The African UEFA Champions Heroes have left an indelible mark on the history of football, proving that the UEFA Champions League is a stage where legends are born. Over the years, African players have carved out a significant place in this illustrious competition.

African Trailblazers in the UEFA Champions League

On June 1, 2024, during Real Madrid’s decisive 2-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund, Brahim Diaz emerged as a new African star. The Moroccan talent joined an exclusive club of 30 African UEFA Champions Heroes who have won the UEFA Champions League, leaving an indelible mark on football history.

The journey of African UEFA Champions Heroes began with Zimbabwe’s Bruce Grobbelaar, who became the first African to lift the “Big Ears Cup” with Liverpool in 1984. This historic moment paved the way for other African talents to shine on Europe’s biggest stage.

Complete List of 30 African UEFA Champions Heroes

Here is the chronological list of African players who have won the UEFA Champions League:

1. Bruce Grobbelaar (Zimbabwe) – Liverpool FC, 1983/84
2. Rabah Madjer (Algeria) – FC Porto, 1986/87
3. Abedi Pele (Ghana) – Olympique de Marseille, 1992/93
4. Finidi George (Nigeria) – Ajax Amsterdam, 1994/95
5. Nwankwo Kanu (Nigeria) – Ajax Amsterdam, 1994/95
6. Ibrahim Tanko (Ghana) – Borussia Dortmund, 1996/97
7. Geremi Njitap (Cameroon) – Real Madrid, 1999/20 and 2001/02
8. Samuel Kuffour (Ghana) – Bayern Munich 2000/01
9. Benni McCarthy (South Africa) – FC Porto, 2003/04
10. Djimi Traoré (Mali) – Liverpool FC, 2004/05
11. Salif Diao (Senegal) – Liverpool FC, 2004/05
12. Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon) – FC Barcelona, 2005/06, 2008/09, Inter Milan, 2009/10
13. Yaya Touré (Ivory Coast) – FC Barcelona, 2008/09
14. Seydou Keita (Mali) – FC Barcelona, 2008/09, 2010/11
15. Sulley Muntari (Ghana) – Inter Milan, 2009/10
16. McDonald Mariga (Kenya) – Inter Milan, 2009/10
17. Jon Obi Mikel (Nigeria) – Chelsea FC, 2011/12
18. Salomon Kalou (Ivory Coast) – Chelsea FC, 2011/12
19. Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast) – Chelsea FC, 2011/12
20. Michael Essien (Ghana) – Chelsea FC, 2011/12
21. Munir El Haddadi (Morocco) – FC Barcelona, 2014/2015
22. Achraf Hakimi (Morocco) – Real Madrid, 2017/18
23. Sadio Mané (Senegal) – Liverpool, 2018/19
24. Mohamed Salah (Egypt) – Liverpool, 2018/19
25. Naby Keita (Guinea) – Liverpool, 2018/19
26. Joël Matip (Cameroon) – Liverpool, 2018/19
27. Hakim Ziyech (Morocco) – Chelsea, 2020/21
28. Edouard Mendy (Senegal) – Chelsea, 2020/21
29. Riyad Mahrez (Algeria) – Manchester City, 2022/23
30. Brahim Diaz (Morocco) – Real Madrid, 2023/24

UEFA Champions League Winners by Country

The representation of African countries in the UEFA Champions League is noteworthy, with Ghana leading the pack. Here’s how the winners are distributed by country:

1. Ghana (5 players)
2. Morocco (4 players)
3. Senegal (3 players)
4. Cameroon (3 players)
5. Ivory Coast (3 players)
6. Nigeria (3 players)
7. Mali (2 players)
8. Algeria (2 players)
9. Guinea (1 player)
10. Zimbabwe (1 player)
11. Kenya (1 player)
12. Egypt (1 player)
13. South Africa (1 player)

Conclusion

Apart from honoring their nations, the legacy of these thirty African UEFA Champions Heroes motivates the next generation of African players. Showcasing their skills at one of the most famous football venues, African players have regularly shown their determination in the UEFA Champions League.