Africa Cup of Nations golden boot winners: past all-time highest AFCON top goal scorers!
Who are the Africa Cup of Nations Golden Boot Winners – all-time Past Winners? Have you ever wanted to find out which African footballers have won the Africa Cup of nations golden boot before?
Well, if you have then worry not because we have prepared a list of the Africa Cup of Nations Golden Boot Winners – all-time Past Winners. Watch & Bet on AFCON =>
AFCON Golden Boot Winners: all-time Past Africa Cup of Nations Golden Boot Winners
The Africa Cup of Nations is the most prestigious tournament in Africa. It’s also every player’s dream to play in the Africa Cup of Nations tournament. The tournament is perfect to showcase their talent.
The tournament is also perfect to score the most goals in order to walk away with the tournament’s golden boot award. The award is awarded to the player who has scored the most goals.
African footballers have excelled tremendously locally and internationally.
The Africa Cup of Nations is an event that showcases spectacular performances by various African footballers from amazing dribbling skills to impressive prolific goal scoring. Watch & Bet on AFCON =>
AFCON Past Golden Boot Winners 1957-2025: all-time Past AFCON top goal scorers 1957-2025
Here are the Africa Cup of Nations past golden boot winners 1957-2025. Watch & Bet on AFCON =>
2025 Africa Cup Golden Boot Winner: Brahim Diaz won AFCON top goal scorer 2025
The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, held in Morocco from late December 2025 to January 2026, delivered drama, controversy, and stunning individual displays. Among the standout performers was Morocco’s Brahim Díaz, who emerged as the leading scorer of the tournament.
Who won the AFCON Golden boot in 2025? Brahim Díaz clinched the AFCON 2025 Golden Boot, finishing as the tournament’s top scorer with five goals.
His achievements were notable for both consistency and impact — Díaz scored in every stage of the competition, netting goals in the group phase and knockout rounds alike, a rare and remarkable feat.
Despite Morocco’s heartbreaking loss in the final to Senegal, Díaz’s goals ensured he took home individual glory in front of his home fans.
Díaz’s tally included goals against Comoros, Mali, Zambia (a brace), Tanzania, and Cameroon — making him one of the select players in AFCON history to score in multiple consecutive matches.
2023 Africa Cup Golden Boot Winner: Emilio Nsue won AFCON top goal scorer 2023
The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations was hosted by Côte d’Ivoire and was another memorable edition of the continent’s premier football competition.
While the focus often falls on the title winners, it’s the Golden Boot winners who etch their names into AFCON history with a burst of goals that turns heads.
Who won the AFCON Golden boot in 2023? Emilio Nsue of Equatorial Guinea was the Golden Boot winner at AFCON 2023, finishing as the tournament’s top scorer with five goals.
Even though his nation exited in the Round of 16, Nsue’s scoring prowess was unmatched in terms of volume, making him one of the most talked-about players of the event.
Nsue’s achievement was particularly remarkable given Equatorial Guinea’s relatively modest footballing profile on the continental stage, and he became the envy of many forwards who went deeper into the tournament.
2021 Africa Cup Golden Boot Winner: Vincent Aboubakar won AFCON top goal scorer 2021
The 2021 Africa Cup of Nations — actually played in early 2022 due to pandemic delays — was hosted by Cameroon. This edition was filled with intense competition and memorable individual performances across all nations.
Who won the AFCON Golden boot in 2021? Vincent Aboubakar of Cameroon clinched the AFCON 2021 Golden Boot, finishing as the top scorer with an impressive eight goals throughout the tournament.
His striking form was central to Cameroon’s attacking power, and he consistently found the net in key matches.
Aboubakar’s goal tally set him apart from the rest of the field and underscored his reputation as one of Africa’s most prolific forwards.
Although Cameroon did not win the tournament, his scoring exploits ensured his name would be remembered in AFCON scoring lore.
