THROWBACK: The greatness of Bafana legend Benni McCarthy

Benni McCarthy is the greatest Bafana star ever. Let’s recall why the ex-Orlando Pirates and Porto goal machine was so special.

Notable achievements as a player

• Benedict Saul “Benni” McCarthy was born in Cape Town and grew up in Hanover Park.
• Benni McCarthy is the first and only South African winner of the UEFA Champions League.
• On top of that, he also won domestic league titles in Portugal, the Netherlands and South Africa.
• McCarthy is Bafana Bafana’s all-time leading scorer with 31 strikes for the national team in 80 caps.
• Benni made his debut for South Africa in 1997 as a teenager under legendary manager Clive Barker.
• His playing career in Europe took him to Ajax, Celta Vigo, FC Porto, Blackburn Rovers and West Ham United.

• After he guided AmaZulu into the CAF Champions League in 2021, Benni was unofficially given the nickname Mr Benni Makathini, Zulu Warrior.
• Benni speaks four languages namely, English, Spanish, Dutch and Portuguese.
• McCarthy scored 18 goals in the 2006-07 Premier League season for Blackburn, ending as the second-top scorer. A certain Cristiano Ronaldo struck 17 times in that campaign.
• In October 2007, Benni McCarthy finished a sequence of scoring with 10 consecutive shots on target in the Premier League.

Other cool Benni McCarthy facts

• Two-time Primeira Liga winner with Porto.
• Dutch Eredivisie champion with Ajax Amsterdam in 1998.
• Champion of South Africa with Orlando Pirates in 2011-12.
• Nedbank Cup and MTN8 winner in 2011, also with Pirates.
• Until 2023 when Lyle Foster made the switch to Burnley, Benni was the most expensive South African footballer of all time. He moved from Ajax to Celta Vigo for €6m in 1999.

Road to glory in the Champions League

Relive Benni’s superb run to Europe’s elite club competition.

Benni’s rap debut with TkZee

How can we ever forget when Benni collaborated with TKZee back in 1998?

Is there any doubt that Benni is South Africa’s greatest footballing export?

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