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Côte d’Ivoire
A team across generations. Build your eleven, then explore the careers.
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A team across generations
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The 330 on the pitch
The duels
Pick the greater legend. Every vote moves the people's ranking of Côte d’Ivoire.
VS
The 33 of Côte d’Ivoire.
Editorial order, with a career scene and sources behind every name.
03
Kolo Touré 120 caps (Ivory Coast) · Arsenal, Manchester CityHis 2002 Arsenal trial is remembered for a two-footed tackle on Arsène Wenger, who signed him anyway and later called it enthusiasm.
CB2000–2015
Kolo Touré 120 caps (Ivory Coast) · Arsenal, Manchester CityHis 2002 Arsenal trial is remembered for a two-footed tackle on Arsène Wenger, who signed him anyway and later called it enthusiasm.
CB2000–2015
04
G
Gervinho 88 caps (Ivory Coast) · 23 goals · Lille OSC, AS RomaFour minutes into stoppage time against Algeria on 1 February 2015, he took Junior Tallo's pass and finished for 3-1, and three days later he scored again as Côte d'Ivoire beat DR Congo to reach the final.
LM2007–2021
05
Salomon Kalou 93 caps (Ivory Coast) · 27 goals · Feyenoord Rotterdam, ChelseaHertha Berlin supporters still bring up 4 November 2016, when he scored all three in a 3-0 win over Borussia Mönchengladbach, two of them from Mitchell Weiser crosses.
RM2007–2017
Salomon Kalou 93 caps (Ivory Coast) · 27 goals · Feyenoord Rotterdam, ChelseaHertha Berlin supporters still bring up 4 November 2016, when he scored all three in a 3-0 win over Borussia Mönchengladbach, two of them from Mitchell Weiser crosses.
RM2007–2017
07
Franck Kessié 105 (as of 4 October 2026) caps (Ivory Coast) · 15 (as of 4 October 2026) goals · AC Cesena, AC MilanWith Nigeria ahead in the 2023 final in Abidjan, Kessié met Adingra's corner unmarked at the back post in the 62nd minute and headed the equaliser, and Sébastien Haller won it later.
CM2014–
Franck Kessié 105 (as of 4 October 2026) caps (Ivory Coast) · 15 (as of 4 October 2026) goals · AC Cesena, AC MilanWith Nigeria ahead in the 2023 final in Abidjan, Kessié met Adingra's corner unmarked at the back post in the 62nd minute and headed the equaliser, and Sébastien Haller won it later.
CM2014–
08
AT
Abdoulaye Traoré Ben Badi 90 caps (Ivory Coast) · 49 goals · FC Metz, FC SèteFourteen minutes into Côte d'Ivoire's opening match of the 1992 Nations Cup, in Ziguinchor against Algeria, Ben Badi put away the goal that started a run to the country's first continental title. That title was settled 11-10 on penalties against Ghana, and with ASEC Mimosas he won six Ivorian championships in a row from 1990 to 1995, two national cups, and the league scoring prize in 1992 and 1994.
CAM1984–1996
09
SA
Serge Aurier 60 (as of 4 October 2026) caps (Ivory Coast) · R.C. Lens, ToulouseCôte d'Ivoire had used all five substitutes when their goalkeeper went down in the last seconds against Sierra Leone on 16 January 2022, so Aurier pulled on the gloves and finished the game between the posts.
RB2013–
12
Boubacar Barry 84 caps (Ivory Coast) · ASEC Mimosas, Stade RennaisCramp had Barry limping through the shootout in Bata on 8 February 2015, and after saving Razak Braimah's kick he walked up himself and scored the penalty that made Côte d'Ivoire champions again.
GK2000–2015
Boubacar Barry 84 caps (Ivory Coast) · ASEC Mimosas, Stade RennaisCramp had Barry limping through the shootout in Bata on 8 February 2015, and after saving Razak Braimah's kick he walked up himself and scored the penalty that made Côte d'Ivoire champions again.
GK2000–2015
14
Wilfried Bony 56 caps (Ivory Coast) · 16 goals · AC Sparta Prague, SBV VitesseNo one scored more Premier League goals in the calendar year 2014 than Bony's 20 for Swansea, a tally that pushed Manchester City into paying £28m for him the following January.
ST2010–2019
Wilfried Bony 56 caps (Ivory Coast) · 16 goals · AC Sparta Prague, SBV VitesseNo one scored more Premier League goals in the calendar year 2014 than Bony's 20 for Swansea, a tally that pushed Manchester City into paying £28m for him the following January.
