Yaya Touré’s All-Time XI Sparks Controversy Over Omission of Drogba and Man City Stars
Manchester City and Côte d’Ivoire midfielder Yaya Touré has stirred debate after revealing his personal top five footballers of all time — a list that surprised fans both in England and Africa.
Touré’s selections included Lionel Messi and fellow African legend Samuel Eto’o in attack, with Carles Puyol and Rafael Márquez forming the defensive pairing, and Jean-Jacques Tizié, the former Ivorian international, between the posts.
The list raised eyebrows immediately, particularly among Manchester City fans who were quick to point out the absence of club icons such as Sergio Agüero and David Silva, with whom Touré shared much of the club’s recent success. Some supporters expressed disbelief on social media, questioning how none of his highly decorated teammates made the cut.
The backlash wasn’t limited to England. On the set of Talents d’Afrique, former Olympique de Marseille president Pape Diouf expressed his disapproval, particularly over the exclusion of Didier Drogba.
“What bothers me a little is the absence of a guy like Didier Drogba from this list,” Diouf remarked. “It’s a situation that reinforces the animosity that is always mentioned between these two great Ivorian players.”
Long-standing rumors of tension between Touré and Drogba have been reignited by the midfielder’s omission of his former national teammate, despite Drogba’s iconic status in African football.
Touré, who won numerous trophies with Barcelona and Manchester City, has not responded publicly to the criticism. Still, the list has sparked passionate discussions among football fans and pundits about personal biases, legacy, and recognition within the game.
