With both Benni McCarthy and Steven Pienaar having enjoyed illustrious careers in Europe, who do you think cost more in total transfer fees between the two Bafana Bafana icons?
The two former footballers left South African quite early in their careers, with McCarthy joining Ajax Amsterdam from Seven Stars at the age of 20 back in December 1997. The striker spent a year and a half in the Netherlands before he was sold to LALIGA side Celta Vigo in July 1999 in a deal worth €6 million (R120 million), according to Transfermarkt.
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He spent four seasons on the books of the Spanish outfit, but his time at the club was split with a loan move to FC Porto after his second season in Spain as he struggled to completely adapt to Spanish top-flight football, scoring only 16 goals in his first two years there.
Having impressed at Porto on loan after grabbing 13 goals in 12 games in the 2001/02 campaign, the Portuguese giants made the move permanent for a fee of €3.5 million (R70 million). He would go on to enjoy huge success in Portugal, and was an integral member of Jose Mourinho's 2003/04 UEFA Champions League winning team, registering 57 goals and 10 assists in 123 appearances during a glittering stint for the side. Two years after winning the Champions League, he finally sealed a move to the Premier League in 2006, joining Blackburn Rovers for €3.7 million (R74.5 million), before being signed by West Ham United in the lead-up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup for €2.6 million (R52.3 million).
According to Transfermarkt, the now-Manchester United striker coach accumulated a total of €15.8 million (R318 million) in transfer fees during his stellar overseas exploits.
Pienaar's career start was similar to that of McCarthy, who is five years his senior. The playmaker left Cape Town Spurs for Ajax Amsterdam in 2001 at the age of 19. Having arrived in the Dutch capital on a free transfer, the Eredivisie giants kept "Skillo" for five years before allowing him to sign for Borussia Dortmund as a free agent.
After one season in the Bundesliga, BVB demanded a €500 000 loan fee (R10 million) when the South African was shipped out to Everton in 2007. The following year, the Toffees signed him on a permanent transfer at a cost of €2.75 million (R55.5 million). He spent two-and-half seasons at Goodison Park, before attracting the attention of Tottenham Hotspur, who splashed €3.6 million (R72.6 million) to get his signature.
Things didn't go according to plan at Spurs, though, as he was sent back on loan to Everton, who would later sign him again on a permanent deal for a fee of €5.75 million (R116 million) – the highest of his career.
In total, the 62-cap Bafana Bafana cult hero commanded a total of €12.6 million (R254 million) in transfer fees, falling short of McCarthy's R318 million.
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In terms of trophies in Europe, the latter also edges his compatriot, with the ex-AmaZulu boss winning 10 titles at Ajax and Porto, while Pienaar claimed just four major club trophies overseas.
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