Samuel Eto'o facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Samuel Eto'o
Eto'o in 2011
President of Cameroonian Football Federation
Incumbent
Assumed office 11 December 2021
Preceded by	Seidou Mbombo Njoya
Personal details
Born	Samuel Eto'o Fils (1981-03-10) 10 March 1981 (age 44) Douala, Cameroon
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Occupation	Footballer Football administrator
Association football career Position(s) Striker Youth career 1992–1996 Kadji Sports Academy 1996–1997 Real Madrid Senior career* Years Team Apps (Gls) 1997–2000 Real Madrid 3 (0) 1997–1998 → Leganés (loan) 28 (3) 1999 → Espanyol (loan) 0 (0) 2000 → Mallorca (loan) 13 (6) 2000–2004 Mallorca 120 (48) 2004–2009 Barcelona 144 (108) 2009–2011 Inter Milan 67 (33) 2011–2013 Anzhi Makhachkala 53 (25) 2013–2014 Chelsea 21 (9) 2014–2015 Everton 14 (3) 2015 Sampdoria 18 (2) 2015–2018 Antalyaspor 76 (44) 2018 Konyaspor 13 (6) 2018–2019 Qatar SC 17 (6) Total 587 (293) International career 2000 Cameroon U23 6 (1) 1997–2014 Cameroon 118 (56) Managerial career 2015–2016 Antalyaspor (interim player-manager) Medal record Men's Football Representing  Cameroon Olympic Games Gold 2000 Sydney Team Africa Cup of Nations Winner 2000 Ghana–Nigeria Winner 2002 Mali Runner-up 2008 Ghana FIFA Confederations Cup Runner-up 2003 France *Club domestic league appearances and goals

Samuel Eto'o Fils (born 10 March 1981) is a famous Cameroonian football player who is now a football administrator. He is the current president of the Cameroonian Football Federation. Many people think he is one of the best strikers and one of the greatest African players of all time.

Eto'o was a very talented young player. He joined Real Madrid when he was just 16. He played for several clubs on loan before joining Mallorca in 2000. There, he scored 70 goals, which was a club record. His amazing performance led him to join Barcelona in 2004. He scored 130 goals in five seasons for Barcelona. He also became the African player with the most appearances in La Liga.

At Barcelona, Eto'o helped his team win La Liga three times. He was a key player in the attack alongside Ronaldinho. They won the 2006 UEFA Champions League Final, with Eto'o scoring a goal. He was also part of a powerful attacking trio with Lionel Messi and Thierry Henry. They won the 2009 UEFA Champions League Final, where Eto'o scored again. He is only the second player ever to score in two different UEFA Champions League finals. In 2005, Eto'o was ranked third for the FIFA World Player of the Year award. He was also chosen for the FIFA FIFPro World XI in 2005 and 2006.

In 2009, he moved to Inter Milan. There, he became the first player to win two European "trebles" (winning the league, domestic cup, and Champions League) in a row. He achieved this with Barcelona and then with Inter. He is also one of only four players to win the Champions League two years in a row with different teams. After playing for clubs like Anzhi Makhachkala, Chelsea, Everton, and Sampdoria, Eto'o found his scoring form again in Turkey with Antalyaspor. He scored 44 goals in 76 league games for them. In 2015, he received the Golden Foot Award.

Eto'o won the African Footballer of the Year award a record four times (in 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2010). As a member of the Cameroon national team, he won a Gold Medal at the 2000 Olympics. He also helped Cameroon win the Africa Cup of Nations in 2000 and 2002. Eto'o played in four World Cups and six Africa Cup of Nations tournaments. He is the all-time leading scorer in the Africa Cup of Nations, with 18 goals. He is also Cameroon's all-time top scorer with 56 goals in 118 games. Eto'o announced his retirement from international football in August 2014.

Club Career Highlights

Starting at Real Madrid

Samuel Eto'o started his football journey at the Kadji Sports Academy in Cameroon. In 1997, he joined Real Madrid's youth academy. Because he was still young, he could only train with Real Madrid's B team. When the B team was moved to a lower league where non-European players weren't allowed, Eto'o was loaned to Leganés for the 1997–98 season. He played 30 games there and scored four goals. After returning to Real Madrid, he was loaned to Espanyol in January 1999, but he only played one game for them.

