SOCCER PLAYERS from Burkina Faso

Top 10

The following people are considered by Pantheon to be the top 10 most legendary Burkinabe Soccer Players of all time. This list of famous Burkinabe Soccer Players is sorted by HPI (Historical Popularity Index), a metric that aggregates information on a biography’s online popularity. Visit the rankings page to view the entire list of Burkinabe Soccer Players.

1. Wilfried Sanou (b. 1984)

With an HPI of 40.39, Wilfried Sanou is the most famous Burkinabe Soccer Player.  His biography has been translated into 44 different languages on wikipedia.

Wilfried Sanou (born 16 March 1984) is a Burkinabé former professional footballer who played as a winger or striker. He started his career with Planète Champion in his home country before moving to Austria where he played for Wattens and Tirol Innsbruck. Following a stint at Swiss club Sion he spent many years in Germany's Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga with SC Freiburg and 1. FC Köln. He ended his career in Japan with Urawa Red Diamonds and Kyoto Sanga FC. At international level, Sanou represented the Burkina Faso national team scoring four goals in 25 matches.

2. Bertrand Traoré (b. 1995)

With an HPI of 39.61, Bertrand Traoré is the 2nd most famous Burkinabe Soccer Player.  His biography has been translated into 38 different languages.

Bertrand Isidore Traoré (born 6 September 1995) is a Burkinabé professional footballer who plays as a forward or a right winger for Eredivisie club Ajax and captains the Burkina Faso national team. After beginning his career at Auxerre, Traoré finished his development at Chelsea, and made his debut in a one-and-a-half-year loan at Vitesse in the Eredivisie. After a season in the Premier League with Chelsea, he was loaned back to the Netherlands to play for Ajax in 2016, and a year later signed for Lyon for €10 million. He then played for İstanbul Başakşehir on loan until 2023. A full international from the age of 15, Traoré represented Burkina Faso at five Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.

3. Moumouni Dagano (b. 1981)

With an HPI of 39.35, Moumouni Dagano is the 3rd most famous Burkinabe Soccer Player.  His biography has been translated into 20 different languages.

Beli Moumouni Dagano (born 1 January 1981) is a Burkinabé former professional footballer who played as a forward. He is the Burkina Faso national team's all-time leading goalscorer.

4. Jonathan Pitroipa (b. 1986)

With an HPI of 37.96, Jonathan Pitroipa is the 4th most famous Burkinabe Soccer Player.  His biography has been translated into 31 different languages.

Beninwende Yann Jonathan Pitroipa (born 12 April 1986) is a Burkinabé former professional footballer who played as a winger. Since making his debut for Burkina Faso in 2006, he has featured at the 2010, 2012 and 2013 editions of the African Cup of Nations, scoring two goals in the 2013 tournament as Burkina Faso reached the final. He was also chosen the Player of the Tournament.

5. Charles Kaboré (b. 1988)

With an HPI of 36.91, Charles Kaboré is the 5th most famous Burkinabe Soccer Player.  His biography has been translated into 29 different languages.

Charles Kaboré (born 9 February 1988) is a Burkinabé professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder. A Burkina Faso international from 2006 to 2021, he is the country's most capped player.

6. Bakary Koné (b. 1988)

With an HPI of 36.02, Bakary Koné is the 6th most famous Burkinabe Soccer Player.  His biography has been translated into 33 different languages.

Bakary Koné (French pronunciation: [bakaʁi kɔne], born 27 April 1988) is a Burkinabé former professional footballer who played as a centre-back.

7. Alain Traoré (b. 1988)

With an HPI of 35.85, Alain Traoré is the 7th most famous Burkinabe Soccer Player.  His biography has been translated into 25 different languages.

Sibiri Alain Traoré (born 31 December 1988) is a Burkinabé professional footballer who plays as a striker for Arta/Solar7, and the Burkina Faso national team. He started his career with local side Planète Champion, before moving to France as a 17-year-old.

8. Edmond Tapsoba (b. 1999)

With an HPI of 34.55, Edmond Tapsoba is the 8th most famous Burkinabe Soccer Player.  His biography has been translated into 30 different languages.

Edmond Fayçal Tapsoba (born 2 February 1999) is a Burkinabé professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen and the Burkina Faso national team.

9. Alban Lafont (b. 1999)

With an HPI of 34.32, Alban Lafont is the 9th most famous Burkinabe Soccer Player.  His biography has been translated into 27 different languages.

Alban Marc Lafont (born 23 January 1999) is a professional footballer who plays as goalkeeper for Ligue 1 club Nantes. Born in Burkina Faso, he represents France at international level. Having progressed through the academy of AS Lattoise, Lafont signed for Toulouse in 2014 where he became the youngest goalkeeper ever to play in Ligue 1 upon making his debut the following year. He went on to make over 100 appearances for the club across all competitions before joining Fiorentina in 2018. In 2019, he returned to France in a loan deal to Nantes; the deal was made permanent in 2021. Lafont has also represented France at various youth levels, and featured for the nation at the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

10. Préjuce Nakoulma (b. 1987)

With an HPI of 32.62, Préjuce Nakoulma is the 10th most famous Burkinabe Soccer Player.  Her biography has been translated into 16 different languages.

Niguimbe Préjuce Nakoulma (born 21 April 1987) is a Burkinabé former professional footballer who played as a striker.