Who is African Player of the Year 2025? Who has won the most African Player of the Year awards?

Africa is currently a powerhouse and a primary source for many of the world's top football stars. Almost every major European club features at least one African player in its lineup, making the competition for the African Player of the Year award incredibly intense. In this article, let’s join Livescore CZ to discover the ten most recent recipients of this prestigious honor. Furthermore, can you guess which legend holds the record for the most titles?

Achraf Hakimi crowned as the African Player of the Year 2025

Moroccan defender Achraf Hakimi, who plays for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), is the latest name to be honored at the grand ceremony in Rabat. The 27-year-old right-back surpassed formidable opponents, including Egypt’s Mohamed Salah and Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen, to claim the prize.

In 2025, Hakimi delivered an immaculate performance for PSG. He was a vital pillar in the squad that achieved a historic treble, including the Ligue 1 title, the Coupe de France, and PSG's first-ever UEFA Champions League trophy. Notably, in the Champions League final, Hakimi helped his team "bulldoze" Inter Milan with a 5-0 scoreline. Later in August, he added the UEFA Super Cup to his collection after defeating Tottenham Hotspur.

Throughout the 2024-2025 season, Hakimi was consistently productive, contributing goals and assists from the wing, which also earned him the 6th position in the 2025 Ballon d'Or rankings—the highest ever for a Moroccan player.

The last 10 winners of the African Player of the Year

As mentioned, Achraf Hakimi is the most recent star to be named the African Player of the Year. Looking back at the past decade, the award has been dominated by world-class attackers. Between 2015 and 2025, the recipients have showcased extraordinary talent for both their clubs and national teams.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang won in 2015 after a prolific season with Dortmund. Then, Riyad Mahrez took the crown in 2016 following Leicester City's miraculous Premier League title win. Mohamed Salah achieved a back-to-back victory in 2017 and 2018, leading Liverpool to the Champions League final and dominance in England.

Sadio Mane also secured two titles (2019 and 2022) for his pivotal role in Senegal's AFCON success and Liverpool's trophies. After a brief hiatus due to the pandemic, Victor Osimhen (2023) and Ademola Lookman (2024) kept the Nigerian flag flying high before Hakimi reclaimed the spotlight for defenders in 2025.

List of the 10 most recent winners of the African Player of the Year 

Achraf Hakimi (Morocco) – 2025

Ademola Lookman (Nigeria) – 2024

Victor Osimhen (Nigeria) – 2023

Sadio Mane (Senegal) – 2022

Sadio Mane (Senegal) – 2019

Mohamed Salah (Egypt) – 2018

Mohamed Salah (Egypt) – 2017

Riyad Mahrez (Algeria) – 2016

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon) – 2015

Yaya Toure (Ivory Coast) – 2014

Icons with the most African Player of the Year awards

When discussing the legends who have dominated the African Player of the Year award, two names stand above the rest: Samuel Eto'o and Yaya Toure. Both icons have won the prize four times each, setting a record that remains unbroken.

Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon) won his titles in 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2010. During these years, he was the star striker for Barcelona and Inter Milan, winning multiple Champions League titles and domestic leagues. Yaya Toure (Ivory Coast) achieved his feat by winning four times in a row from 2011 to 2014. As a powerhouse midfielder for Manchester City, Toure was instrumental in transforming the club into a Premier League giant, combining physical strength with elite technical skill.

Other notable mentions include Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, who both have two awards. These players defined an era of African football, consistently performing at the highest level in the world's toughest leagues.

Players with the most titles:

Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon): 4 times (2003, 2004, 2005, 2010)

Yaya Toure (Ivory Coast): 4 times (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014)

Mohamed Salah (Egypt): 2 times (2017, 2018)

Sadio Mane (Senegal): 2 times (2019, 2022)

Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast): 2 times (2006, 2009)

As seen above, livescorecz.net has identified the winner of the African Player of the Year 2025, listed the ten most recent winners from 2015-2025, and revealed the record-holders for this prestigious title. For more breaking news, detailed lists, and interesting statistics, stay tuned to here.