Vincent Aboubakar facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids
Vincent Aboubakar

Aboubakar with Beşiktaş in 2023

Personal information

Date of birth

22 January 1992 (age 33)

Place of birth

Garoua, Cameroon

Height

1.84 m

Playing position

Striker

Club information

Current club

Hatayspor

Number

Youth career

2006–2008

Coton Sport

Senior career*

Years

Team

Apps^†

(Gls)^†

2009–2010

Coton Sport

(19)

2010–2013

Valenciennes

(9)

2011–2013

Valenciennes B

(3)

2013–2014

Lorient

(17)

2014–2020

Porto

(36)

2016–2017

→ Beşiktaş (loan)

(12)

2019

Porto B

(0)

2020–2021

Beşiktaş

(15)

2021–2023

Al Nassr

(12)

2023–2024

Beşiktaş

(18)

2024–

Hatayspor

(3)

National team^‡

2009

Cameroon U20

(22)

2010–

Cameroon

108

(42)

Honours

Men's football

Representing Cameroon
Africa Cup of Nations
Winner	2017 Gabon
Third	2021 Cameroon

Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 17 January 2025.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 19 November 2024

Vincent Paté Aboubakar is a famous footballer from Cameroon. He was born on January 22, 1992. Vincent plays as a striker, which means he is a forward player who scores goals. He currently plays for Süper Lig club Hatayspor and is the captain of the Cameroon national team.

Vincent started his football journey in Cameroon with Coton Sport. In 2010, he moved to Europe. There, he played for French clubs like Valenciennes and Lorient. He played 109 games in France's top league and scored 26 goals.

In 2015, Vincent joined Porto in Portugal. He played 125 games and scored 58 goals for them, helping them win a league title. He also won the Turkish league, called the Süper Lig, twice with Beşiktaş. Once was when he was on loan in 2017, and again in 2021.

Vincent has played over 100 games for the Cameroon national team since 2010. He is one of the top goal scorers for his country, right after legends Samuel Eto'o and Roger Milla. He has played in three FIFA World Cups (2010, 2014, and 2022). He also played in the Africa Cup of Nations four times (2015, 2017, 2021, and 2023). Vincent scored the winning goal in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations final. He was also the top scorer in the 2021 tournament.

Early Life and Family
Club Career Highlights
International Career
Career Achievements
Images for kids
See also

Early Life and Family

Vincent Aboubakar was born on January 22, 1992, in Garoua, Cameroon. He grew up in a Christian family in a city where most people are Muslim. His mother, Maobeal Alice, was a church leader.

Club Career Highlights

Aboubakar with Lorient in 2013

Playing for Valenciennes

On May 26, 2010, Vincent joined Valenciennes in France. He wore the number 9 jersey. He played his first game as a substitute against Nice. He scored his first goals for the club, including a hat-trick, in a cup match against Boulogne.

Time at Lorient

Vincent moved to Lorient for free on July 1, 2013. He played his first game for them on August 10. Eight days later, he scored his first goal for Lorient in a 2-1 win against Nantes. He ended the season as one of the top scorers in the league, with 16 goals in 35 games.

Joining Porto

Aboubakar playing for FC Porto in 2014

Vincent signed with Porto in Portugal on August 24, 2014. He signed a four-year contract. He played his first game for Porto on September 14. A few days later, he scored his first goal for Porto in a UEFA Champions League game. He helped his team win 6-0 against BATE Borisov.

In his second season at Porto, Vincent played much more often. He scored two goals in the first game of the season on August 15, 2015. He also scored twice in a 5-0 win against Boavista FC.

Loan to Beşiktaş

On August 27, 2016, Vincent joined Beşiktaş in Turkey on a one-year loan. He played his first game for them on September 10. He scored his first goals for Beşiktaş in a UEFA Champions League game against Napoli. He scored two goals in that game, helping his team win 3-2. This was Beşiktaş's first Champions League win since 2009. He helped Beşiktaş win the league title that season, scoring 12 goals in 27 league games.

Back to Porto

After his loan, Vincent returned to Porto. He became part of a strong attacking trio with Moussa Marega and Yacine Brahimi. On August 20, 2017, he scored his first hat-trick for Porto in a 3-0 win. He scored five goals in the Champions League group stage that season. On December 10, he scored another hat-trick in a 5-0 win, which put Porto at the top of the league table.

In September 2018, Vincent got a serious knee injury. He had surgery and was out for a long time. He returned to play on May 4, 2019.

Return to Beşiktaş

Vincent returned to Beşiktaş on September 26, 2020. He signed a contract until May 31, 2021. In that season, he scored 15 goals and helped his team win the league. This included two goals in a 4-3 win against their city rivals Fenerbahçe.

Playing for Al Nassr

On June 8, 2021, Vincent signed a three-year deal with Al Nassr, a club in Saudi Arabia. He left the club in January 2023. This was to make space for another international player, Cristiano Ronaldo, to join the team.

Third Time at Beşiktaş

On January 21, 2023, Vincent rejoined Beşiktaş. He signed a two-and-a-half-year deal. He scored 13 goals in 16 games during the second half of that season.

In December 2023, Vincent was temporarily removed from the team. This was due to his performance and issues within the team. However, on February 14, 2024, he was allowed to train with the team again.

Moving to Hatayspor

Vincent then signed with another Turkish club, Hatayspor. He joined them after ending his contract with Beşiktaş.

International Career

Aboubakar at the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup

In August 2009, Vincent was called to play for the Cameroon Under-20 team. He was only 18 years old when he was chosen for Cameroon's main squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. He was the only player in the squad who was playing in Cameroon at the time.

He played his first game for the national team on May 29, 2010, in a friendly match. On August 11, 2010, he scored his first goal for Cameroon in a friendly against Poland.

Vincent played in the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations. In the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, he scored a goal in the 88th minute of the final. This goal gave Cameroon a 2-1 win against Egypt, ending their 15-year wait for a title.

Later in 2017, he played in the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia. He scored a goal against Germany in a 3-1 loss.

Vincent did not play in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. The coach thought he was not fit enough after his injury.

He returned for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, which was held in Cameroon. He scored five goals in the group stage. He then scored another goal in the knockout stage. In the third-place match, he scored twice in a 3-3 draw. Cameroon won that game on penalties. With 8 goals in 7 games, he was the top scorer of the tournament. He was also named in the Team of the Tournament.

In the 2022 FIFA World Cup, he scored a goal and made an assist in a 3-3 draw against Serbia. His goal was called an "amazing scoop." He also scored the winning goal against Brazil in the third match. He was sent off in that game for taking off his shirt to celebrate.

Vincent was injured before the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. He recovered in time for the knockout stage. His team was knocked out by Nigeria. This game was also his 100th match for the national team.

Career Achievements

Vincent Aboubakar has won many titles with his clubs and country:

With Coton Sport

Elite One: 2009–10

With Beşiktaş

Süper Lig: 2016–17, 2020–21
Turkish Cup: 2020–21, 2023–24
Turkish Super Cup: 2024

With Porto

Primeira Liga: 2017–18, 2019–20
Taça de Portugal: 2019–20
Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 2018

With Cameroon

Africa Cup of Nations: 2017

Individual Awards

Africa Cup of Nations Golden Boot: 2021 (top scorer)
Africa Cup of Nations Team of the Tournament: 2021
France Football Africa Team of the Year: 2017

Images for kids

Aboubakar playing against Chile at the 2017 Confederations Cup