2019 Africa Cup Golden Boot Winner: Odion Ighalo won AFCON top goal scorer 2019
Who won the AFCON Golden boot in 2019? There were the likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Sadio Mane and Mo Salah.
Those three players finished as the Golden Boot winner in the Premier League this season and wished to carry their form into the AFCON to help their national teams win the trophy.
However, it was Nigeria striker Odion Ighalo who won the 2019 Africa Cup Golden Boot. He scored 5 goals, leaving behind Riyad Mahrez, Adam Ounas, Cedric Bakabu and Sadio Mane each with 3 goals in total.
2017 Africa Cup Golden Boot Winner: Junior Kabananga won AFCON top goal scorer 2017
Who won the AFCON Golden boot in 2017? The 2017 Africa Cup golden boot was won by DR Congo player Junior Kabananga who scored a total of 3 goals becoming the tournament’s highest scorer for 2017. It was unfortunate that his goals did not help his team win the tournament. Watch & Bet on AFCON =>
Who won the Best Player in AFCON 2025?
Sadio Mané of Senegal was officially named the Best Player of the Tournament (Golden Ball) at the Africa Cup of Nations 2025.
Mané’s performances were central to Senegal’s triumphant campaign, as he combined leadership with key contributions throughout the competition.
He scored important goals and provided crucial playmaking moments that helped guide the Teranga Lions to the title, including inspiring his teammates during the tense final against Morocco.
Mané’s influence went far beyond statistics — his leadership both on and off the pitch was widely recognised as one of the defining factors in Senegal’s success.
The award capped off an exceptional tournament for the 33-year-old, who has been one of Africa’s most consistently outstanding football talents over the past decade.
AFCON Past Golden Boot Winners 2000-2021: all-time Past AFCON Golden Boot Winners 2000-2021
Here are the Africa Cup of Nations past golden boot winners 2000-2025. Here is the list of the past golden boot winners year by year.
| Year | Name | Country | Goals |
| 2025 | Brahim Diaz | Morocco | 5 |
| 2023 | Emilio Nsue | Equatorial Guinea | 5 |
| 2021 | Vincent Aboubakar | Cameroon | 8 |
| 2019 | Odion Ighalo | Nigeria | 5 |
| 2017 | Junior Kabananga | DR Congo | 3 |
| 2015 | Thievy Bifouma | DR Congo | 3 |
| Dieumerci Mbokani | DR Congo | 3 | |
| André Ayew | Ghana | 3 | |
| Ahmed Akaïchi | Tunisia | 3 | |
| Balboa | Equatorial Guinea | 3 | |
| 2013 | Wakaso Mubarak | Ghana | 4 |
| Emmanuel Emenike | Nigeria | 4 | |
| 2012 | Pierre Aubameyang | Gabon | 3 |
| Manucho | Angola | 3 | |
| Houssine Kharja | Morocco | 3 | |
| Emmanuel Mayuka | Zambia | 3 | |
| Didier Drogba | Ivory Coast | 3 | |
| Chris Katongo | Zambia | 3 | |
| Cheick Diabaté | Mali | 3 | |
| 2010 | Mohamed Gedo | Egypt | 5 |
| 2008 | Samuel Eto’o | Cameroon | 5 |
| 2006 | Samuel Eto’o | Cameroon | 5 |
| 2004 | Youssef Mokhtari | Morocco | 4 |
