Abedi Ayew 'Pele' Snubbed from SPORTSbible’s Top 100 Footballers List
- Abedi Pele has shockingly been left out of SPORTSbible’s top 100 greatest footballers, raising serious questions about the rankings
- Only two African stars made the list, yet the glaring absence of Ghana’s icon leaves fans and pundits debating over the selections
- The list's top 10 features iconic figures such as Inter Miami's Lionel Messi, Pele, and Al-Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo
Abedi Pele, widely regarded as one of Africa’s greatest footballing icons, has once again been overlooked on the global stage.
The Ghanaian legend, whose dazzling skills, vision, and leadership on the pitch earned him accolades across Europe and Africa, was conspicuously absent from SPORTSbible’s recent list of the 100 greatest footballers of all time.
Source: Getty Images
The list, released on Wednesday September 10, 2025, which aims to rank the sport’s most influential and talented players across generations, included only two African stars, sparking debates about representation and recognition of African football heritage.
Roger Milla, George Weah make the cut
The only African players to make the list were Cameroon’s Roger Milla, ranked at position 65, and Liberia’s George Weah at position 75, as Abedi Ayew was not recognised.
Both Milla and Weah are celebrated for their historic contributions to African football: Milla for his unforgettable World Cup performances in the 1990s and Weah for being Africa’s first Ballon d’Or winner in 1995.
Their inclusion, however, does little to offset the glaring absence of other legends like Abedi Pele, whose influence on African and European football remains immense.
Speaking in an interview with YEN.com.gh, Ghanaian football expert Mr. Tommy Domfeh raised concerns over Abedi’s exclusion:
“Leaving Abedi Pele out of this list is a disservice to African football history. He was the first truly global African superstar, winning the Champions League with Marseille and dominating in France at a time when African players rarely got opportunities in Europe. His vision, creativity, and leadership were unmatched, and many of today’s stars credit him as their inspiration. To ignore him is to rewrite football’s history unfairly.”
Source: Getty Images
Abedi Pele’s football legacy
The absence of Abedi Pele is especially surprising, considering his crucial influence on modern African football and the fact that he was honoured in FIFA’s 100 Greatest Living Players list back in 2004, as noted by Wikipedia.
According to Transfermarkt, the former Olympique de Marseille star won three consecutive Ligue 1 titles and a UEFA Champions League trophy in 1993 and also inspired a generation of African players to pursue careers in Europe’s elite leagues.
His achievements, both at club and international level, cement his status as a trailblazer whose impact continues to resonate today.
Who made this top 100 list?
Lionel Messi claims the crown as SPORTSbible’s greatest footballer of all time, edging out legends like Pelé, Diego Maradona, Johan Cruyff, Zinedine Zidane, and Cristiano Ronaldo.
The top 10 is packed with football royalty, including Franz Beckenbauer, Ronaldo Nazário, George Best, and Ronaldinho, making it a list every fan will debate endlessly.
The full list of the greatest 100 players of all time can be seen below.
Achraf Hakimi equals Abedi Pele's feat
YEN.com.gh earlier reported on Achraf Hakimi's massive milestone following Paris Saint-Germain's UEFA Champions League success against Inter Milan back in May of this year.
The Ligue 1 powerhouse dominated the Italian Serie A giants 5-0 in Munich, with the Moroccan scoring one of the goals, as he matched Abedi's record that stood for 32 years.
Proofreading by Omoleye Omoruyi, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
