Who is the best African player in Marseille history?

Marseille's African connection runs deep, from Abedi Pelé's Champions League masterclass to Larbi Ben Barek's pre-war brilliance, through to modern stars from Morocco, Senegal, Ivory Coast and Cameroon — Africa has always been central to OM's identity.

Abedi Pelé

Ghana midfielder and three-time African Player of the Year who was the creative engine behind Marseille's historic 1992-93 Champions League triumph, one of the greatest African players ever to grace European football.

1/10

Larbi Ben Barek

Morocco forward known as the 'Black Pearl' who dazzled at Marseille in the 1930s and 1940s, drawing comparisons to Pelé and regarded as one of the most gifted African footballers of the pre-war era.

2/10

Habib Beye

Senegal right-back who made over 170 appearances for Marseille in the mid-2000s, winning the Coupe de France in 2006 and becoming a fan favourite before his move to Newcastle United.

3/10

Mamadou Niang

Senegal striker who was Marseille's top scorer in back-to-back seasons and finished as Ligue 1's joint top scorer in 2009, becoming one of the most prolific forwards in the club's recent history.

4/10

André Ayew

Ghana winger who spent six seasons at Marseille from 2007, becoming a key figure and club captain before his move to Swansea, carrying on his father Abedi Pelé's Marseille legacy.

5/10

Modeste M'Bami

Cameroon midfielder who joined Marseille from PSG in 2005 and provided combative midfield energy across four seasons, winning the Coupe de la Ligue in 2010.

6/10

Amine Harit

Morocco attacking midfielder who joined Marseille on loan from Schalke in 2021 and became a fan favourite with his creativity and flair, making the move permanent and contributing to Ligue 1 campaigns.

7/10

Cédric Bakambu

Congo DR striker who joined Marseille in 2022 and brought his proven goal-scoring pedigree from Villarreal and Beijing Guoan to the Stade Vélodrome.

8/10

Azzedine Ounahi

Morocco midfielder who signed for Marseille in January 2023 after his standout World Cup performances, bringing technical excellence and box-to-box energy to the midfield.

9/10

Brice Dja Djédjé

Ivory Coast right-back who provided reliable and attacking full-back play for Marseille across four seasons from 2014, known for his energetic overlapping runs in Ligue 1.

10/10