year he started in the 1996 UCL Final against Juventus.

Finidi George (Nigeria) : Ajax, 1994-1995

Finidi is one of the first Nigerian players to win the champions league. He appeared as a starter in consecutive UEFA Champions League finals, winning the 1994–95 edition against A.C. Milan.

Abedi Pelé (Ghana) : Olympique de Marseille, 1992-1993

Abedi was the only remaining member of Marseille’s “Magical Trio” along with Jean-Pierre Papin and Chris Waddle, who was still with the side when they defeated Milan in the 1993 Champions League final in Munich.

Rabah Madjer (Algeria) : FC Porto, 1986-1987

Madjer arrived at FC Porto and entered the club’s history books in the 1985–86 final of the European Cup (now known as UEFA Champions League) against Bayern Munich, scoring the 1–1 equalizer in a memorable final, which eventually ended 2–1 to the Portuguese side, and also setting up the winner for Juary.

1 – Bruce Grobbelaar (Zimbabwe) : Liverpool FC, 1983-1984

Grobbelaar is the first African goalkeeper that has won the Champions League trophy. The European Cup final, AKA UEFA Champions League, between Liverpool and Roma finished 1–1 after extra time and went to a penalty shootout. The goalkeeper saved two spot-kicks and Liverpool went on to win the shootout 4–2.

Wrap Up

Those are all the African players that have won UCL trophies since the competition began. But how many African players have won the champions league? In all so far, there are 26 of them. Time will definitely grow this list.

This article was updated 10 months ago