Didier Drogba

The ultimate big game player who scored the winning penalty in the 2012 UEFA Champions League Final.

Didier Yves Drogba Tébily is an Ivorian former professional footballer who played as a striker. Born on 11 March 1978, he stands as the all-time top scorer and former captain of the Ivory Coast national team, ranking fifth among African men's top goalscorers in international history. Best known for his career at Chelsea, he remains the club's all-time top goalscorer as a foreign player and fourth-highest overall. Widely regarded as one of the greatest African players ever, Drogba was named African Footballer of the Year twice, in 2006 and 2009.

Quick Facts

Full name: Didier Yves Drogba Tébily
Born: 11 March 1978
Birthplace: Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Height: 1.89 m / 6 ft 2 in
Position: Striker

Lore & Background

Drogba's journey began far from the spotlight; born in Abidjan, he moved to France at age five but returned home due to homesickness before rejoining his parents in Antony at fifteen. His professional path was not linear. After struggling with injuries and adapting to daily training as an adult without a football academy background, he debuted for Ligue 2 club Le Mans at age 21. A turning point came with the birth of his son Isaac in 1999, which Drogba credited with straightening him out. His move to Guingamp saw him score 17 goals in 34 appearances during the 2002–03 season, earning a transfer to Olympique de Marseille for £3.3 million. There, he finished as the third-highest scorer with 19 goals and helped reach the 2004 UEFA Cup Final before being signed by Chelsea.

Reader's Guide

Drogba's club career included a six-month stint at Shanghai Shenhua and a move to Galatasaray, where he scored the winning goal in the 2013 Turkish Super Cup final. He returned to Chelsea in July 2014 before joining Montreal Impact in 2015 as a designated player, scoring 23 goals in 41 matches over two seasons. In 2017, he became a player and owner of Phoenix Rising, retiring at age 40. On 21 April 2022, he was inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame. His record of scoring 10 goals in 10 finals earned him the nickname 'ultimate big game player'.

Did You Know?

Drogba is the only player to have scored in four FA Cup finals.
He was the first African player to score 100 Premier League goals, achieving this milestone in March 2012.
His nickname 'Tito' was given by his mother after Yugoslav president Josip Broz Tito.
Drogba scored an 88th-minute equaliser and the winning penalty in the 2012 UEFA Champions League Final against Bayern Munich.
He became a player-owner of Phoenix Rising in the United Soccer League in 2017 before retiring at age 40.