Success with Mallorca

In 2000, Eto'o joined Mallorca on loan. He quickly showed his talent by scoring six goals in 19 games. Mallorca then signed him permanently for a club record fee of £4.4 million. In his second season, he scored 11 goals and became well-known in the league. Mallorca's president praised his playing style. Eto'o also showed his appreciation for the fans by donating money for their travel to the 2003 Copa del Rey Final. Mallorca won that final 3–0, with Eto'o scoring two goals. He also scored in two wins against his former club, Real Madrid.

Becoming a Star at Barcelona

Joining Barcelona and First Trophies

Eto'o celebrating a goal for Barcelona in December 2005

In the summer of 2004, Eto'o moved to Barcelona for €24 million. He quickly became a key player. Barcelona won the 2004–05 La Liga title in his first season. Eto'o later apologized for some strong words he used during the team's celebration. He signed a new contract with Barcelona in June 2005.

In the 2005–06 La Liga season, Eto'o won the Pichichi Trophy as the league's top scorer, with 26 goals. He also scored six goals in Barcelona's journey to win the 2005–06 Champions League title. In the final against Arsenal, Eto'o scored the tying goal, and Barcelona went on to win 2–1. He was named the UEFA Best Forward of the Year.

That season, Eto'o also won his third straight African Player of the Year award. He dedicated it to the children of Africa. He was also chosen for the FIFPro World XI for the second time and finished third in the FIFA World Player of the Year voting. This made him only the second African player to reach the top three.

More Trophies and the Treble

Eto'o during the 2008 Joan Gamper Trophy

The 2006–07 season started tough for Eto'o as he suffered a knee injury. He returned to training in early 2007. In October 2007, he gained Spanish citizenship.

In the 2008–09 season, Pep Guardiola became Barcelona's new manager. Despite initial reports that Eto'o might leave, he stayed with the club. He scored his first league hat-trick against Levante in February 2008. On 25 October, Eto'o scored the fastest hat-trick in Barcelona's history, netting three goals in just 23 minutes. A few games later, he scored four goals in the first half against Real Valladolid. By November 2008, he had scored his 111th goal for Barcelona, placing him among the club's top ten all-time scorers.

Eto'o holding off Patrice Evra of Manchester United in the 2009 UEFA Champions League Final

Eto'o scored his 99th and 100th league goals for Barcelona in February 2009. He finished the season with 30 league goals. Eto'o scored the first goal in the 2009 UEFA Champions League Final against Manchester United. Barcelona won the final 2–0, completing a historic "Treble" (winning the league, domestic cup, and Champions League). Eto'o, Lionel Messi, and Thierry Henry together scored 100 goals that season.

Inter Milan Success

Winning the Historic Treble

Eto’o playing for Inter Milan in August 2009

In July 2009, Samuel Eto'o joined Inter Milan as part of a deal that sent Zlatan Ibrahimović to Barcelona. Eto'o signed a five-year contract with Inter. He scored in his first competitive game for Inter in the 2009 Supercoppa Italiana. He also scored in his first Serie A match against Bari.

Eto'o playing in the UEFA Champions League with Inter Milan, a competition he would win for the third time in his career

Eto'o scored his first two goals in a Serie A game against Palermo in October 2009. In December, he finished fifth in the voting for the Ballon d'Or. He scored his first UEFA Champions League goal for Inter in December, helping them reach the knockout stage. He also scored the winning goal against Chelsea in the Champions League round of 16. Eto'o helped Inter win the 2009–10 Coppa Italia in May. His 12 Serie A goals helped Inter win the league title. On 22 May 2010, Eto'o played in his third Champions League final. Inter won 2–0 against Bayern Munich, winning their first title in 45 years. With this win, Eto'o became the only player to win the "treble" in two seasons in a row with different teams.

More Goals and Trophies

On 21 August 2010, Eto'o scored twice as Inter won the 2010 Supercoppa Italiana. He scored his first hat-trick for Inter in the UEFA Champions League against Werder Bremen in September 2010. In December, Eto'o played in the 2010 FIFA Club World Cup. He scored in the final as Inter won 3–0, lifting their fifth trophy of the year. He was also named the best player of the tournament.

Eto'o continued his excellent form in the 2010–11 season. In March 2011, he had a fantastic performance in Munich, helping Inter beat Bayern Munich 3–2 in the Champions League. He scored the first goal and set up two others. Inter's president praised Eto'o's impact on the team. On 29 May, Eto'o scored two goals in the Coppa Italia final against Palermo. This brought his total goals for the season to 37, a new personal record. On 25 August 2011, Eto'o announced he was leaving Inter Milan.

