Ranti Martins: The forgotten Nigerian who rejected Ghana joins Salah, Eto’o among Africa’s top goal scorers

Ranti Martins Soleye may not be a household name in global football, but the retired Nigerian striker has etched his name among Africa’s most prolific goal-scorers of the 21st century, Soccernet.ng reports.

According to the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS), Martins is one of only seven African players to have scored at least 200 goals in top-flight football between January 1, 2001, and December 31, 2024.

This exclusive list includes African legends such as Samuel Eto’o, Mohamed Salah, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Martins, who spent most of his professional career in India, ranks sixth on the list with 218 goals. Despite never receiving a call-up to Nigeria’s national team, his achievements at club level place him among the continent’s finest finishers of the modern era.

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Africa’s goal scoring charts: Eto’o tops, Ranti Martins shines

The IFFHS report ranks former Cameroon captain Samuel Eto’o as Africa’s highest-scoring player in top-flight leagues since the turn of the century.

The four-time African Player of the Year netted 282 goals during this period, adding to the eight he scored in the 20th century to reach a total of 290.

Moroccan forward Abderrazak Hamdallah follows closely with 243 goals, while Gabonese striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang sits third with 242.

Liverpool star Mohamed Salah is fourth with 229 goals, and Morocco’s Youssef El-Arabi, who turned professional in 2011, is in fifth place with 223. Algeria’s Baghdad Bounedjah became the latest entrant into the 200-goal club in 2024.

Despite competing in a league far from the European spotlight, Martins’ numbers prove his status as a lethal goal-scorer.

Ranti Martins: A prolific career in India

Born on September 5, 1986, Martins began his football journey in Lagos, Nigeria, before moving to Ghana, where he played for the Asante Kotoko Academy and King Faisal Babes.

In 2004, he took an unconventional path by joining Dempo SC in India’s National Football League, marking the start of an extraordinary career in the subcontinent.

Martins quickly established himself as a dominant force in Indian football. He won the league title in his debut season and became the I-League’s top scorer multiple times.

His most remarkable campaign came in 2011–12 when he scored 32 league goals for Dempo, setting a single-season record in India’s top division.

Over 12 years in Indian football, Martins found the net 214 times, making him the highest goal-scorer in the league’s history. He also excelled in continental competitions, scoring 22 goals in the AFC Cup for various Indian clubs.

Ranti Martins: The Super Eagles call-up that never came

Despite his remarkable scoring record, Martins never earned a call-up to the Nigerian national team.

He once revealed that he had an opportunity to represent Nigeria’s U-20 side but missed out due to club commitments.

Martins also reportedly rejected the chance to play for Ghana while holding out for a Super Eagles invitation that never materialized.

He expressed frustration over the perception that playing in India was a disadvantage for national team selection.

“I know that many people will say, ‘What is in the Indian league?’ But I want to say here that the league in India is very strong. It is stronger than what we have in Nigeria because it is improving every season,” Martins once said in an interview with the Guardian. 

After his time in India, Martins had brief stints with Penang FA in Malaysia and SGFC Eagles in the United States before retiring.

Though he never played in Europe’s top leagues, his goalscoring legacy remains intact, particularly in Indian football, where he is widely regarded as one of the greatest foreign players to grace the league.

Martins may not have had the international career he hoped for, but his place in African football history is now secured alongside the continent’s finest goal-scorers.