Editing Samuel Eto'o (section)

{{short description|Cameroonian footballer (born 1981)}}
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{{pp-semi-blp|small=yes}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Redirect|Eto'o|the surname|Eto'o (surname)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name           = Samuel Eto'o
| image          = Samuel 2011.jpg
| caption        = Eto'o in 2011
| order          = President of
| office         = Cameroonian Football Federation
| term_start     = 11 December 2021<ref name=FECAFOOT>{{Cite web|title=Former Cameroon star Eto'o elected president of national federation|url=https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/sport/soccer/2021-12-11-former-cameroon-star-etoo-elected-president-of-national-federation/|access-date=2021-12-11|website=SowetanLIVE|language=en-ZA}}</ref>
| term_end       =
| predecessor    = Seidou Mbombo Njoya
| successor      =
| birth_name     = Samuel Eto'o Fils<ref name="Premier League Clubs submit Squad Lists">{{Cite news |title=Premier League Clubs submit Squad Lists |url=http://www.premierleague.com/content/dam/premierleague/site-content/News/publications/squad-lists/Premier-League-Squad-Lists-September-2013.pdf |publisher=Premier League |page=8 |date=4 September 2013 |access-date=5 September 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131008050546/http://www.premierleague.com/content/dam/premierleague/site-content/News/publications/squad-lists/Premier-League-Squad-Lists-September-2013.pdf |archive-date= 8 October 2013 }}</ref>
| birth_date     = {{Birth date and age|1981|3|10|df=y}}
| birth_place    = [[Douala]], Cameroon<ref>{{cite web |publisher=FC Internazionale Milano |title=Samuel Eto'o Fils |access-date=12 January 2009 |url=http://www.inter.it/aas/squadra/player1?codgioc=G0854&L=en&stagione=2009/10 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090731150712/http://www.inter.it/aas/squadra/player1?codgioc=G0854&L=en&stagione=2009%2F10 |archive-date=31 July 2009}}</ref>
| height         = 1.80 m<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fcbarcelona.cat/web/english/futbol/temporada_08-09/plantilla/jugadors/etoo.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120803104342/http://www.fcbarcelona.cat/web/english/futbol/temporada_08-09/plantilla/jugadors/etoo.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 August 2012|title=Samuel Eto'o Fils|work=fcbarcelona.cat}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chelseafc.com/first-team/player/28608/title/samuel--eto'o |title=Home &#124; Official Site &#124; Chelsea Football Club |access-date=23 December 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140122083838/http://www.chelseafc.com/first-team/player/28608/title/samuel--eto'o |archive-date=22 January 2014}}</ref>
| nationality    = Cameroonian
| occupation     = [[Footballer]]<br />Football administrator
| signature      = 
| signature_alt  = 
| module         = {{Infobox football biography|embed=yes|header-color=lavender
| position       = [[Forward (association football)#Striker|Striker]]
| youthyears1    = 1992–1996
| youthclubs1    = [[Kadji Sports Academy]]
| youthyears2    = 1996–1997
| youthclubs2    = [[La Fábrica (Real Madrid)|Real Madrid]]
| years1         = 1997–2000
| clubs1         = [[Real Madrid CF|Real Madrid]]
| caps1          = 3
| goals1         = 0
| years2         = 1997–1998
| clubs2         = → [[CD Leganés|Leganés]] (loan)
| caps2          = 28
| goals2         = 3
| years3         = 1999
| clubs3         = → [[RCD Espanyol|Espanyol]] (loan)
| caps3          = 0
| goals3         = 0
| years4         = 2000
| clubs4         = → [[RCD Mallorca|Mallorca]] (loan)
| caps4          = 13
| goals4         = 6
| years5         = 2000–2004
| clubs5         = [[RCD Mallorca|Mallorca]]
| caps5          = 120
| goals5         = 48
| years6         = 2004–2009
| clubs6         = [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]]
| caps6          = 144
| goals6         = 108
| years7         = 2009–2011
| clubs7         = [[Inter Milan]]
| caps7          = 67
| goals7         = 33
| years8         = 2011–2013
| clubs8         = [[FC Anzhi Makhachkala|Anzhi Makhachkala]]
| caps8          = 53
| goals8         = 25
| years9         = 2013–2014
| clubs9         = [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]]
| caps9          = 21
| goals9         = 9
| years10        = 2014–2015
| clubs10        = [[Everton F.C.|Everton]]
| caps10         = 14
| goals10        = 3
| years11        = 2015
| clubs11        = [[U.C. Sampdoria|Sampdoria]]
| caps11         = 18
| goals11        = 2
| years12        = 2015–2018
| clubs12        = [[Antalyaspor]]
| caps12         = 76
| goals12        = 44
| years13        = 2018
| clubs13        = [[Konyaspor]]
| caps13         = 13
| goals13        = 6
| years14        = 2018–2019
| clubs14        = [[Qatar SC]]
| caps14         = 17
| goals14        = 6
| totalcaps      = 587
| totalgoals     = 293
| nationalyears1 = 2000
| nationalteam1  = [[Cameroon national under-23 football team|Cameroon U23]]
| nationalcaps1  = 6
| nationalgoals1 = 1
| nationalyears2 = 1997–2014
| nationalteam2  = [[Cameroon national football team|Cameroon]]
| nationalcaps2  = 118
| nationalgoals2 = [[List of international goals scored by Samuel Eto'o|56]]
| manageryears1  = 2015–2016
| managerclubs1  = [[Antalyaspor]] (interim player-manager)
| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's [[Association football|Football]]}}
{{MedalCountry|{{fb|CMR}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Football at the Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2000 Summer Olympics|2000 Sydney]] | [[Football at the 2000 Summer Olympics|Team]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Africa Cup of Nations]]}}
{{Medal|Winner|[[2000 African Cup of Nations|2000 Ghana–Nigeria]]|}}
{{Medal|Winner|[[2002 African Cup of Nations|2002 Mali]]|}}
{{Medal|Runnerup|[[2008 African Cup of Nations|2008 Ghana]]|}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[FIFA Confederations Cup]]}}
{{Medal|RU|[[2003 FIFA Confederations Cup|2003 France]]|}}
}}}}