ST2010–2019
15
AG
Alain Gouaméné 58 caps (Ivory Coast) · Africa Sports d'Abidjan, Olympique LyonnaisDakar, 26 January 1992: the Nations Cup final with Ghana became the first major final in which every player on the pitch took a penalty, and Gouaméné faced eleven kicks before Côte d'Ivoire won it 11-10. That night gave Côte d'Ivoire their first Africa Cup of Nations and put him in the team of the tournament in goal, and his 24 matches across seven Nations Cups remain a record for a keeper.
GK1987–2000
16
Bakari Koné 41 caps (Ivory Coast) · 9 goals · F.C. Lorient, OGC NiceIvory Coast were a goal down to Cameroon in the 2006 Nations Cup quarter-final when Koné levelled it, and the shootout that followed ran to 12-11 before the Elephants went through.
SS2004–2010
Bakari Koné 41 caps (Ivory Coast) · 9 goals · F.C. Lorient, OGC NiceIvory Coast were a goal down to Cameroon in the 2006 Nations Cup quarter-final when Koné levelled it, and the shootout that followed ran to 12-11 before the Elephants went through.
SS2004–2010
17
CT
Cheick Tioté R.S.C. Anderlecht, Roda JC KerkradeSt James' Park had watched Arsenal go 4-0 up inside half an hour on 5 February 2011 when Tioté met a cleared corner on the volley from 25 yards, the 87th-minute goal that made Newcastle the first side in Premier League history to recover from four down.
CDM
Career sources
Identity and career · Wikidata Q310668
19
Eric Bailly 50 (as of 4 October 2026) caps (Ivory Coast) · Villarreal CF, Manchester UnitedThe Nations Cup came first, all six matches at twenty as Ivory Coast beat Ghana on penalties in 2015; then the Europa League and League Cup double of 2017, the Community Shield, and three straight CAF Teams of the Year.
CB2015–
Eric Bailly 50 (as of 4 October 2026) caps (Ivory Coast) · Villarreal CF, Manchester UnitedThe Nations Cup came first, all six matches at twenty as Ivory Coast beat Ghana on penalties in 2015; then the Europa League and League Cup double of 2017, the Community Shield, and three straight CAF Teams of the Year.
CB2015–
20
Jean Michaël Seri Africa Sports d'Abidjan, ASEC MimosasAt Nice in 2016-17 he attempted 2,733 passes, more than any teammate, and completed ninety percent of them; by that summer Barcelona had agreed terms and were ready to meet his 40 million euro release clause.
CM2015–
Jean Michaël Seri Africa Sports d'Abidjan, ASEC MimosasAt Nice in 2016-17 he attempted 2,733 passes, more than any teammate, and completed ninety percent of them; by that summer Barcelona had agreed terms and were ready to meet his 40 million euro release clause.
CM2015–
21
JT
Joël Tiéhi 50 caps (Ivory Coast) · 28 goals · Le Havre AC, R.C. LensIn Dakar on 26 January 1992 he was the only Ivorian to miss in a shootout of 24 penalties, and his side still beat Ghana 11-10 to win the Cup of Nations.
ST1987–1999
22
Max Gradel AFC Bournemouth, Leicester CityTwo draws had left the quarter-finals in doubt when Gradel struck from distance to beat Cameroon on 28 January 2015, and eleven days later Ivory Coast were champions of Africa.
LM2011–
Max Gradel AFC Bournemouth, Leicester CityTwo draws had left the quarter-finals in doubt when Gradel struck from distance to beat Cameroon on 28 January 2015, and eleven days later Ivory Coast were champions of Africa.
LM2011–
23
NP
Nicolas Pépé 60 (as of 5 October 2026) caps (Ivory Coast) · 14 (as of 5 October 2026) goals · Poitiers, Angers
RM2016–
25
SD
Serey Dié ES Sétif, FC SionThe camera found him during the anthem in Brasília on 19 June 2014, shoulders going, tears down his face before Colombia had even kicked off, and he explained afterwards that it was simply the weight of having got there.
CDM2013–
27
Abdoulaye Méïté 44 caps (Ivory Coast) · Olympique de Marseille, Bolton WanderersAt 23 he lined up as one of three Marseille centre backs in the UEFA Cup final at Ullevi on 19 May 2004, held Valencia until a penalty in first-half stoppage time, and lost 2-0.
CB2003–2010
Abdoulaye Méïté 44 caps (Ivory Coast) · Olympique de Marseille, Bolton WanderersAt 23 he lined up as one of three Marseille centre backs in the UEFA Cup final at Ullevi on 19 May 2004, held Valencia until a penalty in first-half stoppage time, and lost 2-0.
CB2003–2010
28
Gilles Yapi Yapo 46 caps (Ivory Coast) · 10 goals · K.S.K. Beveren, FC NantesSandro Wieser's knee-high challenge in a league match against Aarau on 9 November 2014 tore Yapi Yapo's cruciate ligament, meniscus and kneecap tendon at once, and at 32 he came back anyway and scored in a 3-3 draw with Thun.
