356 articles
Lucas Radebe
Lucas Radebe, South African centre-back born 1969 in Soweto, played for Kaizer Chiefs and Leeds United (1994-2005, 262 club appearances), captained both club and Bafana Bafana, won the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations, and received the FIFA Fair Play Award in 2000.
M'Baye Niang
M'Baye Hamady Niang, Senegalese forward born 1994 in Meulan, France; Caen academy prodigy, AC Milan, Torino, Rennes (2019 Coupe de France), Senegal at 2018 World Cup.
Mahamadou Doumbia
Mahamadou Doumbia (born 2004, Bamako) is a Malian midfielder for Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League, formerly Royal Antwerp, with 7 Mali caps; distinct from Watford forward Mamadou Doumbia (born 2006).
Mahamadou Sangaré
Mahamadou Sangaré (born 2007, Dionkoulané, Mali) is a French youth international forward; PSG academy U19 champion 2024, Manchester City from 2025, Al-Qadsiah FC from 2026. Not the Malian midfielder Mamadou Sangaré of Brentford.
Malick Yalcouyé
Malick Junior Yalcouyé (born 2005, Bandiagara, Mali) is a Malian-Ivorian central midfielder developed at ASEC Mimosas, sold by IFK Göteborg to Brighton in 2024, an Austrian champion on loan at Sturm Graz, then loaned to Swansea City.
Mamadou Doumbia (footballer, born 2006)
Mamadou Doumbia (born 2006) is a Malian centre-forward for Watford in the EFL Championship and the Mali national team; U-17 World Cup 2023 bronze medalist and hat-trick scorer versus Uzbekistan, distinct from the 2002, 2004, and 1995-born players of the same name.
Mamadou Thierno Barry
Mamadou Thierno Barry, born 2005, Senegalese centre-back; Mawade Wade academy, Tromsø IL, Union Saint-Gilloise (€2.6m, 2025), loaned to Al Shabab 2026. Distinct from Everton striker Thierno Mamadou Barry.
Mame Biram Diouf
Mame Biram Diouf, Senegalese striker born 1987 in Dakar; played for Molde, Manchester United, Hannover 96, Stoke City, and now Ankara Keçiörengücü; 2018 World Cup squad member with 47 Senegal caps per National Football Teams.
Manasse Kianga
Manasse Kianga (born 2002, Johannesburg per club profile) is a South African-born forward for ŠK Slovan Bratislava, promoted from Rossington Main and Lokomotíva Košice, who scored in Champions League qualifying against Mjällby AIF.
Manu Duah
Manu Duah (Kojo Manu Duah, born 2005) is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays as a center-back for San Diego FC, selected first overall in the 2025 MLS SuperDraft.
Marc-Vivien Foé
Marc-Vivien Foé (1975-2003), Cameroonian midfielder for Lens, West Ham, Lyon, and Manchester City; won AFCON 2000 and 2002; died of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in the 2003 Confederations Cup semi-final.
Mario Lemina
Mario René Junior Lemina, Gabonese defensive midfielder born 1993 in Libreville; ex-Juventus (2017 Champions League final), Southampton, Wolves; Galatasaray since 2025, contract to 2028.
Maroan Sannadi
Maroan Sannadi (Maroan Sannadi Harrouch), Moroccan centre-forward born 2001 in Vitoria-Gasteiz; Athletic Club number 21 since a ~€4m February 2025 signing from Deportivo Alavés after 11 goals in 20 Barakaldo loan games; chose Morocco over Spain.
Marouane Chamakh
Marouane Chamakh, Moroccan striker born 1984 in Tonneins, France; Bordeaux and Arsenal forward, 65 Morocco caps, first player to score in six consecutive Champions League matches, retired 2019.
Marvelous Nakamba
Marvelous Nakamba, Zimbabwean midfielder born 1994 in Hwange; played for Vitesse, Club Brugge, Aston Villa, Luton Town; 41 caps for Zimbabwe, three AFCON tournaments.
Mathias Pogba
Mathias Pogba, also known as Mathias Fassou Pogba, is a French-Guinean former footballer who played as a forward, won five caps for Guinea, and was convicted in 2024 of attempting to extort his brother Paul Pogba.