Later Career Clubs

Anzhi Makhachkala

Eto'o with Anzhi Makhachkala in a Russian Cup game against Dynamo Moscow in September 2011

On 23 August 2011, Eto'o joined Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala. This deal made him the world's highest-paid player at the time, earning €20 million per season after taxes. He made his debut on 27 August 2011, scoring an equalizer against Rostov. At the end of the 2012–13 Russian Premier League, Eto'o was named the #1 Right Striker among the Top 33 players. In August 2013, Anzhi's owner decided to reduce the club's spending, which meant many star players, including Eto'o, became available for transfer.

Chelsea

Eto'o playing for Chelsea in 2014

On 29 August 2013, Eto'o signed a one-year contract with English club Chelsea. He scored his first goal for Chelsea on 19 October 2013 against Cardiff City. In a Champions League match against Schalke 04 in November, Eto'o scored twice in a 3–0 win. On 19 January 2014, he scored his first Premier League hat-trick for Chelsea against Manchester United. On 8 March, Eto'o scored his 300th club career goal in a 4–0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur. He continued his good form by scoring early goals in Champions League and Premier League matches.

Everton and Sampdoria

Eto'o's contract with Chelsea ended in 2014. On 26 August 2014, he joined Everton, signing a two-year deal. He scored on his debut against Chelsea. In October, Eto'o scored two goals as Everton beat Burnley 3–1. He hoped to win the UEFA Europa League with Everton, a trophy he had never won. However, he left Everton halfway through his first season, having scored four goals in 20 games. On 27 January 2015, Eto'o returned to Italy, joining Sampdoria.

Antalyaspor and Konyaspor

On 25 June 2015, Eto'o moved to Turkish club Antalyaspor. He made a strong start, scoring two goals in his debut match. He scored 13 goals in his first 15 games. For a short time, he was the team's interim player-manager. On 31 January 2018, Eto'o joined Konyaspor, another Turkish club.

Qatar SC and Retirement

He signed for Qatar SC in August 2018. On 7 September 2019, Samuel Eto'o officially announced his retirement from football.

International Career for Cameroon

Eto'o playing for Cameroon in 2009. He is their all-time leading scorer with 56 goals.

Eto'o played his first game for Cameroon on 9 March 1997, just before his 16th birthday. In 1998, he was the youngest player at the 1998 FIFA World Cup. He scored his only goal of the 2002 FIFA World Cup against Saudi Arabia.

Eto'o was part of the Cameroon teams that won the 2000 and 2002 Africa Cup of Nations. He also won a gold medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics. At the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup, where Cameroon finished second, he scored against Brazil. In the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations, Eto'o was the top scorer with five goals.

In the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, Eto'o became the joint leading goalscorer in the tournament's history. He then broke the record, reaching 16 goals in the Cup of Nations. He was the top scorer for the second tournament in a row.

In June 2008, Eto'o had an incident with a reporter. He later apologized and offered to pay for any medical expenses. He scored important goals in the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches, helping Cameroon qualify. In the 2010 World Cup, Eto'o scored against Denmark, but Cameroon was eliminated. He called this the biggest disappointment of his career. In December 2010, Eto'o became the first man to be named African Player of the Year for a fourth time.

In December 2011, Eto'o was suspended by the Cameroonian Football Federation after the team refused to play a friendly match. The ban was later reduced. In August 2012, Eto'o initially refused to play in a qualification match due to concerns about the national team's organization. After the Prime Minister's intervention, he returned, but Cameroon did not qualify for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.

In March 2013, Eto'o scored his first goal for Cameroon in 16 months. He also scored a winning goal in a 2014 World Cup qualifier. In November 2013, he captained the team to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. In June 2014, Eto'o was selected for Cameroon's World Cup squad, becoming one of only three Africans to play in four tournaments. After joining Everton, he announced his retirement from international football on 27 August 2014.

Playing Style and Skills

In his prime Eto'o was extremely quick and possessed excellent dribbling ability with close ball control

Samuel Eto'o was known as a fast, strong, and energetic forward. He was famous for his stamina, hard work, and excellent finishing with both his head and feet. He was a powerful goalscorer with good technique and calm under pressure. Eto'o usually played as a central striker. He was also a great team player.

When he played for Inter Milan under coach José Mourinho, Eto'o showed how smart and flexible he was. He played in different positions, including as a winger or attacking midfielder on the left side. In these roles, he helped his team create chances and also worked hard to defend. In a Champions League semi-final, he even played as a right-sided full-back or wing-back. Eto'o was also known for his leadership and strong mindset throughout his career.

