Africa as continent has produced many electrifying talents who deserve a great Ballon d’or . Only one of the past winners of awards who have claimed soil is George Weah, who won the Ballon d’or , achieving the feat in 1995 after a remarkable year with AC Milan. The second would have been Zainadine, but he claimed France which his origin is Algeria.
The two Moroccan Achraf Hakimi and Brahim Díaz, currently the greatest players on the continent, set major records on the global stage.
Hakimi set the record for the most World Cup appearances by an African player (15 games), while Díaz holds the all-time record for most assists by an African player in World Cup history.
Here is a look at the African stars making and breaking world records:
Achraf Hakimi for Morocco & PG
Hakimi has surpassed previous records by other African legends like Asamoah Gyan and François Omam-Biyik to become the African player with the most World Cup appearances in history, with 15 matches under his belt. Why He’s Great: He has been a dominant force for both his club and the Moroccan Atlas Lions, playing an unrelenting schedule across the 2022 World Cup, the Africa Cup of Nations, the Olympic Games, and club tournaments without taking a summer off. Track Record: Widely regarded as one of the best right-backs in the world, he has accumulated numerous top-tier club trophies including the UEFA Champions League, Series A, and multiple French Ligue 1 titles.
Brahim Díaz for Morocco & Real Madrid
Díaz set an African record for the most assists in World Cup history, four, a milestone he achieved in a single tournament. Why He’s Great: Playing as a dynamic playmaker, he has also rewritten the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) record books by becoming the first player in nearly 60 years to score in his first five consecutive matches at a single AFCON tournament. Track Record: Having played for some of Europe’s elite clubs, like Manchester City, AC Milan, and Real Madrid, he consistently performs at the highest levels of global club football. Asama Gyan (Ghana – Legendary Icon)The Record: Though retired, Gyan still holds a massive, unbroken FIFA World Cup record as the highest-scoring African player in tournament history, with 6 goals across three different tournaments (2006, 2010, and 2014). Why He’s Great: He was the talisman for the “Black Stars” and famously helped carry Ghana to a historic quarter-final finish at the 2010 tournament in South Africa.