| Patrick M’Boma | Cameroon | 4 | |
| Jay Jay Okocha | Nigeria | 4 | |
| Frederic Kanouté | Mali | 4 | |
| Francileudo Santos | Tunisia | 4 | |
| 2002 | Salomon Olembé | Cameroon | 3 |
| Patrick M’Boma | 3 | ||
| Julius Aghahowa | Nigeria | 3 | |
| 2000 | Shaun Bartlett | South Africa | 5 |
Africa Cup of Nations Past Golden Boot Winners 1957-1998: all-time Past African Cup of Nation Golden Boot Winners 1957-1998
Here are the past AFCON golden boot winners 1957-1998:
| Year | Name | Country | Goals |
| 1998 | Hossam Hassan | Egypt | 7 |
| Benny McCarthy | South Africa | 7 | |
| 1996 | Mark Williams | South Africa | 5 |
| Kalusha Bwalya | Zambia | 5 | |
| 1994 | Rashidi Yekini | Nigeria | 5 |
| 1992 | Rashidi Yekini | Nigeria | 4 |
| 1990 | Djamel Menad | 4 | |
| 1988 | Roger Milla | 2 | |
| Lakhdar Belloumi | 2 | ||
| Gamal Abdelhamid | 2 | ||
| Abdoulaye Traoré | 2 | ||
| 1986 | Roger Milla | 4 | |
| 1984 | Taher Abou Zeid | 4 | |
| 1982 | George Alhassan | 3 | |
| 1980 | Segun Odegbami | 3 | |
| Khalid Labied | 3 | ||
| 1978 | Segun Odegbami | 3 | |
| Phillip Omondi | 3 | ||
| Opoku Afriyie | 3 | ||
| 1976 | N’Jo Léa | 4 | |
| 1974 | Mulamba N’Daye | 9 | |
| 1972 | Fantamady Keita | 5 | |
| 1970 | Laurent Pokou | 8 | |
| 1968 | Laurent Pokou | 6 | |
| 1965 | Osei Kofi | 3 | |
| Eustache Manglé | 3 | ||
| Benjamin Acheampong | 3 | ||
| 1963 | Hassan El-Shazly | 6 | |
| 1962 | Mengistu Worku | 3 | |
| Abdel Fattah Badawi | 3 | ||
| 1959 | Mahmoud El-Gohary | 3 | |
| 1957 | Mohamed Diab | 5 |
All-time leading Africa Cup of Nations goalscorers
Who are the top goal scorers at the Africa Cup of nations of all time? Well, we have prepared a list of AFCON top goal scorrers of all time.
Below you can see all the AFCON top goalscorers of all time. Watch & Bet on AFCON =>
Who is the top goal scorer in the AFCON?
The all-time top scorer in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) — the continent’s premier international football tournament — is Samuel Eto’o of Cameroon.
Eto’o scored 18 goals in 29 AFCON matches across six editions of the competition (2000–2010), giving him a remarkable record and placing him firmly at the top of the tournament’s scoring charts.
Eto’o’s tally includes standout performances in multiple tournaments, and he also twice won the AFCON Golden Boot for being the top scorer in a single edition.
His consistency and longevity at the highest level helped Cameroon to continental success, including AFCON titles in 2000 and 2002 while he was leading the line.
Following Eto’o on the all-time AFCON scorers list are Laurent Pokou of Côte d’Ivoire with 14 goals and Rashidi Yekini of Nigeria with 13.
These legends have helped shape the history of African football with their prolific goal-scoring exploits on the biggest stage in African international football.
AFCON top goalscorers of all time
Here is the list of the all-time leading goalscorers at the Africa Cup of Nations.
