What you Need to Know about African Football Legend Samuel Eto’o

[Image Source: Samuel Eto'o Instagram]

Written By: Ifeanyi Ibeh

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Football star Samuel Eto'o remains one of the most celebrated players of all time. Here are some little-known facts about a Cameroonian superstar who in his five years at Barcelona, made 232 appearances in all competitions, winning a plethora of titles, including two Champions League titles, three La Liga honours, and a Copa del Rey.

Yes, you probably guessed it. We are going to be talking about Samuel Eto’o, but did you know that the Cameroon legend was going to join a French youth team before fate played a trick on him and took him to Spain? His young age and lack of proper documentation prevented the teenage Eto’o from starting his football career in France. Instead, he went to Real Madrid where he was never given a chance to show what he was capable of until he found his way to Real Mallorca before eventually ending up at Barcelona.

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As a kid, Eto’o was nicknamed “Little Milla” after the famous Cameroonian footballer Roger Milla. For those too young to know who Milla is, Milla is the oldest player to have scored at the World Cup, a feat he achieved at the USA ‘94 edition at the grand old age of 42. Eto’o’s connection to Milla went back to when a young Eto’o caught one of Milla’s shirts thrown into the crowd during a match in Cameroon.

Did you also know that Eto’o is a dedicated writer who has already completed nine novels? In an interview, the current president of the Cameroonian Football Federation said he wanted to write in order to inspire young children to aspire to greatness by learning from his life journey.

In June 2007, Eto’o married his long-time girlfriend, Georgette, and together they have three children, Étienne, Maelle, and Siena.

Finally, did you know that Eto’o is the most decorated African player of all time? Eto’o has won the African Player of the Year award four times and finished third in the FIFA World Player of the Year award in 2005. Eto’o was also a member of the gold medal-winning 2000 Cameroonian Olympic team and is a two-time winner of the Africa Cup of Nations.