Confidence has never been a problem for the striker, and that was obvious as he uttered these words before a Premier League game for Chelsea against Manchester City in 2014. Eto’o has won the African Player of the Year award four times – in 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2010. He was also the third-place runner-up for the FIFA World Player of the Year award in 2005. Looking at those stats, it makes sense for Eto’o to feel confident in his own abilities.
Eto’o was often compared to Cameroon legend Roger Milla in the early stages of his career, and though many would suggest that he has surpassed the great Milla since then, he once spoke to the BBC about the man who was an idol for him, and the fact that Eto’o was often called ‘Little Milla’ in recognition of his talents.
The former Cameroon captain is a charitable man with a big heart. The striker has been an important philanthropist for his country, and for the West and Central African region in general. The Samuel Eto’o Foundation looks to benefit children in that part of Africa with a focus on healthcare services, education and the promotion of social inclusion through sports. Football and other sport is used to bring the children together and give them a way to connect with others and develop a sense of community. He has also donated ambulances and has been involved in the construction of hospitals.
The Cameroon legend spat out these words in anger in 2005 when Chelsea and his club at the time, Barcelona were rivals in UEFA Champions League football. These words seemed harsh at the time, but would become an amusing anecdote later in his career, when he eventually joined the ‘pathetic’ London club.
The former African Player of the Year (four times) has been dogged by racism on various occasions throughout his career, with two of the major incidents taking place during his time in Spain with Barca, receiving heavy abuse from opposing Real Zaragoza fans, who made monkey chants and shouted insults directed at the striker. Thinking back to that unfortunate memory, Eto’o mentioned it during his address to those gathered at a recent gala event after receiving the ECTR Medal of Tolerance for his efforts against racism.
Eto’o has written nine graphic novels about his life, including one called, “Birth of a Champion,” taking a look back at his early childhood in Douala, Cameroon. Eto’o discussed his decision to do his autobiographies in graphic-novel style to make them accessible to children, when speaking to former club Chelsea’s official site.
Eto’o’s net worth is a direct result of being at the top of the game for so many years, representing the clubs of the calibre of Real Madrid, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Chelsea, Everton and Sampdoria during a decorated career. The striker’s time in Russia with Anzhi Makhachkala after a big money move made him the highest paid player for a period, earning a cool $25million per year in his lucrative contract. Major endorsements include being a representative for brands such as Ford and Puma. He said the above in an interview with CNN WorldSport.
The striker announced his international retirement from the Cameroon national team via his Twitter account on August 27, 2014. Eto’o made his Cameroon debut as a 15-year-old against Costa Rica. He was the youngest player at the 1998 World Cup after being called up by Claude Le Roy at the age of 17, and ended his career as the country’s top scorer of all-time after participating in four World Cups and six Africa Cup of Nations competitions.
Eto’o said these words when he began his latest adventure with Serie A club Sampdoria, stating that there was a marked difference from when he played for Inter a few years earlier. From Inter in 2013 he went on to play for Anzhi Makhachkala in Russia before stints with Chelsea and Everton in the Premier League, returning to Italy in 2015.
After Barcelona won the Spanish La Liga title in the 2004-05 season, Eto’o taunted rival fans from Real Madrid by chanting the above at a party at Camp Nou. He was forced to apologize publicly for the disrespectful nature of his taunts, though countless fans who have taunted him during matches were not subjected to the same actions.
