<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/mohamed-salah/">Mohamed Salah</a> has long established himself as Egypt’s biggest star, consistently making an impact for the national team in World Cup qualifying. In his latest outing, he added another milestone to his remarkable career, becoming the all-time top scorer in African World Cup qualifiers, pulling ahead of legends like <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/samuel-eto&apos;o/">Samuel Eto’o</a>, Didier Drogba, and Sadio Mané.



Chasing a spot at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, Egypt faced Djibouti on Matchday 9 of the CAF qualifiers. Salah found the net twice — in the 14th and 84th minutes — to lead Egypt to a 3–0 victory. The win kept the Pharaohs atop Group A and secured their ticket to next year’s tournament.



Those two goals also cemented Salah’s place in history as the leading scorer in CAF <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/world-cup-qualifiers/">World Cup qualifying</a>. In 29 appearances for Egypt, the Liverpool forward has now tallied 20 goals — the first player ever to reach that mark — along with 12 assists.



<h2>Where do legends Eto’o, Drogba, and Mané stand?</h2>



While no African nation has yet lifted the World Cup trophy, the continent has produced world-class strikers who’ve made their mark on the global stage. Among them are Champions League winners and African icons such as Samuel Eto’o, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/didier-drogba/">Didier Drogba</a>, and Salah’s former Liverpool teammate, Sadio Mané.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="675" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20251008_WST_595703_didier-drogba-samuel-etoo-sadio-mane-1-1200x675_da7a7eef.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=675" alt="Ivory Coast&apos;s Didier Drogba, Cameroon&apos;s Samuel Eto&apos;o, and Senegal&apos;s Sadio Mane." class="wp-image-595713" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure><figcaption>Ivory Coast’s Didier Drogba, Cameroon’s Samuel Eto’o, and Senegal’s Sadio Mane.</figcaption></figure>



Samuel Eto’o built one of the most successful careers in European soccer, winning four Champions League titles with Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Inter Milan. Leading Cameroon to the 2002, 2010, and 2014 World Cups, Eto’o scored 18 goals in 29 qualifying matches — ranking second all-time in Africa.


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Another striker who defined an era, especially in the Premier League with Chelsea, was Didier Drogba. The Ivorian great also scored 18 goals, achieving that mark in just 19 qualifiers. Alongside Eto’o and Algerian forward Islam Slimani, Drogba once shared the top spot — until Salah surpassed them all.



As for <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/sadio-mane/">Sadio Mané</a>, the Senegalese forward — and Salah’s former teammate at Liverpool — remains his nation’s all-time top scorer with 44 goals, a full 26 ahead of the next player. However, in World Cup qualifying, Mané sits further down the list, ranking 16th overall with 9 goals in 29 matches.

Mohamed Salah sets record as all-time top scorer in African World Cup qualifiers: Where do Eto’o, Drogba, and Mané stand?

Mohamed Salah sets record as all-time top scorer in African World Cup qualifiers: Where do Eto’o, Drogba, and Mané stand? - World Soccer Talk

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As unlikely as it sounds, sports can bridge divides across society—even among enemies. Such was the case with <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/didier-drogba/">Didier Drogba</a>, a striker who didn’t turn professional until 21, starred in one of the most dramatic Champions League finals ever, and used his platform to help bring an end to civil war in his native Ivory Coast.



Born on March 11, 1978, in Abidjan, the capital of Ivory Coast, Drogba moved to France at age five with his uncle in search of better opportunities. He began his football journey in Brest, trying to break into the youth systems of French clubs, but struggled to find a long-term fit.



The club that finally gave him a chance—despite his lack of academy pedigree—was Ligue 2 side Le Mans, where he signed at 19. Drogba made his professional debut two years later, in 1999. His rise began in earnest in 2002 when he joined Ligue 1’s EA Guingamp, scoring 17 goals in the 2002–03 season. That performance earned him a move to Olympique de Marseille, where he finished as Ligue 1’s third-highest scorer with 19 goals in 2003–04.



