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Names like George Weah, Didier Drogba, Nwankwo Kanu, Samuel Eto'o and Yaya Toure come to mind when you think of the most successful African footballer.
These are African football icons who have enjoyed some success both in Africa and abroad in modern football.
Eto'o, though, sticks out above the rest as the continent's most decorated player having lifted many team and personal accolades during his illustrious career.
The Cameroonian legend won 15 major trophies during his career which saw him play in top European leagues, Olympic Games, FIFA World Cup, FIFA Confederation Cup, FIFA Club World Cup, UEFA Champions League and Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals.
Regarded as one of the greatest African players of all time, Eto'o was a part of the Cameroon squads that won the 2000 and 2002 AFCON titles, and was a gold medalist at the 2000 Olympic Games, while also helping the Indomitable Lions finish second at the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup.
The 2003 FIFA World Player of the Year Bronze Award winner lifted his maiden trophy at club level in 2003 when he helped Real Mallorca clinch the Spanish Copa del Rey. He remains the club's all-time top goalscorer with 70 goals having joined the team on a permanent deal from Real Madrid where he was loaned out to Espanyol and Leganes.
In 2005, Eto'o moved to Real's Spanish arch-rivals FC Barcelona where he displayed his best football, playing an important role in helping Barca clinch three La Liga titles, two Champions League trophies, two Supercopa de España titles and the Copa del Rey.
“I don’t need to lay claim to anything, it’s just a fact. Whether you accept it or not, it’s a fact,” Eto'o said on AFP when asked whether he is the best African player in history.
“Everyone is entitled to their opinion. You know, as an African, you are always being judged. What is unacceptable is that the first people to do it are always the Africans. They can’t take anything away from me because I am proud to be African.
“When I look at where I came from and how far I got, I tell myself that I am entitled to be proud. That doesn’t mean I am big-headed, far from it. It is just that, in this world, people like puppets and I don’t accept being one.”
Success followed the 2005/06 LaLiga Golden Boot (Pichichi Trophy) winner when he moved to Italian giants Inter Milan in the Serie A in July 2009 as he clinched the league title, the Champions League, Club World Cup, Supercoppa Italiana and two Coppa Italia trophies.
Here are some of the records held by Eto'o, who announced his retirement from professional football in September 2019 having also played for English giants Chelsea and Everton as well as clubs in Turkey, Italy, Russia and Qatar.
UEFA Champions League
Eto’o is the only African footballer to win three Champions League titles having won two with Barcelona, and a third with Inter Milan.
European Continental Trebles
Eto'o became the first player to win two European continental trebles following his back-to-back achievements with Barcelona and Inter Milan in 2010.
African Footballer of the Year
Eto'o, who was regarded by pundits as one of the best strikers in the world in his prime, has won the CAF Africa Footballer of the Year award on four occasions (2003, 2004, 2005 and 2010).
Africa Cup of Nations
Eto'o is the all-time leading scorer in the history of the Africa Cup of Nations, with 18 goals and is also Cameroon's all-time leading scorer having netted 56 times for the Indomitable Lions.
Teams played for
Club: Leganes (Spanish Segunda Division) 1997/98 Season - 30 Matches | 4 Goals across all competitions
Club: Real Madrid (Spanish La Liga) 1998-2000 - 7 Matches | 0 Goals across all competitions
Club: Espanyol (Spanish La Liga) 1998/1999 Season - 1 Match | 0 Goals across all competitions
Club: Real Mallorca (Spanish La Liga) 1999-2004 - 165 Matches | 70 Goals across all competitions
Club: FC Barcelona (Spanish La Liga) - 2004-2009 - 199 Matches | 130 Goals across all competitions
Club: Inter Milan (Italian Serie A) - 2009-2012 - 102 Matches | 53 Goals across all competitions
Club: Anzhi Makhachkala (Russian Premier League) - 2011-2014 - 73 Matches | 36 Goals across all competitions
Club: Chelsea (Premier League) - 2013/14 Season - 35 Matches | 12 Goals across all competitions
Club: Everton (Premier League) - 2014/15 Season - 20 Matches | 4 Goals across all competitions
Club: Sampdoria (Italian Serie A) - 2014/15 Season - 18 Matches | 2 Goals across all competitions
Club: Antalyaspor (Turkish Super Lig) - 2015-2018 - 77 Matches - 44 Goals across all competitions
Club: Konyaspor (Turkish Super Lig) - 2017/18 Season - 18 Matches | 6 Goals across all competitions
Club: Qatar SC (Qatar Stars League) - 2018/19 Season - 23 Matches | 10 Goals across all competitions
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