Richest Footballers in Zambia: Top 5 (2025)
Football has been one of the most popular sports in Zambia for many years. People from all over the world have come to know that Zambians are great at playing this sport and some of them have gone on to become legends in footballing history. In recent times, however, there has been a lot of interest about which Zambian footballer is the richest. We set out to find out and here are our top 10 richest Zambian footballers this year!
In this article, we will look at the richest footballers in Zambia. Just like in Nigeria where the craze for football is on the high side, the same happens in Zambia. Football, or Soccer, also known as Association Football is one really important sport that the Zambians love. There are many Zambian players who have created a name for themselves in the world of soccer and some even became legends.
Since football is a rich sport, we thought to bring you the very richest in Zambia. Do read along.
RICHEST FOOTBALLERS IN ZAMBIA CURRENTLY: TOP 5
1. CHRISTOPHER KATONGO
Christopher Katongo plays as a forward for Green Buffaloes, a Zambian premier league side. He is at the moment, the highest paid footballer in Zambia and he is reported to earn an estimated $458,000 annually.
In 2012, he won the BBC African Footballer of the Year award. He achieved this feat by leading the squad that pushed Zambia to AFCON glory against Cote d’Ivoire in 2012.
2. ISAAC CHANSA
Isaac Chansa was born in Kitwe, Zambia in 1984. He currently plays for the football club known as Zakho.
Isaac Chansa oined Zakho at the end of his two-year spell at Zanaco (from 2015-2017). Isaac Chansa spent two spells as a Zanaco player. His first spell lasted from 2013 to 2014 and for a second time, he returned to the football club in 2015 but eventually left it for Zakho in 2017.
He is reportedly estimated at $360,000 annually.
3. EMMANUEL MAYUKA
Emmanuel Marchuka is a young talented Zambian footballer who is not only one of the country’s professional athletes but also the third richest Zambian footballer. At the moment, Emmanuel Marchuka plays for an Egyptian side known as Zamalek.
His move to the Egyptian side was finalized after signing a 3-year deal and prior to this move, Marchuka played for Southampton (in the English Premier League) as well as FC Metz (in the French league). Emmanuel Marchuka is one of the spectacular Zambian footballers who play as strikers and his yearly earnings are estimated at $300,000.
4. STOPPILA SUNZU
Stoppila Sunzu, also known as Stophira Sunzu, is a professional footballer who has represented Zambia at various levels. In 2007, he played for Zambia at the U-20 World Cup. Also, Sunzu has played in several Zambian teams. He is best known for his excellent performance at the 2012 AFCON tournament during which he scored the winning penalty for Zambia against Cote d’Ivoire. His yearly earnings are estimated to stand at $270,000.
5. RAINFORD KALABA
Rainford Kalaba was born in the Zambian region of Kitwe in 1986. As a well-known Zambian footballer, Rainford Kalaba has played for a number of clubs. In 2008, the Zambian professional joined Braga after signing a contract expected to keep him at the club for five years.
Rainford Kalaba, alongside two other teammates (in the names of Stoppila Sunzu and Nathan Sinkala), was brought under an arrest warrant issued by the Zambian government in 2013. Meanwhile, this arrest warrant resulted from a dispute that occurred between the three players and TP Mazembe –their Zambian club. Later on, the immigration authorities of Zambia seized the passports of the three players but eventually, the government of Zambia pardoned them.
Rainford Kalaba is one of Zambia’s young talents who has represented the country at various levels including international and continental football games. Rainford Kalaba is greatly admired not only as a professional young footballer but also a remarkable athlete whose athletic influence has added much importance to the Zambian national squad. At the moment, Rainford Kalaba plays for TP Mazembe –one of the club sides in the Congolese football league. As regards his annual earnings, Rainford Kalaba takes home the beautiful sum of $240,000.