His breakout year caught the eye of legendary manager José Mourinho, who convinced <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/chelsea/">Chelsea</a> owner Roman Abramovich to sign Drogba for the 2004–05 season. The £24 million fee made him the most expensive Ivorian player ever. He immediately won over Chelsea fans, scoring in the Community Shield, the League Cup final, and helping the Blues win their first Premier League title in his debut campaign.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="675" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20250603_WST_572530_didier-drogba-chelsea-1-1200x675_22dc8989.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=675" alt="" class="wp-image-572536" srcset="https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/06/02221424/didier-drogba-chelsea-1-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/06/02221424/didier-drogba-chelsea-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/06/02221424/didier-drogba-chelsea-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/06/02221424/didier-drogba-chelsea-1-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/06/02221424/didier-drogba-chelsea-1-740x416.jpg 740w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/06/02221424/didier-drogba-chelsea-1-490x275.jpg 490w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/06/02221424/didier-drogba-chelsea-1-250x140.jpg 250w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/06/02221424/didier-drogba-chelsea-1.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



<h2>Drogba’s stand against war</h2>



2005 marked a turning point—not only in Drogba’s club career but also in his influence on his homeland. <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/ivory-coast/">Ivory Coast</a> had been embroiled in civil war since 2002, with rebels and government forces under President Laurent Gbagbo locked in violent conflict. But that same year, Drogba and his national teammates offered hope for unity.



Ivory Coast’s “golden generation”—featuring Drogba, Emmanuel Eboue, Didier Zokora, and brothers Yaya and Kolo Toure—were on the verge of qualifying for the country’s first-ever World Cup. On October 8, they had to face Sudan, and hope for a favorable result between Cameroon and Egypt.



Drogba’s side won comfortably 3-1, and with Cameroon striker Pierre Wome missing a last minute penalty, the 1-1 draw against Egypt sealed Ivory Coast’s historic qualification. In the locker room after the win, Drogba took a microphone and addressed the nation in an impromptu speech that would echo across the country:



“Men and women of Ivory Coast, from the North, South, Center, and West. We proved today that all Ivorians can co-exist and play together with a shared aim: to qualify for the World Cup. We promised you that the celebration would unite the people. Today, we beg you, on our knees… Forgive!,” said Drogba while he and the players were kneeling.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-youtube"><iframe loading="lazy" title="Didier Drogba - Speech to stop Civil War" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KAW7DF1Ufek?start=12&amp;feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>
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He continued: “The one country in Africa with so many riches must not descend into war. Please lay down your weapons. Hold elections. All will be better.” The players then started chanting “We want to have fun, so stop firing your guns.” After the historic qualification, Drogba kept on going in his taks to unify the country.



After being awarded as African Player of the Year, he was invited by the government in a meeting where the star suggested to go to Bouake, the epicenter city where the fight between the government and the rebels was held. There, the leader of the rebels met him in open arms, and agreed to play a game in the city against Madagascar for the 2008 African Cup qualifiers.



In 2007, Ivory Coast hosted Madagascar in Bouake for an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier. Drogba scored in a 5–0 win, but the match’s significance was much greater than the scoreline. It brought government and rebel leaders together. That same year, a ceasefire was declared, and a unified government was formed—for the first time since 2002.



Drogba later launched the Didier Drogba Foundation, focused on economic development and improving living conditions in vulnerable regions across Africa. To this day, the foundation remains one of the continent’s most impactful charitable initiatives.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="675" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20250603_WST_572530_didier-drogba-ivory-coast-1200x675_97143558.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=675" alt="" class="wp-image-572538" srcset="https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/06/02221805/didier-drogba-ivory-coast-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/06/02221805/didier-drogba-ivory-coast-300x169.jpg 300w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/06/02221805/didier-drogba-ivory-coast-768x432.jpg 768w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/06/02221805/didier-drogba-ivory-coast-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/06/02221805/didier-drogba-ivory-coast-740x416.jpg 740w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/06/02221805/didier-drogba-ivory-coast-490x275.jpg 490w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/06/02221805/didier-drogba-ivory-coast-250x140.jpg 250w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/06/02221805/didier-drogba-ivory-coast.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



<h2>Drogba’s Champions League legacy</h2>



With a meteoric rise in soccer, Drogba was the visible face of a national team that reunite an entire country in a delicate situation. But after making history with his influence, he was still chasing his crowning moment in club soccer, and it came in one of the most thrilling finals in Champions League history.



