Mohammed Salah Leads African Footballers with 105.8 Million Followers

In the ever-evolving landscape of social media, African footballers have made significant strides in expanding their global fan base. The performance of these athletes on the field is often the primary focus, but their off-field presence, particularly on social media platforms, has become an increasingly important metric of their influence and popularity. This article highlights the top 10 most followed African footballers on social media as of July 2025, showcasing their growing impact across major platforms such as X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.

Leading the pack is Mohammed Salah of Egypt, with an impressive 105.8 million followers. Salah, often referred to as the Egyptian King, is renowned for his clinical finishing, dribbling, speed, and playmaking abilities. His social media popularity is further bolstered by his status as Egypt’s national pride. Salah’s achievements include being named in Time magazine’s list of the 100 Most Influential People in 2019, cementing his status as one of the world’s best players and the most followed African footballer across major social media platforms.

Following closely is Sadio Mane of Senegal, with 34 million followers. Mane’s impressive pace and goal-scoring ability, coupled with his benevolence to his country, have made him a fan favorite both on and off the field. As of 2024, Mane was the most followed African player on Facebook with 17 million followers, a position he shared with Salah in 2025.

Achraf Hakimi of Morocco ranks third with 30.9 million followers. Hakimi gained popularity during the 2022 World Cup, where he helped Morocco achieve a fourth-place finish. Known for his pace and attacking ability, Hakimi is regarded as one of the best and most sought-after right-backs in the world. His significant role in Paris Saint-Germain and his inclusion in the CAFAwards 2024 Top five men’s shortlist have further enhanced his social media presence.

Riyad Mahrez of Algeria is fourth with 28.8 million followers. Despite his footballing career gradually winding down, Mahrez remains one of the best African players of all time. His flair and skill on the flank, along with his social media presence, have contributed to his widespread popularity. Mahrez was named the 2016 African footballer of the year, adding to his impressive resume.

Hakim Ziyech of Morocco is fifth with 15.8 million followers. Ziyech’s technical brilliance and creativity have earned him a significant following on social media. Although he has no presence on X and TikTok, his popularity is attributed to his time playing for major European football clubs.

Yassine Bounou of Morocco, known as Bono, is sixth with 11.8 million followers. As one of the three goalkeepers in the top ten, Bounou’s crucial saves have made him popular on social media. He leads the pack for goalkeepers and has earned his place in the top ten with his impressive performances.

Victor Osimhen of Nigeria is seventh with 7.7 million followers. Osimhen’s goal-scoring prowess has garnered him a significant fan base in the last two years. His recent fine form for his club and country has further uplifted his social media followers, making him one of the most influential African footballers.

Edouard Mendy of Senegal is eighth with 5.74 million followers. Mendy’s impressive performance at the goalpost has secured him millions of followers. His commanding presence in defense, along with his performance for Senegal, has won him a place as one of the most followed African footballers on social media.

Andre Onana of Cameroon is ninth with 5.7 million followers. Onana is known for his distribution skills, out-of-the-box build-up play, confidence on the ball, and range of passing. His club switches among top European teams have grown his fan base, earning him a place as the third-most-followed African shot-stopper on social media.

Sofyan Amrabat of Morocco is tenth with 5.5 million followers. Amrabat’s precise passing and relentless work ethic have endeared him to football-loving fans across social media. His time at Manchester United and his commanding display in midfield during the 2022 FIFA World Cup have also contributed to his social media popularity and influence off the pitch.

Overall, Morocco had the highest representation with four players, followed by Senegal with two. Egypt, Algeria, Nigeria, and Cameroon each had one player in the top ten. The data reveals that players’ social media presence on Instagram is significant, as 70% of them accumulated most followers on the Meta-owned platform. Additionally, 50% of the footballers do not have a presence on TikTok, but more adoption is anticipated considering its growing influence.