5 most successful footballers from nations currently ranked outside the top 50

'Success' may look like a tiny word, but it is undoubtedly one of the most challenging things to achieve. To become a successful person, one can't just rely on talent, but proper guidance and work are similarly essential.

And when it comes to football, a country's infrastructure also plays a significant role in making a footballer successful. As European countries have most of the best football academies, the production of skilled players from the region has been impressive over the last few decades or so.

If we take a look at FIFA's current World Rankings, we find that the first part of the table is dominated mainly by the countries from Europe and South America. On the second page of the World Ranking, we see the majority of teams from Asia and Africa.

In today's piece, we are going to take a look at those five successful footballers whose nations are currently outside the top 50. So, without any further ado, let us jump right into it.

#5 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon, presently ranked 83rd)

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for Arsenal FC

While watching the Gabon national football team in friendlies or any other tournaments is not something that everyone does, one may be aware of the name of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for his contributions in club colours. The Gabonese striker currently plays for Arsenal and is one of the main reasons behind whatever success the club has had in recent times.

After racking up 98 goals in 144 appearances for Borussia Dortmund, the winner of 2016-17 German Bundesliga's golden boot joined Arsenal in 2018 for a then-club-record fee of £56 million.

Since joining the North Londoners, Aubameyang has become an integral part of Arsenal's attack. The 30-year-old has registered 47 goals from 73 games across all competitions so far for The Gunners.

In the 2018-2019 campaign, having scored 22 goals in the Premier League, Aubameyang shared the golden boot with the likes of Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah.

Although the Bundesliga player of the 2015-16 season has not received any individual prize for representing the Gabon national team yet, Aubameyang's extraordinary performances in the different parts of Europe surely make the people of Gabon proud.

#4 Yaya Toure ( Côte d'Ivoire, currently ranked 61st)

Yaya Toure was at his best for Manchester City

Yaya Toure - one of the brightest names in the history of African football - is a defensive midfielder who currently plays for Chinese Super League side Qingdao Huanghai.

It was his valuable contributions for the likes of Barcelona and Manchester City what saw him touch the summit of his game.

After failing to secure a place in Pep Guardiola's starting eleven, Toure left Barcelona to join Manchester City in 2010. Toure's game took a step up since he made a move to the Mancunian club. During his extended eight-year stay at Manchester, Toure managed to bag 59 goals from 230 appearances.

A man with three Premier League and two La Liga titles decided to leave England after falling out of favour following the appointment of Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.

With Ivory Coast, Toure's only trophy was Africa Cup of Nations in 2015. He became the African Footballer of the Year (2011-2014) four times on the trot. Yaya Toure was an unforgettable gem in Ivorian football's golden era.

#3 Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon, currently ranked 53rd)

The retired Cameroonian was regarded as one of the world's best strikers. Not only did Eto'o score many goals for both his clubs and countries, but he helped his sides secure a plethora of trophies throughout his long-lasting football career.

On this list, Eto'o is the only player who played both for Barcelona and Real Madrid; however, football devotees appreciate the work done during his impressive 5-year spell at the Catalan club. From 144 appearances, Eto'o scored 108 goals for Barcelona.

After winning the treble in the 2008-09 season with the Catalonian giants, the poster boy of Cameroon decided to leave the club. After that, he joined Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan. In the 2009-10 campaign, he won another treble, but this time the name of his side was Inter Milan.

Eto'o is a two-time winner (2000 and 2002) of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) and one-time winner of the Olympic Gold Medal with the Cameroon national side.

Not only does Eto'o hold the record of scoring the highest number of goals in AFCON, but he is also the all-time top goalscorer for Cameroon. The hard-working, fast, and robust center-forward announced his retirement from international competition in 2014.

While some believe Eto'o could have achieved better things when he was at his prime, the things that Eto'o has earned throughout his illustrious career gives us a perfect image of his lethal traits.

#2 Mohamed Salah (Egypt, currently ranked 51st)

Mohamed Salah - already a legend in Egypt

From being rejected by Chelsea to leading Liverpool to Champions League glory in 2019, the career of Mohamed Salah has not been anything short of a roller-coaster ride. After enduring several successful years in the Italian Serie A, Salah joined Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool FC in 2017 for a reported transfer fee of £34 million.

In his first season at Anfield, Salah went on to score 32 goals and won the Premier League golden boot for the first time in his career, and most certainly not the last.

In the next campaign, after bagging 22 goals in England's top tier, Salah shared the respective boot with his Reds teammate Sadio Mane and another fellow African Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who also had the same number of goals to their names.

Although he has failed to win anything for Egypt yet, we can't ignore his brilliant contribution to his clubs. He won the African Footballer of the Year award twice in 2017 and 2018.

If Salah continues to perform as he has done so far, we might see him winning something for his national team one day.

#1 Didier Drogba ( Côte d'Ivoire, currently ranked 61st)

Just like Yaya Toure, the emergence of Didier Drogba was instrumental to the golden age of Ivorian football. The Ivorian retired professional first came under the spotlight during his days at Chelsea.

The 41-year-old was once a lethal striker who frightened several reputed defenders during his glittering days at Chelsea Football Club. For the Premier League side, he not only recorded 104 goals but also became 4th in Chelsea's all-time top goal-scorers' list.

Despite winning four Premier League, one UEFA Champions League, and four FA Cup titles, the goal-poacher was unable to steer the ‘Golden Generation’ of Côte d'Ivoire towards any international trophies. However, he did receive many individuals awards from the region.

Drogba won the African Footballer of the Year twice in 2006 and 2009 and got featured in Africa Cup of Nations Team of the Tournament in 2006, 2008, and 2012 respectively.

While it is true that Chelsea remain one of the greatest clubs in Europe without Didier Drogba, it would not be too harsh to say that the Blues have not found a suitable replacement for Didier Dogba yet.

Edited by Habil Ahmed Sherule