Max Gradel
Max-Alain Gradel, born 1987 in Abidjan, Ivorian left winger; Leicester, Leeds, Saint-Etienne, Bournemouth, Toulouse, Turkish clubs; 113 Ivory Coast caps, 18 goals; AFCON winner 2015 and 2023.
Maxwel Cornet
Maxwel Cornet (Gnaly Albert Maxwel Cornet), Ivorian forward born 1996 in Bregbo; ex-Metz, Lyon, Burnley; West Ham United player since 2022, Conference League winner 2023, Ivory Coast international.
Mbekezeli Mbokazi
Mbekezeli Mbokazi (born 2005, Hluhluwe) is a South African left-footed centre-back for Chicago Fire FC and Bafana Bafana, an Orlando Pirates graduate, 2026 MLS All-Star, and 2026 World Cup knockout-stage participant.
Mbwana Samatta
Mbwana Ally Samatta, Tanzanian striker and Taifa Stars captain born 1992 in Dar es Salaam; TP Mazembe, Genk's 2019 Belgian champion, first Tanzanian in the Premier League and Champions League, now at Le Havre.
Medhi Benatia
Medhi Benatia (Mehdi Amine El-Mouttaqi Benatia, born 1987) is a Moroccan former defender, ex-captain of Morocco, who played for Udinese, Roma, Bayern Munich, and Juventus, then was Olympique de Marseille director of football from January 2025 to May 2026.
Mfundo Vilakazi
Mfundo Vilakazi (born 2005), nicknamed Obrigado, is a South African attacking midfielder and right winger for Kaizer Chiefs, number 28, an academy graduate under contract to June 2028 with 5 international caps.
Michael Essien
Michael Essien, Ghanaian midfielder born 1982 in Accra, 'The Bison': Lyon and Chelsea star, £24.4m 2005 transfer, 2012 Champions League winner, 59 Ghana caps, later coach at FC Nordsjælland.
Michael Olunga
Michael Olunga Ogada (born 1994, Nairobi) is a Kenyan striker for Al-Arabi and captain of Harambee Stars; 2020 J1 League MVP and top scorer, first Kenyan to score in La Liga.
Mido (أحمد حسام حسين عبد الحميد وصفي) (footballer)
Mido, full name Ahmed Hossam Hussein Abdelhamid (أحمد حسام حسين عبد الحميد), is an Egyptian football manager and former centre forward born in Cairo in 1983.
Mikel John Obi
Mikel John Obi (John Michael Nchekwube Obinna), Nigerian defensive midfielder born 1987; 372 Chelsea games, 2012 Champions League winner, 2013 AFCON winner; 2006 transfer saga from Lyn Oslo contested by Manchester United; retired 2022.
Mobi Oparaku
Mobi Oparaku (Mobi Patrick Oparaku), born 1976 in Owerri, Nigeria, is a former right-back who won men's football gold at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, played at the 1998 World Cup, and won the 1993 U-17 World Cup.
Mohamed Aboutrika (محمد محمد محمد أبوتريكة)
Mohamed Aboutrika (محمد محمد محمد أبوتريكة), born 1978, Egyptian attacking midfielder for Tersana and Al Ahly; 100 caps, 38 goals for Egypt, AFCON 2006 and 2008 winner, five CAF Champions League titles, BBC African Footballer of the Year 2008.
Mohamed El Shenawy (محمد السيد محمد الشناوي جمعة)
Mohamed El Shenawy (محمد السيد محمد الشناوي جمعة), born 1988, is an Egyptian goalkeeper who captains Al Ahly SC and keeps goal for Egypt, Man of the Match on his 2018 World Cup debut against Uruguay and bound for a second World Cup in 2026.
Mohamed Elneny
Mohamed Naser Elsayed Elneny (محمد ناصر السيد النني), born 1992, Egyptian defensive midfielder; Basel 2013-16, Arsenal 2016-24, Beşiktaş loan, Al Jazira 2024-26; Egypt international, 2018 World Cup squad.