Many experts consider Eto'o one of the best strikers in the world during his prime. He is also seen as one of the greatest African players ever, often compared to George Weah and Didier Drogba. Even as he got older and lost some speed, he continued to score many goals. This was because he was good at finding the right positions and timing his runs. Besides his speed and scoring, Eto'o was known for his first touch, close control, and passing skills. Even later in his career, he kept his amazing dribbling abilities, using them to get past defenders and create chances for his teammates.

President of Cameroon Football Federation

On 11 December 2021, Samuel Eto'o was elected President of the Cameroonian Football Federation (FECAFOOT). In September 2024, he received a six-month ban from attending Cameroon international games. This was due to breaking the world governing body's rules after an incident at a football match in Colombia.

World Cup 2022 Ambassador

Eto'o was chosen as an Ambassador for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. After a match between Brazil and South Korea, he was filmed in a confrontation with a man. The reason for the incident was not clear, and the man did not appear to be seriously hurt.

Personal Life and Family

Samuel Eto'o grew up in Nkon, a suburb of Yaoundé, Cameroon. He has two brothers, David and Étienne, who are also footballers. Eto'o has four children: Maelle, Étienne, Siena, and Lynn. He married his longtime partner, Georgette, on 6 July 2007. Georgette is the mother of Siena and Lynn, who live with her in Paris. In October 2007, he received his Spanish passport.

In November 2020, Eto'o was in a car accident, but he was not hurt. In November 2015, Eto'o was honored as a paramount chief in Kaffu Bullom, Sierra Leone. He was visiting the country as part of a health program. He also supports the French football club Paris Saint-Germain.

Dealing with Racism in Football

Samuel Eto'o faced racism in some away matches during his career. He is one of several famous players who have spoken out against this problem. He even threatened to leave the field in protest.

In February 2005, during a match against Real Zaragoza, Eto'o was targeted with racist chants from some fans. The referee did not mention it in his report, but two people were later identified and banned from sporting events for five months. Eto'o felt the punishment was not strong enough. The next season, when Zaragoza fans made racist chants again, Eto'o tried to walk off the pitch. His teammates convinced him to keep playing.

Because of the regular racist abuse he experienced in Spain, Eto'o stopped bringing his family to matches. He said it affected him personally and that players, leaders, and the media should work together to stop people from being looked down upon because of their skin color. He felt it was better for his children not to hear such things.

In October 2010, during a Serie A game against Cagliari, the referee stopped the match because some Cagliari fans were singing racist chants at Eto'o. When the game restarted, other fans in the stadium chanted loudly to try and stop the racist chants. Inter went on to win 1–0, with Eto'o scoring the goal.

Honours and Achievements

Mallorca

• Copa del Rey: 2002–03

Barcelona

Eto'o and Juliano Belletti celebrate winning the 2005–06 La Liga with Barcelona

• La Liga: 2004–05, 2005–06, 2008–09
• Copa del Rey: 2008–09
• Supercopa de España: 2005, 2006
• UEFA Champions League: 2005–06, 2008–09

Inter Milan

• Serie A: 2009–10
• Coppa Italia: 2009–10, 2010–11
• Supercoppa Italiana: 2010
• UEFA Champions League: 2009–10
• FIFA Club World Cup: 2010

Cameroon U23

• Olympic Gold Medal: 2000

Cameroon

• African Cup of Nations: 2000, 2002

Individual Awards

• Young African Player of the Year: 2000
• African Player of the Year: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2010
• ESM Team of the Year: 2004–05, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2010–11
• FIFA World Player of the Year Bronze Award: 2005
• FIFA FIFPro World XI: 2005, 2006
• UEFA Team of the Year: 2005, 2006
• CAF Team of the Year: 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
• Pichichi Trophy: 2005–06
• UEFA Champions League top assist provider: 2005–06
• African Cup of Nations top goalscorer: 2006, 2008
• UEFA Club Forward of the Year: 2006
• FIFA Club World Cup Golden Ball: 2010
• Coppa Italia top goalscorer: 2010–11
• Russian Premier League MVP Award: 2012–13
• Golden Foot: 2015
• Globe Soccer Player Career Award: 2016
• IFFHS All-time Africa Men's Dream Team: 2021
• Inter Milan Hall of Fame: 2021

Records

• African Cup of Nations all-time top goalscorer
• RCD Mallorca all-time top goalscorer
• Cameroon all-time top goalscorer

Images for kids

• Samuel Eto'o and Evra, 2009 UEFA Champions League Final.jpg

  Eto'o holding off Patrice Evra of Manchester United in the 2009 UEFA Champions League Final

See also

In Spanish: Samuel Eto'o para niños