Recently, a debate ensued across football enthusiasts, particularly in the shore of the Africa continent, when Samuel Eto’o was reported to call himself the best African player that ever graced the football pitch. While granting an interview with RFI, the ex-Cameroon talisman was said to have named himself the greatest ever player to have played for the Africa continent.
“I know that someone else will come and do better than me. I know I am not eternal. I also know that I was a unique player. I am the best player from Africa. The others know it and must accept it,”
The ex-footballer was reported to have stated this.
This has birthed serious debates among football fans, with many claiming that the likes of Liberia’s George Weah, Yaya Touré, and Didier Drogba are well ahead of him.
This argument has prompted us at Netbet to carefully examine the Cameroonian achievements for his clubs and at the national level.
Samuel Eto’s’ Football History
Born in the early 1980s (March 10, 1981), Samuel Eto’o began his playing career with Real Madrid B team in 1997. He was shipped out on loan on several occasions due to stiff competition for his prominent position as a striker. Eto’o played 30 games while at Leganese on loan and scored four goals across two seasons for the Spanish club.
He joined Mallorca on loan in the year 2000, and he capped it with 6 goals in 19 matches. He was signed as a permanent player by Mallorca, and they were happy to shell out £4.4 million on him despite still being a teenager. He would proceed to become a fan favourite when he scored two goals that secured Mallorca’s Copa del Rey win. Overall, he had 11 goals in his first season as a Mallorca outright player.
Senior Career as a Professional Footballer
In 2004, Samuel Eto’o joined Barcelona for €24 million. Although his former club, Real Madrid, showed interest, the Spanish giant already had three non-Eu players in their fold, and they can’t afford to add any other unless they were able to part ways with one of the three. Eto’ o’s achievements in his first year as a Barcelona player were remarkable. He helped the Catalan club to secure their first La Liga title in six years. To top it up, he was named Africa Best Footballer for the second time. He bagged the award for the highest goal scorer in his second season shipping in 26 goals that helped Barca to retain their spot as the league for the second year running.
Individual Awards
Eto’o won African Footballer of the Year four times in his illustrious career – a joint highest number with Yaya Touré, although the Ivorian midfield powerhouse won his awards consecutively. Also, he has shared the podium with other winners three times and was voted the third-best FIFA World Player of the Year only behind Ronaldinho and Lampard.
He was undisputedly one of the highest achievers in the UEFA Champions League. He scored six goals en route 2006 Champions League finals and scored the equalizer that sealed Barcelona comeback as they trumped Arsenal to be crowned the winner.
Three years later, he helped Barcelona to secure a treble as they captured the League, Copa Del Ray, and Champions League cup. He scored in the final again as Barcelona beat Cristiano Ronaldo-led Manchester United. His five years with Barcelona yielded an impressive 108 goals in 145 matches.
In 2009, he moved to Inter Milan and won another treble with the Serie A giant to become the only player to win two trebles consecutively. He won everything at Inter, including Coppa Italia, Champions League, and Serie A title, notching 33 goals in 67 matches.
Overall, Eto’o won four major league titles in two different countries – a record that only his namesake, Samuel Kuffor, was able to better.
International Achievements
Here is an aspect in which Samuel Eto’o surpasses even the greatest of the greats, Lionel Messi. Eto’o was a two-time Africa Cup of Nations winner with the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon. He also featured heavily as part of the Cameroon football team that won the Olympic gold medal. He went ahead to represent the West African country in three FIFA World Cup tournaments. He is currently Cameroon’s all-time scorer, and also has the highest number of goals in African Nation’s Cup History.
The only stain in his white garment was his inability to match George Weah as the only African player to have won the World Best Footballer of the Year award.
Although the debate about the best African player ever will continue for a long time, however, no African football has the success that Eto’o recorded on the soccer pitch.
Do you think he deserves to be call African Greatest of All Time (GOAT) when it comes to football? Comment below.
