Alan Shearer says Chelsea legend Didier Drogba is the greatest African player ahead of Mo Salah

Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.com 
and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565
Visit Shots! now
Former England captain Alan Shearer has picked Didier Drogba over Mohamed Salah as the Premier League’s greatest African player.
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Shearer, who is now a BBC pundit, went head-to-head with former Manchester City defender Micah Richards to pick which African player has the best all round game and influence in the game.

BBC Presenter Alan Shearer during the Emirates FA Cup Quarter Final match between Leicester City and Manchester United at The King Power Stadium on March 21, 2021 in Leicester, England. BBC Presenter Alan Shearer during the Emirates FA Cup Quarter Final match between Leicester City and Manchester United at The King Power Stadium on March 21, 2021 in Leicester, England.
BBC Presenter Alan Shearer during the Emirates FA Cup Quarter Final match between Leicester City and Manchester United at The King Power Stadium on March 21, 2021 in Leicester, England. | Getty Images

And the Newcastle United legend had no doubt it was the big Ivorian who Jose Mourinho brought to Stamford Bridge from Marseille in 2004.

The Premier League has been blessed with some of the finest talents from Africa, including Emmanuel Adebayor, who played for Tottenham, Arsenal and Crystal Palace, to Jay Jay Okoacha, at Bolton, and Nwankwo Kanu, who arrived Arsenal from Ajax and became a cult a hero at Highbury.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad
 Sadio Mane of Liverpool for Mohamed Salah of Liverpool in action during the Premier League match (Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images) Sadio Mane of Liverpool for Mohamed Salah of Liverpool in action during the Premier League match (Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Sadio Mane of Liverpool for Mohamed Salah of Liverpool in action during the Premier League match (Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images) | Liverpool FC via Getty Images

Liverpool duo Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah have helped Liverpool to the Premier League title and Champions League recently.

There was also a case to be made for Manchester City’s Yaya Toure, who was instrumental in the club’s recent dominance, but Shearer said Drogba’s influence transcends goals and has helped build the big-club culture Chelsea have now.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad
 Didier Drogba of Chelsea celebrates with fans and the trophy  after the Barclays Premier League match (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) Didier Drogba of Chelsea celebrates with fans and the trophy  after the Barclays Premier League match (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Didier Drogba of Chelsea celebrates with fans and the trophy after the Barclays Premier League match (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Newcastle legend told Gary Lineker on the Match of the Day Top 10: “For me, it’s Drogba just for the fact that he has four Premier League titles, four FA cups, nine goals in nine cup finals, one Champions League title and 177 goals for Chelsea, that is for me.”

Drogba formed a lethal partnership with Frank Lampard, and is known for scoring the first FA Cup winning goal at the new Wembley, helping Chelsea to victory under Jose Mourinho in 2007.

He also scored the equaliser and winning penalty in Munich for Chelsea’s first ever Champions League triumph, cementing himself in Stamford Bridge folklore.

And despite many people saying Mo Salah is the best current player in the Premier League and possibly the world, Shearer stuck with Drogba.

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.