Mohamed Salah holds the record with 93 appearances.
This week, many prominent African players are set to return to the Champions League, following their impressive performances at AFCON. This year’s tournament concluded with an exhilarating final, where controversy erupted as Senegal’s manager, Pape Thiaw, instructed his team to leave the pitch after a dubious penalty was awarded to Morocco during the eighth minute of injury time.
Despite having the opportunity to score from the spot, Brahim Díaz missed the penalty, allowing Senegal to secure the trophy with a goal in extra time. African players have a storied history in the Champions League, with Bruce Grobbelaar becoming the first African to lift the trophy in 1994 while playing for Liverpool. Samuel Eto’o stands as the most decorated African player in Champions League history, having won the titles three times—twice with Barcelona and once with Inter Milan. But which African player has made the most appearances in this prestigious competition? Let’s find out!
Mohamed Salah now holds the record for the most Champions League appearances by an African player, surpassing Didier Drogba this season. The 33-year-old has played 93 times in the tournament, with 78 of those appearances for Liverpool, seven for Roma, six for Basel, and two for Chelsea. Drogba, renowned for his time at Chelsea, made 92 appearances and famously clinched the title with them in 2012.
As shown in the graphic above, Samuel Eto’o ranks third with 78 appearances across five different clubs. Two Ghanaian players, Michael Essien and Samuel Kuffour, complete the top five, with PSG’s Achraf Hakimi likely to surpass Kuffour this season. Notably, if Liverpool progresses deep into the tournament, Salah could become the first African player to reach 100 Champions League appearances.
