The African Player of the Year Award, also known as the CAF Ballon d’Or, is the most prestigious prize in African football. It recognizes the best African footballer every year, celebrating their achievements with their clubs and national teams. Since 2000, many legendary players have received this honor. Here is the list of winners and their impact on African and world football.
2000: Patrick Mboma (Cameroon)
2001: El-Hadji Diouf (Senegal)
2002: El-Hadji Diouf (Senegal)
2003: Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon)
2004: Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon)
2005: Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon)
2006: Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast)
2007: Frederic Kanouté (Mali)
2008: Emmanuel Adebayor (Togo)
2009: Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast)
2010: Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon)
2011: Yaya Touré (Ivory Coast)
2012: Yaya Touré (Ivory Coast)
2013: Yaya Touré (Ivory Coast)
2014: Yaya Touré (Ivory Coast)
2015: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon)
2016: Riyad Mahrez (Algeria)
2017: Mohamed Salah (Egypt)
2018: Mohamed Salah (Egypt)
2019: Sadio Mané (Senegal)
2022: Sadio Mané (Senegal)
2023: Victor Osimhen (Nigeria)
2024: Ademola Lookman (Nigeria)
Over the years, the African Player of the Year Award has celebrated some of the greatest footballers in history.
Samuel Eto’o, one of Africa’s best-ever players, has won the award four times (2003, 2004, 2005, and 2010). The Cameroonian striker dazzled fans with his incredible scoring ability while playing for clubs like Barcelona and Inter Milan. He was part of Barcelona’s golden era, winning the UEFA Champions League twice with the team and again with Inter Milan in 2010.
From 2011 to 2014, Yaya Touré from Ivory Coast dominated African football. His commanding presence in midfield helped Manchester City win multiple Premier League titles. Touré’s unique blend of strength, skill, and vision made him one of the greatest African players of all time.
The most recent winners are Sadio Mané (2019, 2022) and Mohamed Salah (2017, 2018), both of whom gained fame playing for Liverpool. Together, they led Liverpool to win the UEFA Champions League in 2019 and the Premier League in 2020. Then the Nigerian duo Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman won the previous two awards. Their rivalries and partnership have brought African football to the global stage in recent years.
Didier Drogba, who won in 2006 and 2009, is remembered as a legendary striker for Chelsea and Ivory Coast. He led Chelsea to their first-ever UEFA Champions League victory in 2012 and became a global ambassador for African football.
Frederic Kanouté (2007) from Mali and Emmanuel Adebayor (2008) from Togo were the first players from their countries to win the award, showing how African football talent can emerge from all corners of the continent.
The CAF African Player of the Year Award began in 1992 and has grown into one of the most respected honors in world football. It highlights the impact African players have had not only in African leagues but also in major European leagues like the Premier League, La Liga, and Serie A. The award recognizes footballers who inspire the next generation, proving that African talent can compete with the world’s best.
Over the years, players who have won this award have been leaders on and off the pitch. Many have become role models in their countries, contributing to social and charitable causes beyond football.
The CAF Awards Ceremony takes place today, December 16, 2024. The event brings together the best players, coaches, and teams across Africa to celebrate their achievements. It is a night of glamour and celebration of African excellence in football. Fans are eagerly waiting to see who will take home this year’s prestigious title of African Player of the Year, as the competition between current stars like Victor Osimhen, Mohamed Salah, and others remains fierce.
This event not only crowns the best players but also reflects how far African football has come. It continues to inspire millions of young footballers across the continent to dream big.
