# Who is the best African midfielder of all time?

> From the Ivorian engine of Yaya Touré to the Ghanaian dynamism of Michael Essien, African midfielders have dominated the world stage. Who is the greatest of all time?

*By YPB Team · Published May 26, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/who-is-the-best-african-midfielder-of-all-time*

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## Current results (no votes yet)

1. **Yaya Touré**
   Ivory Coast's dominant box-to-box midfielder who was the Premier League Player of the Year four times with Manchester City.
2. **Michael Essien**
   Ghana's all-action defensive midfielder and Chelsea's 'The Bison', one of the most powerful midfielders of his era.
3. **Seydou Keïta**
   Mali's technically gifted playmaker who was a key part of Barcelona's treble-winning squad under Pep Guardiola.
4. **Thomas Partey**
   Ghana and Arsenal's dynamic defensive midfielder known for his powerful shooting, tackling, and range of passing.
5. **Franck Kessié**
   Ivory Coast's powerhouse midfielder who won Serie A with AC Milan and was AC Milan's key engine for multiple seasons.
6. **Naby Keïta**
   Guinea's versatile and skillful midfielder who dazzled for RB Leipzig and Liverpool in the Champions League era.
7. **Idrissa Gueye**
   Senegal's combative defensive midfielder who was one of the Premier League's best tacklers at Aston Villa and Everton.
8. **Moussa Sissoko**
   Senegal's energetic and physically imposing midfielder who was a constant force for France despite his African heritage.
9. **Sunday Oliseh**
   Nigeria's reliable defensive midfielder whose strike against Spain at the 1998 World Cup ranks among the tournament's finest goals.
10. **Wilfried Zaha**
   Ivory Coast's tricky winger and Crystal Palace's long-serving star, one of Africa's most dynamic midfield-forward players.
11. **Riyad Mahrez**
   Algeria's elegant right winger who won the Premier League with Leicester City and Manchester City while thrilling AFCON audiences.

Tags: africa, sports, portrait, football, world cup