Champions and icons from Africa
Claudio Gentile (Libya), Patrick Vieira (Senegal), Marcel Desailly (Ghana) Steve Mandanda (Congo DR), and Samuel Umtiti (Cameroon). So, too, were two Golden Boot winners in Just Fontaine (French Morocco, now part of Morocco) and Eusebio (Mozambique).
Other notable World Cup players who were born on the continent include: Mario Coluna (Mozambique), Jean Tigana (French Sudan, now part of Mali), Mbo Mpenza (Zaire, now Congo DR), Claude Makelele (Zaire, now Congo DR), Emmanuel Olisadebe (Nigeria), Abel Xavier (Mozambique), Patrice Evra (Senegal), Gelson Fernandes
(Cabo Verde), Danilo (Guinea-Bissau) and Breel Embolo (Cameroon). Five World Cup winners were born in Africa: