As 2024 slowly draws to a close, it’s the perfect moment to celebrate this year’s most handsome African athletes—a group that blends athletic talent with undeniable style and charisma. African sports have long served as a global stage for world-class talent, and this year has been no different, with athletes excelling in their respective fields and leaving their mark both in and out of competition. Beyond their achievements, these men embody confidence, elegance, and contemporary grooming, proving that they’re as captivating off the field as they are when they’re competing.
African athletes shine not just for their skills but for their unique style and flair, which make them icons of inspiration across the continent and beyond. African sports isn’t just a showcasing of world-class talents; it’s also a showing of gentlemen who bring a fresh, stylish perspective to the global arena. Each of these athletes exemplifies more than physical prowess and skill —they carry a distinct sense of self, blending tradition with global fashion trends in ways that resonate with fans everywhere.
This ranking of the most handsome African sports stars of 2024 highlights not only their aesthetic appeal but the diverse personalities and stories. Whether they’re making headlines for impressive achievements or drawing attention with a captivating sense of style, these athletes are redefining the global image of African sports, showing the world a rich mix of talent, charm, and style that extends far beyond their respective fields.
10. Oumar Kane
Known as “Reug Reug,” this Senegalese combat athlete has made his mark in both traditional Senegalese wrestling (Laamb) and mixed martial arts (MMA). His transition to MMA saw him compete in prominent organisations, including ARES Fighting Championship and ONE Championship, where his physicality and wrestling skills stood out. Reug Reug has built a strong record, showcasing his well-rounded abilities in both striking and grappling. With a golden ratio rating of 7.29, he ranks as the 10th most handsome African athlete of 2024.
9. Cheick Sallah Cissé
Ivorian taekwondo athlete Cheick Sallah Cissé claimed the gold medal in the men’s heavyweight event at the 2023 World Taekwondo Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, after defeating Mexico’s Carlos Sansores in a closely contested final. This victory marked his first world title in the heavyweight category, a milestone he had not previously achieved at the World Championships. With a golden ratio rating of 7.33, Cissé secures the ninth spot in our list.
8. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
The former Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund striker, now playing for Saudi Pro League club Al Qadsiah, is the eighth most handsome African athlete. Aubameyang has had a storied career, playing for clubs like Saint-Étienne, Borussia Dortmund, Arsenal, Barcelona, and Chelsea before joining Marseille in 2023. With a golden ratio rating of 7.37, he ranks as the 8th most handsome African athlete of 2024.
7. Kalidou Koulibaly
A respected centre-back playing for Al-Hilal in the Saudi Pro League and the captain of the Senegal national team, Kalidou Koulibaly ranks seventh on our list. He began his professional career with French team Metz in 2010 before moving to Belgian club Genk in 2012, and later joined Napoli, where he won the Supercoppa Italiana and the Coppa Italia in 2020. Koulibaly then moved to Chelsea for a reported £33 million before his recent transfer to the Saudi Pro League. With a golden ratio rating of 7.4, he is one of the most striking African athletes of 2024.
6. Thomas Partey
Ranking sixth, Thomas Partey made his name as a central or defensive midfielder at Atletico Madrid under Diego Simeone before moving to Arsenal in 2020 for €50 million. Despite injury struggles, Partey’s presence on the field remains strong. His golden ratio rating of 7.4 places him high among his African peers, making him one of the most handsome athletes of 2024.
5. Ally Samatta
Tanzanian footballer Ally Samatta, who plays as a striker for PAOK in the Greek Super League and captains the Tanzanian national team, ranks fifth. He began his career at KRC Genk, where he won the Belgian Pro League in 2018-19. Samatta made history in 2020 as the first Tanzanian to play in the Premier League with Aston Villa. With a golden ratio rating of 7.48, he is the fifth most handsome African athlete of the year.
4. Alex Iwobi
Fulham’s Alex Iwobi, also a Nigerian international, takes fourth place on our list with a golden ratio rating of 7.52. Iwobi began his career at Arsenal, where he made 149 appearances and won the FA Cup in 2017. He made his senior international debut for Nigeria in 2015 and has since been part of their squads for the 2018 FIFA World Cup and 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, where Nigeria placed third. Iwobi recently represented Nigeria at the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations.
3. Akani Simbine
South African sprinter Akani Simbine, specialising in the 100 metres, is the third most handsome African athlete, with a golden ratio rating of 7.56. Simbine has become a dominant force in African sprinting, regularly achieving sub-10 second times. He also set a South African national record with a time of 9.82 seconds in 2024, a remarkable achievement that showcases both his athleticism and his appeal.
2. Odion Ighalo
Odion Ighalo, ranked second, has enjoyed a great career both on and off the pitch, and will surely be pleased with this recognition. His golden ratio rating of 7.9 reflects his remarkable appeal. Ighalo started his career with local clubs in Nigeria before moving to European football, first in Norway with Lyn Fotbal, then to Udinese, and loan spells at Granada and Watford. He later joined the Chinese Super League, playing for Changchun Yatai and Shanghai Shenhua, before securing a loan move to Manchester United in 2020.
1. Wilfried Zaha
The number one spot goes to Ivorian international Wilfried Zaha, who has a golden ratio rating of 8.0, making him the most handsome African athlete of 2024. Zaha began his career at Crystal Palace, where he quickly rose through the academy ranks to make his first-team debut in 2010. His performances earned him a high-profile transfer to Manchester United in 2013, but after a brief period, he returned to Palace, where he became the club’s star player. Zaha later moved to Galatasaray and then Lyon, cementing his place as the most striking African athlete of the year.
Methodology
Objective
This project aims to rank African athletes based on their facial aesthetics, using the golden ratio as a benchmark for attractiveness.
By analysing images of athletes across various sports and events, we establish rankings that highlight facial attractiveness among top performers in the athletic world.
Data Collection
We selected three high-quality images of each athlete.
These images were sourced from official sports archives, media websites, and verified athlete profiles to ensure relevance and clarity.
Data Transformation
To maintain consistency, we filtered out images with low resolution or unclear facial features. This cleansing process was conducted using machine learning models to ensure that only high-quality images were used for analysis. The process applied equally across athletes in different sports to maintain fairness in the study.
Machine Learning Analysis
The core of our project utilises machine learning techniques to evaluate the facial aesthetics of these athletes, relying on the golden ratio as a classical measure of beauty.
Using OpenCV and MTCNN for image processing, we analysed each face through the following steps:
Proportion Analysis: Measuring facial length and width to assess the ideal golden ratio (~1.6), which reflects balanced facial proportions.
Symmetry Evaluation: Dividing the face into three segments (forehead hairline to the eyes, eyes to the nose tip, and nose tip to the chin) to measure symmetry, a key factor in facial attractiveness.
Our OpenCV Neural Network model, customised for precise face detection, enabled accurate segmentation and advanced facial analysis across the dataset.
Data Analysis
After completing the machine learning analysis, we calculated the average golden ratio for each athlete.
These metrics allowed us to rank the athletes based on their facial aesthetics, providing unique insights into the intersection of beauty and performance in African sports.
This project highlights a novel perspective on African athletes, celebrating not only their achievements but also their aesthetic appeal.