7 Best Soccer Players Ever From South Africa

South Africa has produced some truly outstanding soccer players over the years. The team returned to World Soccer in 1992 after their country’s apartheid ban was finally lifted. 

Many players have found success domestically, others blossoming overseas with a select number driving their national side to international honours. 

So who are the best soccer players ever from South Africa?

7. Neil Tovey

Central defender Neil Tovey is one of the best soccer players ever from South Africa. He played most notably for South African league side Kaizer Chiefs. 

Tovey made his international debut in 1992, playing for his country across a five-year period and winning a total of 52 caps. He even captained the national team during their victorious 1996 African Cup Of Nations campaign. 

6. Patrick Ntsoelengoe

Patrick Ntsoelengoe featured up front for South African league club Kaiser Chiefs from 1971 to 1988, appearing 542 times and scoring 250 goals. 

Amongst the best soccer players ever from South Africa, Ntsoelengoe usually played in the United States and Canada during the local offseason, spending eleven seasons in the North American Soccer League. 

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5. Steven Pienaar

Steven Pienaar is one of the best soccer players ever from South Africa. The midfielder featured for some of the biggest clubs in European soccer including Ajax and Premier League side Everton.  

Pienaar made his international debut in 2002, going on to win 61 caps and scoring three goals. He featured at both the 2002 and 2010 World Cup. Pienaar also captained his national team and was even named South African Football Association Player Of The Year in 2009. 

4. John Moshoeu

Across an illustrious career, Attacking Midfielder John Mashoeu played 175 times for South African club Giant Blackpool and found the net an impressive 75 times. 

As one of the best soccer players ever from South Africa, Moshoeu represented his country in six major international tournaments from 1993 to 2004, winning 73 caps and scoring eight goals. He lifted the 1996 AFCON and was amongst the oldest players to represent South Africa, his final match against Nigeria in March 2004 at the age of 38. Mashoeu died in 2015. 

3. Doctor Khumalo

Amongst the best soccer players ever from South Africa, Midfielder Doctor Khumalo made his international debut in 1992, playing nine years for the national team and scoring nine goals in 50 appearances.

He played 397 times for South African league side Kaiser Chiefs from 1987 until 2004 and scored a total of 75 times. Khumalo was also a leading member of South Africa’s 1996 African Nations Of Cup winning side and even represented his country during the 1998 World Cup. 

2. Lucas Radebe

Centre Back Lucas Radebe spent the majority of his playing career at Premier League side Leeds United where he made 201 appearances for the English club.

Radebe is amongst the best soccer players ever from South Africa. He earned 70 caps for his country, scoring twice and was also part of their 1996 AFCON winning team. He was named captain during his nation’s 1998 and 2002 FIFA World Cup campaigns – even finding the net during a 3-2 defeat to Spain in the latter competition. 

1. Benni McCarthy

Undoubtedly one of the best soccer players ever from South Africa is legendary striker Benni McCarthy who over the course of 79 caps became the South African national team’s all-time top scorer with a tally of 31 goals.

McCarthy played in some of Europe’s top leagues for the likes of Porto and Blackburn Rovers. He is the only South African to have won the UEFA Champions League whilst also claiming domestic titles with both Ajax and Celta Vigo. The forward was a runner-up during the 1998 AFCON and finished the tournament as top scorer with seven goals.