Many African players have achieved legendary status during their illustrious football careers.
We take a look at the 10 greatest footballers from the African continent.
Roger Milla
The Cameroonian legend, who is a two-time African Footballer of the Year, was one of the first African players to be a major star on the international stage after scoring four goals at the 1990 FIFA World Cup at the age of 38.
This helped Cameroon become the first African team to reach the World Cup quarter-finals. He also went on to become the oldest (42) goalscorer at the World Cup when he scored at the 1994 tournament.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) named Milla, who won the Coupe de France twice with Bastia and AS Monaco, the best African player of the previous 50 years in 2007.
"No, it was the Cameroonian people’s. They pushed me to play because they thought I was the only one that could score goals," Milla said on Four Four Two on why he returned to the World Cup in 1994.
"They just didn’t have faith in any of the other players. At the time I was playing for Tonnerre Yaounde so I was fit and ready. Was I confident? Of course."
Nwankwo Kanu
The legendary Nigerian forward remains one of the most decorated African footballers of all-time having 12 major trophies during his 19-year spell in Europe.
Kanu also enjoyed some success with Nigeria as he helped the West African country clinch the 1993 FIFA Under-17 World Cup, 1996 Olympic Games football tournament and 1995 Afro-Asian Cup of Nations.
The two-time African Footballer of the Year, who excelled at top European clubs Arsenal, Ajax Amsterdam and Inter Milan, deserves his place among Africa's greatest footballers.
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Didier Drogba
The Ivorian football icon is another decorated African footballer, who was very influential during his illustrious football career which saw him lift 15 major trophies in Europe.
Drogba was a serial winner during his time with English giants Chelsea where he won 12 titles and was named African Footballer of the Year twice in 2006 and 2009.
The two-time English Premier Golden Boot winner, who was noted for his physical strength and scoring ability, also won three trophies with Turkish giants Galatasaray and helped Ivory Coast finish second at the 2012 AFCON finals.
Mohamed Aboutrika
The retired attacking midfielder is widely regarded as the best Egyptian player in history and has won the African Inter-Club Player of the Year (Based in Africa) award a record four times.
Aboutrika helped Egypt win two AFCON titles and was also influential as his club Al Ahly finished second at the 2006 FIFA Club World Cup. He also won five CAF Champions League titles between 2005 and 2013.
Nicknamed Trika, Aboutrika was the 2008 African Footballer of the Year runner-up, 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup top assist provider and the 2006 FIFA Club World Cup top goalscorer.
Trika is often regarded as the greatest African footballer to have never played in Europe.
“I went to watch some games of the tournament (2008 AFCON) live, and I have really watched a couple of tough and good games there,” Jose Mourinho spoke to BeIN about Aboutrika.
'I was watching some games through the TV while attending others. I watched Aboutrika while leading the Egyptian National Team to win the title with his performances. However watching a player you have never known before, before producing such great performances makes it very difficult to sign him for your team."
Austin Okocha
The retired playmaker is considered as the best Nigerian and one of the best African players of all time having dazzled the whole world with his amazing dribbling skills.
Known for impressive technique and creativity, Okocha is considered by some as the most skillful African players of all-time having achieved legendary status at English club Bolton Wanderers as club captain.
The 1998 African Footballer of the Year runner-up, who helped French giants Paris Saint Germain (PSG) win the Trophée des Champions and UEFA Intertoto Cup, finished as the top goalscorer at the 2004 AFCON finals.
Yaya Toure
The Ivorian midfielder is widely regarded as the greatest African midfielder of all-time having won the African Footballer of the Year a record four times.
Toure, who had successful spells with Spanish giants FC Barcelona and English side Manchester City, has been used mostly as a box-to-box midfielder for club and country, where he has been regarded as one of the world's best players in his position.
Having played for Ivory Coast at the 2006, 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cup tournaments, Toure played an instrumental role in helping the Elephants win the 2015 AFCON title as team captain.
Abedi Ayew
The retired attacking midfielder is considered as the greatest Ghanaian footballer of all time and was better known as Abedi Pele.
Pele enjoyed a lot of success during his time with Olympique Marseille where he won three French Ligue 1 titles and a UEFA Champions League.
He was named African Footballer of the year three times in the early '90s.
Ayew was one of the best players in the world in 1992 having finished ninth in the FIFA World Player of the Year nomination and helped Ghana finish second at the 1982 AFCON finals.
George Weah
The Liberian football icon remains the only African to have won the FIFA World Player of the Year award and Ballon d'Or having achieved this in 1995.
Weah played an instrumental role in helping Paris Saint Germain (PSG) win the French Ligue 1 and Coupe de la Ligue (three times), and finished as the UEFA Champions League golden boot winner in 1995.
The three-time African Footballer of the Year also won the Italian Serie A title with AC Milan and some believe that he is one of the best players to have never played at the FIFA World Cup finals.
Ahmed Hassan
The Egyptian legend remains the most capped international male footballer in history, with 184 appearances for the Pharaohs.
Hassan is regarded as one of the best players in African football history having won a record four AFCON titles with Egypt, and also helped Al Ahly win the CAF Champions League and CAF Super Cup.
The retired attacking midfielder also enjoyed some success in Europe where he lifted the Belgian Pro League, Belgian Cup and the Belgian Super Cup with Anderlecht and Turkish Cup with Besiktas.
Samuel Eto'o
The former Cameroon captain was regarded by many pundits as one of the best strikers in the world in his prime having won three UEFA Champions League titles.
Eto'o, who played his best football at Spanish giants FC Barcelona and Italian side Inter Milan, is considered to be one of the greatest African players of all time having won the African Footballer of the Year accolade a record four times: in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2010.
The 2005 FIFA World Player of the Year Bronze Award winner was also successful at international level as he helped Cameroon lift the AFCON title twice and win the Olympic Games football tournament.
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