Five things you might not know about birthday boy Samuel Eto’o
– Football legend Samuel Eto’o celebrates his 34th birthday today
– Samuel Eto’o is the first player in history to win two trebles in consecutive seasons
– Eto’o is the all-time leading scorer in the history of the Africa Cup of Nations
NaiJ.com celebrates former Real Madrid, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Chelsea and Everton striker Samuel Eto’o who turns 34 today, 10 of March.
Eto’o famously won two treble in consecutive with Barcelona and then Inter Milan and scored in the 2006 and 2009 Champions League final (both for Barcelona).
Eto’o, during his time at FC Barcelona
To celebrate the Antalyspor striker, we recount five thing most football fans forget about Eto’o
1. The most decorated African player of all time: Eto’o beats honours won by the likes of Didier Drogba, Nwanwko Kanu to be the most decorated player of all time as acknowledged by FIFA.
His list of honors include: Two Copa del Rey titles, three La Liga titles, two Supercopa de España, three UEFA Champions League titles, one Serie A trophy, two Coppa Italia crowns, one Supercoppa Italiana, one FIFA Club World Cup.
Eto’o playing for the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon
With Cameroon he won the African Cup of Nations twice, one LG cup and one Olympic Gold Medal.
2. He used to play for Real Madrid: Yes you heard it. Eto’o made three appearance for Madrid but never broke into the first team. he was discarded Mallorca where his form led to a move to Barcelona where he claimed his place among the greats.
Samuel Eto’o in Real Madrid
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3. He was once the highest paid player in the world: Eto’o joined Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala from Inter and he became the world’s highest-paid player, with a salary of €20 million (after taxes) per season ahead of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Eto’o with Anzhi Makhachkala in 2011
He left Anzi in 2013 when the club cut down on its budgets and spending.
4. He is an agent of FIFA’s ’11 for Health: Many have claimed Eto’o is wealthy but does not extend that wealth to others. He has been brandished selfish but those rumours are so off the mark.
According to FIFA.com: “Towards the end of 2015, the former Real Madrid, Barcelona and Inter Milan forward joined a FIFA delegation led by FIFA Chief Medical Officer Prof. Jiri Dvorak to Sierra Leone and Ghana, to experience first-hand the progress of FIFA’s health campaigns.
“As well as visiting the Grafton orphanage in Freetown, Sierra Leone, which takes care of very young children who lost their entire families to the Ebola virus, Eto’o also visited local schools in Sierra Leone and Ghana to communicate and promote the lessons ‘FIFA 11 for Health’ looks to share.”
5. He is the all-time leading scorer in the history of the Africa Cup of Nations, with 18 goals: What an African legend. Some call him the greatest African player of all time (he has been crowned CAF player of the year four times in his career).
But lesser known is that Eto’o has a terrific record at the African Cup of Nations along with his two titles.
Eto’o has eighteen goals at the tournament, four ahead of Ivory Coast’s Laurent Pokou.
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