10 Best African players who will dominate 2026 with or without the World Cup
Here are the 10 best African players who stole the spotlight in 2025, and we expect to dominate the year 2026 with or without the World Cup.
Based on the latest performances from the 2024/25 season and the recent 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), here are 10 players who dominated the last year and are poised for an even bigger 2026.
Who was the best African footballer of 2025?
Following his performance for both club and country in 2025, the best African football was PSG and Morocco's Achraf Hakimi.
1. Achraf Hakimi (Morocco / PSG)
The undisputed king of 2025. Hakimi achieved the ultimate club success, anchoring a Paris Saint-Germain side that won its first-ever UEFA Champions League title, alongside a domestic treble (Ligue 1, Coupe de France, and Trophée des Champions). As the 2025 African Footballer of the Year, he also captained Morocco to the AFCON final, proving his world-class status at both ends of the pitch.
2. Sadio Mané (Senegal / Al Nassr)
The "Lion of Teranga" proved his legendary status remains untouchable. Mané led Senegal to their second AFCON title in January 2026 (capping the 2025 season) and was officially named the AFCON 2025 Player of the Tournament. His leadership and clutch goal-scoring for the country and Al Nassr kept him at the very top of the African hierarchy.
3. Mohamed Salah (Egypt / Liverpool)
Salah’s 2024/25 campaign was one for the history books. He carried Liverpool to a record-tying 20th Premier League title, winning the Golden Boot with 29 goals. Despite AFCON heartbreak with Egypt, his 47 total goal involvements in the world's toughest league solidified his place as Africa’s most consistent global ambassador.
4. Serhou Guirassy (Guinea / Borussia Dortmund)
2025 was the year Guirassy became a household name across Europe. He finished as the joint-top scorer of the UEFA Champions League with 13 goals, leading Borussia Dortmund’s frontline with clinical precision. His ability to dominate elite European defences made him the most feared African striker of the year.
5. Ademola Lookman (Nigeria / Atalanta / Atlético Madrid)
Lookman’s rise reached a crescendo in 2025. After his historic Europa League exploits, he secured a marquee move to Atletico Madrid. For Nigeria, he was the heartbeat of the Super Eagles’ attack at AFCON 2025, earning a spot in the Tournament Best XI and cementing his reputation as a big-game specialist.
6. Victor Osimhen (Nigeria / Galatasaray)
Osimhen remained a force of nature, netting 37 goals for Galatasaray in the 2024/25 season. He translated that predatory instinct to the international stage, leading the line for Nigeria as they secured a bronze medal at AFCON. His physical dominance remains unmatched by any other striker on the continent.
7. Yassine "Bono" Bounou (Morocco / Al Hilal)
Bono continued to be a brick wall for both club and country. He was named the AFCON 2025 Best Goalkeeper, conceding only two goals throughout the entire tournament. At the club level, he was the only African goalkeeper named in the FIFA Club World Cup Best XI, following a dominant season with Al Hilal.
8. Fiston Mayele (DR Congo / Pyramids FC)
The standout performer within the continent's local leagues, Mayele led Pyramids FC to their first-ever CAF Champions League title in 2025. Finishing as the competition's top scorer, he was rightfully named the CAF Interclub Player of the Year, proving that African club football is producing talent capable of matching the world's best.
9. Ismaïla Sarr (Senegal / Crystal Palace)
A vital cog in Senegal’s AFCON-winning machine, Sarr’s explosive pace and directness were instrumental in reclaiming the continental crown. His high-work-rate performances for Crystal Palace in the Premier League, combined with his international trophy, make him one of the most successful African wingers of 2025.
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