'''Samuel Eto'o Fils''' ({{IPA|fr|samɥɛl eto fis}}; born 10 March 1981) is a Cameroonian [[Association football|football]] administrator and former [[Football player|player]] who is the current president of the [[Cameroonian Football Federation]]. He is often regarded as one of the greatest strikers of all time and one of the greatest African players of all time.<ref>Multiple sources:
*{{Cite web |author1=Tom Hancock |date=2024-01-12 |title=The best African footballers ever |url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/the-best-african-footballers-ever |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=fourfourtwo}}
*{{Cite web |date=2024-11-15 |title=Samuel Eto'o, Mohamed Salah and the 25 best African players of the 21st century so far - ranked {{!}} Goal.com UK |url=https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/best-african-players-21st-century-ranked/blt26d1db14e3845f3a |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=goal.com}}
*{{Cite web |last=Fish |first=Hal |date=2024-02-22 |title=The 20 greatest African players in football history have been named and ranked - in order |url=https://www.givemesport.com/greatest-african-players-football-soccer-history/ |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=GiveMeSport}}
*{{Cite web |title=Top 100 Strikers of All-Time |url=https://iconicfootball.weebly.com/top-100-strikers-of-all-time.html |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=ICONIC FOOTBALL}}
*{{Cite web |last=Tighe |first=Sam |title=Ranking the Top 60 Strikers of All Time |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1954831-ranking-the-top-60-strikers-of-all-time |access-date=23 May 2024 |website=Bleacher Report}}
*{{Cite web |last=Guyett |first=Matthew |title=10 Greatest Strikers of the 21st Century [Ranked] |url=https://www.givemesport.com/greatest-strikers-of-the-21st-century/ |access-date=16 December 2024 |website=GiveMeSport|date=23 November 2024 }}
*{{cite web | url = https://onefootball.com/en/news/messi-ronaldo-mbappe-salah-the-top-100-players-of-the-21st-century-ranked-34879846 | title = Messi, Ronaldo, Mbappe, Salah: The top 100 players of the 21st century ranked | website = Onefootball | date = 8 April 2022 | access-date = 21 February 2025}}</ref> 