CAM2000–2010
Gilles Yapi Yapo 46 caps (Ivory Coast) · 10 goals · K.S.K. Beveren, FC NantesSandro Wieser's knee-high challenge in a league match against Aarau on 9 November 2014 tore Yapi Yapo's cruciate ligament, meniscus and kneecap tendon at once, and at 32 he came back anyway and scored in a 3-3 draw with Thun.
CAM2000–2010
29
Jean-Jacques Tizié 25 caps (Ivory Coast) · Stade d'Abidjan, Africa Sports d'AbidjanEvery Ivorian international of his generation played in Europe except Tizié, who kept goal in Tunisia and was in the net in Cairo on 4 February 2006 when Ivory Coast beat Cameroon 12-11 on penalties in the quarter-final.
GK1995–2007
Jean-Jacques Tizié 25 caps (Ivory Coast) · Stade d'Abidjan, Africa Sports d'AbidjanEvery Ivorian international of his generation played in Europe except Tizié, who kept goal in Tunisia and was in the net in Cairo on 4 February 2006 when Ivory Coast beat Cameroon 12-11 on penalties in the quarter-final.
GK1995–2007
30
Lacina Traoré 13 (as of 4 October 2026) caps (Ivory Coast) · 4 (as of 4 October 2026) goals · CFR Cluj, FC Anzhi MakhachkalaTwo metres and three centimetres of centre forward, he put four past seventh-tier Saint-Jean Beaulieu on 3 January 2016 and was sent off at half-time all the same, Monaco winning 10-2. A Cup of Nations winner with Ivory Coast in 2015, champion of Romania with CFR Cluj in 2010 and again in 2020, two Romanian cups, two super cups, and 18 goals in 38 games for Kuban Krasnodar.
ST2012–
Lacina Traoré 13 (as of 4 October 2026) caps (Ivory Coast) · 4 (as of 4 October 2026) goals · CFR Cluj, FC Anzhi MakhachkalaTwo metres and three centimetres of centre forward, he put four past seventh-tier Saint-Jean Beaulieu on 3 January 2016 and was sent off at half-time all the same, Monaco winning 10-2. A Cup of Nations winner with Ivory Coast in 2015, champion of Romania with CFR Cluj in 2010 and again in 2020, two Romanian cups, two super cups, and 18 goals in 38 games for Kuban Krasnodar.
ST2012–
31
OK
Odilon Kossounou 35 (as of 4 October 2026) caps (Ivory Coast) · Club Brugge K.V., Bayer 04 LeverkusenA second yellow just before half-time against Mali on 3 February 2024 left Ivory Coast with ten men for the rest of a Nations Cup quarter-final they somehow won 2-1 in the 122nd minute.
CB2020–
32
YF
Yaya Fofana ReimsFofana was nineteen when he came off the bench against Toulouse on 4 February 2024 for his Ligue 1 debut, and seven months later, on his first start, he scored against Marseille a goal L'Équipe called quite simply sublime.
CM
Career sources
Identity and career · Wikidata Q120277996
33
WK
Wilfried Kanon Gloria Bistrița, ASC Corona 2010 BrașovIvory Coast picked him at centre back for the 2015 Cup of Nations final in Bata, and he was still there when the shootout against Ghana reached its 22nd kick, scoring his in a 9-8 win.
CB2015–
About this XI
Didier Drogba tops Côte d’Ivoire's all-time pool, ahead of Yaya Touré and Kolo Touré. The 33 covers 3 goalkeepers, 10 defenders, 14 midfielders and 6 forwards, with sourced senior international careers spanning the 1980s to the 2020s. Pick a formation, drag your eleven onto the pitch, then explore the careers and settle the duels below. Your votes reorder the people's ranking of these 33 in real time.
Who is the greatest Côte d’Ivoire footballer of all time?
The editorial collection starts with Didier Drogba. Its first five careers: Didier Drogba, Yaya Touré, Kolo Touré, Gervinho, Salomon Kalou. The people's ranking on this page moves with every duel vote and can disagree.
How were these 33 Côte d’Ivoire players chosen?
The collection covers every position across Côte d’Ivoire's football history. Honours, international records and career achievements inform the editorial order. Each entry opens a career note and its sources. Fan votes in the duels build a separate ranking.
Where can I read about the careers?
Open a player page from the collection to read the career scene, club record and recorded honours. The source links show where the available records come from.
Can I build and share my own Côte d’Ivoire all-time XI?
Yes. Pick one of 8 formations, place any of the 33 players onto the pitch, and export your lineup as a PNG. There is no account and no sign-up.