Photo: East Ham Bull · CC BY 2.0 · source
South Africa · 1998–2004Benni McCarthy
Rating
88
Caps
79
Goals
31
Life
1977
Clubs
Cape Town Spurs, RC Celta de Vigo, Blackburn Rovers
#1
Editorial rank of 33 for South Africa
–
The people's rank, live from duel votes
Bobo-Dioulasso, 16 February 1998: McCarthy scored in the 8th, 11th, 19th and 21st minutes against Namibia, four goals before the half hour at the Africa Cup of Nations. He left Burkina Faso as top scorer and player of the tournament, then became the only South African to win the Champions League, with Porto in 2004, adding two Portuguese titles, the 2003/04 Golden Boot, an Eredivisie title at Ajax and a national record of 31 goals. Career record: 79 caps and 31 goals for South Africa; club career at Cape Town Spurs, RC Celta de Vigo, Blackburn Rovers.
Career record
| 1994–1996 | Cape Town Spurs |
| 1995–1997 | Seven Stars |
| 1996–1997 | Cape Town Spurs |
| 1997–1999 | AFC Ajax |
| 1999–2003 | RC Celta de Vigo |
| 2002–2006 | FC Porto |
| 2006–2010 | Blackburn Rovers |
| 2010–2011 | West Ham United |
| 2011–2013 | Orlando Pirates |
| South Africa | 79 caps, 31 goals |
Shared the era
South Africa legends whose careers overlapped McCarthy's