10 Most Popular Football (Soccer) Players from Ivory Coast

Côte d’Ivoire football national team before the match against Poland (in Poznań). Photo by Roger Gorączniak on Wikimedia

10 Most Popular Football (Soccer) Players from Ivory Coast

Ivory Coast also known as Cote d’Ivoire is another top-ranked African country in soccer. They made their debut in the 2006 World Cup and have featured in two more, in 2010 and 2014. Unfortunately, they did not qualify for the 2022 Qatar FIFA World Cup which is a major blow.

Their campaigns at the World Cup have always been entertaining as the country has top-quality talented soccer players who represent their country well. In their past two group stages of the World Cup, Ivory Coast met with Argentina and the Netherlands who eliminated them. Later in 2010, Ivory Coast was eliminated from the World Cup after meeting with Brazil and Portugal.

FIFA still ranks Ivory Coast among the best African teams in the world even though they will not participate in the 2022 World Cup. Top players like Didier Drogba, Yaya Toure and Kolo Toure originate from Ivory Coast and have presented their country perfectly.

Below are the 10 Most Popular Football (Soccer) Players from Ivory Coast:

1. Didier Drogba

Didier Drogba at Chantilly Arts & Elegance Richard Mille 2019. Photo by Y.Leclercq on Wikimedia

Drogba is one of the greatest African players to have played in the English Premier League and other top leagues in the world. Before moving to the Premier League to play for Chelsea, Didier Drogba created a huge fan base with his versatility on and off the ball.

A great baller, Drogba moved to Chelsea and played under Jose Mourinho where he thrived perfectly. He scored goals for fans as he loved bullying his opponents with a high press and an eye for the goal.

Didier Drogba remains to be the top-scoring African player in the English Premier League even though he retired from professional soccer. Drogba won the first Champions League trophy for Chelsea during his time at Stamford Bridge. He also won several other major trophies for the blues in the seasons he played for them.

2. Yaya Toure

Ivorian football player Yaya Touré. Photo by
Roger Gorączniak on Wikimedia

Another firehouse of a player is Yaya Toure. Yaya Toure who played for Manchester City, Barcelona and other top clubs is renowned for his perfect performances in the middle of the pitch.

A great soccer sorcerer, Yaya Toure is regarded as one of the best midfielders in the world. His bulk physique, eye for the goal, brilliant passing and controlling the tempo of the game were his major strengths.

He will always be remembered as a top soccer player for Ivory Coast even though Pep Guardiola never appreciated him more. Yaya Toure is a serial trophy winner for his clubs.

3. Youssouf Fofana

Youssouf is another talented soccer player who came under the limelight after being discovered by Arsene Wenger. The Ivorian linked up with the former Arsenal boss at Monaco where they won the Ligue 1 title in 1988.

He used to play as a left winger who had terrific pace, the ability to beat his opponents on one in one encounter and great skills. His soccer technique is highly regarded in the soccer world which earned him nicknames like The Black Diamond and The Dribbler.

4. Kolo Toure

Kolo Toure. Photo by Allura on Wikimedia

Kolo Toure, the second all-time Ivorian soccer player is one of the most decorated African players in the world. He featured for Ivory Coast in two World Cup tournaments in his 14-years international career.

Kolo Toure was picked up by Arsene Wenger who turned him into a top player who hurt his opponents with his skills and top quality. He also played for Manchester City with one of his memorable moments being torturing Arsenal during a clash in which he celebrated after scoring against them.

5. Ibrahima Bakayoko

At the beginning of his career, Bakayoko was known as the most expensive flop at Everton but he beat the odds to become a great player elsewhere. Ibrahima Bakayoko is the second top scorer for Ivory Coast after Didier Drogba who broke his record.

He is renowned for his direct play style that involved pressing his opponents hard and beating them with his pace. Bakayoko was not a towering striker but he scored some memorable goals.

6. Franck Kessie

Franck Kessie. Photo by Dimka Pukalik on Wikimedia

Kessie, a block of a midfielder is another top Ivory Coast soccer player who currently plays for FC Barcelona. He previously played for Italian side AC Milan who he helped win the Serie A title before his move to Spain.

His energetic attitude and great command of the pitch are one of the major strengths of Kessie that help him thrive well. At Barcelona, Franck Kessie is making more impact than how was previously expected.

7. Sebastian Haller

Haller, a giant of a striker is a soccer player who is currently playing for German Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund. The gigantic striker has had a great career since he left West Ham United where he had flopped.

While in Ajax, Sebastian Haller used to score goals for fans as he used his height as an added advantage to attack balls perfectly. He was easy to target by his teammates who provided so many assists for his goals.

Unfortunately, Sebastian Haller received a major setback after moving to Germany. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer which has sidelined him for quite some time.

8. Wilfried Zaha

Wilfried Zaha playing for Cardiff City. Photo by Jon Candy on Wikimedia

The former Manchester United player is a professional winger who currently plays for Crystal Palace. Wilfried Zaha is a highly talented soccer player who is known for his immense dribbling skills, beating defenders in one on one encounters and his scoring abilities.

Zaha is a perfect player who has always been eyed by top clubs that want to include him in their squads. He is currently the top goal scorer of Crystal Palace.

9. Nicolas Pepe

The young right winger is another top-talented soccer player from Ivory Coast. Pepe made his mark in France as he played for Rennes but he has failed to replicate his talent after a big-money move to Arsenal.

With his strong left foot, Nicolas Pepe is known for his finesse shots and link-up plays that make his game top-notch. His sprinting pace and ability to cut into the opposition penalty area to score are his major strengths.

10. Ibrahim Sangare

Ibrahim Sangare after a training session. Photo by Gaillac on Wikimedia

The 24 year old midfielder is another soccer player who is highly admired by top clubs across the top European Leagues. Sangare who plays for PSV in the Netherlands is considered a talented player for the future.

He has got the ability to become a top talent because of his stamina and how he stands his ground when pressed high. Ibrahim Sangare was targeted by Chelsea last summer, but he never moved. His target will be to play in the World Cup with Ivory Coast to make his trade.