Salif Keita

Salif Keita was born in Bamako, Mali, and was one of the first great African stars of European football. A quick and prolific striker, he became an idol at Saint-Étienne, where he arrived in 1967. With the French club, he won three French League titles and two French Cup editions. In 1970, he was elected African Player of the Year by France Football magazine, becoming the first winner of the African Ballon d'Or. After Saint-Étienne, he played for Olympique Marseille, Valencia and Sporting, helping to pave the way for other African players in Europe. With Mali's national team, he was the key figure in the campaign that took the country to the final of the Africa Cup of Nations in 1972, which was lost to Congo 3-2.