After Carlo Ancelotti’s departure, Chelsea brought in André Villas-Boas—formerly part of Mourinho’s staff—for the 2011–12 season. But results were disappointing. A heavy loss to West Brom left the club with five wins in 15 games, leading to Abramovich to take the decision to sack Villas-Boas in March 2012.



Chelsea appointed Italian Roberto Di Matteo as his replacement, and scratched their way to the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/champions-league/">Champions League</a> semifinals. Their rivals would be Pep Guardiola and Lionel Messi’s FC Barcelona, turning the Blues into the underdogs in an unbalanced showdown. However, with a 1-0 win at home, and a thrilling 2-2 draw in the second leg, Chelsea stunned Barca and made their way to the final against all odds.



In the final, held in Munich, Chelsea faced Bayern in their home stadium. After 83 minutes of stalemate, Thomas Muller broke the deadlock for the hosts, leaving Chelsea hopeless. But in the 88th minute, Juan Mata swung in a corner to the near post, and Drogba rose above Bastian Schweinsteiger to power home a stunning header.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="675" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20250603_WST_572530_didier-drogba-chelsea-champions-league-1200x675_59ef7428.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=675" alt="" class="wp-image-572537" srcset="https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/06/02221458/didier-drogba-chelsea-champions-league-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/06/02221458/didier-drogba-chelsea-champions-league-300x169.jpg 300w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/06/02221458/didier-drogba-chelsea-champions-league-768x432.jpg 768w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/06/02221458/didier-drogba-chelsea-champions-league-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/06/02221458/didier-drogba-chelsea-champions-league-740x416.jpg 740w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/06/02221458/didier-drogba-chelsea-champions-league-490x275.jpg 490w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/06/02221458/didier-drogba-chelsea-champions-league-250x140.jpg 250w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/06/02221458/didier-drogba-chelsea-champions-league.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



With 3 shots on target, and 36% of possession, Chelsea forced Bayern to go to penalty shootout. Mata missed Chelsea’s first, but goalkeeper Petr Cech made two crucial saves. With the score level in the shootout, Schweinsteiger hit the post. It was Drogba’s turn to step up.



With a two-step run-up, he calmly slotted the ball past Manuel Neuer—sending the keeper the wrong way, securing Chelsea’s first Champions League trophy in the club’s history. The redemption was sweet for Drogba, who had been sent off in the 2008 final loss to Manchester United.



<h2>Drogba: A legend on and off the pitch</h2>



During his time at Chelsea, Drogba became one of the most dominant strikers of the modern era. He won four Premier League titles (finishing top scorer twice), four FA Cups, three League Cups, two Community Shields, and that unforgettable Champions League triumph in 2012.



He wrapped up his playing career in North America, with stints at CF Montréal and Phoenix Rising, retiring in 2018. But his influence extended far beyond the field.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="675" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20250603_WST_572530_didier-drogba-foundation-1200x675_446c05c6.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=675" alt="" class="wp-image-572535" srcset="https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/06/02221405/didier-drogba-foundation-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/06/02221405/didier-drogba-foundation-300x169.jpg 300w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/06/02221405/didier-drogba-foundation-768x432.jpg 768w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/06/02221405/didier-drogba-foundation-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/06/02221405/didier-drogba-foundation-740x416.jpg 740w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/06/02221405/didier-drogba-foundation-490x275.jpg 490w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/06/02221405/didier-drogba-foundation-250x140.jpg 250w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/06/02221405/didier-drogba-foundation.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



Drogba wasn’t just a goal scorer. He was a unifier, a leader, and a symbol of hope for an entire nation. His legacy lives on—not just in trophies and goals—but in the peace he helped forge and the lives he’s still impacting through his foundation.

He debuted at 21, helped end a civil war, and starred in one of the greatest Champions League finals

He debuted at 21, helped end a civil war, and starred in one of the greatest Champions League finals - World Soccer Talk

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Mohamed Salah sets record as all-time top scorer in African World Cup qualifiers: Where do Eto’o, Drogba, and Mané stand?

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He debuted at 21, helped end a civil war, and starred in one of the greatest Champions League finals