| Goals | AFCON top goal scorers of all time |
| 18 | Samuel Eto’o |
| 14 | Laurent Pokou |
| 13 | Rashidi Yekini |
| 12 | Hassan El-Shazly |
| 11 | Patrick Mboma |
| Hossam Hassan | |
| Didier Drogba | |
| 10 | Ndaye Mulamba |
| Joel Tiéhi | |
| Mengistu Worku | |
| Dos Santos | |
| Kalusha Bwalya | |
| 9 | Manucho |
| Abdoulaye Traoré | |
| André Ayew | |
| 8 | Ahmed Hassan |
| Asamoah Gyan | |
| Pascal Feindouno | |
| Seydou Keita | |
| 7 | Flávio |
| Roger Milla | |
| Taher Abouzaid | |
| Ali Abo Gresha | |
| Osei Kofi | |
| Abedi Pele | |
| Frédéric Kanouté | |
| Jay-Jay Okocha | |
| Benni McCarthy | |
| Christopher Katongo | |
| 6 | Lakhdar Belloumi |
| Riyad Mahrez | |
| Mayanga Maku | |
| Gervinho | |
| Yaya Touré | |
| Mohamed Aboutrika | |
| Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang | |
| George Alhassan | |
| Wilberforce Mfum | |
| Ahmed Faras | |
| Julius Aghahowa | |
| Segun Odegbami | |
| Shaun Bartlett | |
| Youssef Msakni | |
| 5 | Djamel Menad |
| Jean-Michel M’Bono | |
| Dieumerci Mbokani | |
| Wilfried Bony | |
| Salomon Kalou | |
| Hosny Abd Rabo | |
| Ad-Diba | |
| Mohamed Nagy | |
| Amr Zaki | |
| Emad Moteab | |
| Mubarak Wakaso | |
| Fantamady Keita | |
| Odion Ighalo | |
| Muda Lawal | |
| Peter Odemwingie | |
| Henri Camara | |
| Siyabonga Nomvethe |
Samuel Eto’o is the African Cup of Nation leading top goalscorer of all times
Who is the all-time leading top goalscorer at the Africa Cup of Nations? Fast and energetic in his heydays, Eto’o is the most decorated African player of all time, having won the African Player of the Year award a record four times: in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2010.
Samuel Eto’o scored a record 18 goals in six Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournaments. He was third in the FIFA World Player of the Year award in 2005. Watch & Bet on AFCON =>
The former Barcelona and Inter Milan striker helped Cameroon win two Africa Cup of Nations titles in 2000 and 2002.
He was also instrumental when the Indomitable Lions replicated Nigeria’s feat as the second African country to win the Olympic Games (2000).
Top 10 African Highest Goal Scorers of All Time
African football has given the world some of the most lethal finishers in the history of the beautiful game.
From the iconic Roger Milla celebrating goals with his unforgettable dance to modern superstars like Mohamed Salah lighting up the biggest stages — their goal tallies underscore a legacy of attacking excellence.
These players didn’t just score goals, they inspired generations across the continent and beyond.
At the summit is Roger Milla of Cameroon, whose remarkable career saw him score an incredible number of goals in club and international football, making him one of Africa’s most prolific marksmen.
Not far behind is Nigeria’s Rashidi Yekini, remembered as a predatory striker with a phenomenal scoring rate.
Cameroon’s Samuel Eto’o and Gabon’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang also feature high on the list, having combined longevity with consistent output over more than a decade at top levels.
Egyptian legend Mohamed Salah represents the modern era — his remarkable goal-scoring rate in European club football and for Egypt continues to rise, and he remains one of the few active players in this elite ranking.
Ivory Coast’s Didier Drogba and DR Congo’s Dieumerci Mbokani also made their mark with sheer physicality and clinical finishing.
Below is a snapshot of the top 10 African goal scorers of all time, based on career goals in club and international football.
Top 10 African Goal Scorers (All-Time)
Below is a list of the top 10 African goal scorers of all time, based on career goals in club and international football.
| Rank | Player | Country | Career Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Roger Milla | Cameroon | 503 |
| 2 | Rashidi Yekini | Nigeria | 483 |
| 3 | Samuel Eto’o | Cameroon | 426 |
| 4 | Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang | Gabon | 401 |
| 5 | Godfrey Chitalu | Zambia | 393 |
| 6 | Mohamed Salah | Egypt | 382 |
| 7 | Didier Drogba | Ivory Coast | 365 |
| 8 | Dieumerci Mbokani | DR Congo | 328 |
| 9 | Yousef El Arabi | Morocco | 310 |
| 10 | Hossam Hassan | Egypt | 303 |
See More:
- African Cup of Nations 2025 Fixtures & Group Schedule (AFCON)
- AFCON Prize Money 2025
- African Cup of Nations winners list & Past AFCON winners list 1957-2025!
- Offical AFCON website
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