A precocious talent, Eto'o moved to [[Real Madrid C.F.|Real Madrid]] as a 16 year old. Due to competition in his position with more experienced players, he had several loan spells, before signing for [[RCD Mallorca|Mallorca]] in 2000 where he scored 70 goals, a [[RCD Mallorca#Top scorers|club record]].<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[When Saturday Comes]]|date=July 2023|title=La Liga 2003-04|last=O'Brien|first=Jon|page=46}}</ref> His impressive form saw him join [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]] in 2004 where he scored 130 goals in five seasons and also became the record holder for the most appearances by an African player in [[La Liga]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/7383851.stm|title=Eto'o sets La Liga record|access-date=5 May 2008|date=5 May 2008|first=Phil|last=Minshull|publisher=BBC Sport|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090302085209/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/7383851.stm|archive-date=2 March 2009}}</ref> Winning La Liga three times, he was a key member of the Barcelona attack, alongside [[Ronaldinho]], that won the [[2006 UEFA Champions League Final]], with Eto'o scoring in the final, and was part of a front three of [[Lionel Messi]] and [[Thierry Henry]] that won the [[2009 UEFA Champions League Final]], with Eto'o again scoring in the final. He is the second player in history to score in two [[UEFA Champions League]] finals.<ref>[[2006 UEFA Champions League Final]]<br>[[2009 UEFA Champions League Final]]</ref> At Barcelona, Eto'o came in third for the [[FIFA World Player of the Year]] in [[2005 FIFA World Player of the Year|2005]] and was twice named in the [[FIFPro#FIFA FIFPro World XI|FIFA FIFPro World XI]], in 2005 and 2006.

He signed with [[Inter Milan]] for the [[2009–10 Inter Milan season|2009–10]] season, where he became the first player to win two European [[The treble#Continental trebles|continental trebles]] following his back-to-back achievements with Barcelona and Inter. He is the fourth player in Champions League history, after [[Marcel Desailly]], [[Paulo Sousa]], and [[Gerard Piqué]], to have won the trophy two years in a row with different teams.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/english/noticies/futbol/temporada08-09/05/n090528105280.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120731180228/http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/english/noticies/futbol/temporada08-09/05/n090528105280.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=31 July 2012|title=FCBarcelona.cat|work=fcbarcelona.com}}</ref> After brief spells with [[FC Anzhi Makhachkala|Anzhi Makhachkala]], [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]], [[Everton F.C.|Everton]], and [[U.C. Sampdoria|Sampdoria]], Eto'o found prolific form again in the [[Süper Lig]] with [[Antalyaspor]] having scored 44 goals in 76 league games. In 2015, he received the [[Golden Foot]] Award.

He won the [[African Footballer of the Year|African Player of the Year]] a record four times, winning in 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2010.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Cameroon's Eto'o, the pride of AFCON host city Douala |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2022/1/28/etoo-is-pride-of-afcon-host-city-douala |access-date=2022-02-24 |website=www.aljazeera.com |language=en}}</ref> As a member of the [[Cameroon national football team|Cameroon national team]], Eto'o was a part of the squad that won the [[Gold medal|Gold Medal]] at the [[Football at the 2000 Summer Olympics|2000 Olympics]]. He also won the [[Africa Cup of Nations]] in 2000 and 2002. Eto'o has participated in four [[FIFA World Cup|World Cups]] and six [[Africa Cup of Nations]]. He is the all-time leading scorer in the history of the Africa Cup of Nations, with 18 goals, and is Cameroon's [[Top international association football goal scorers by country|all-time leading scorer]] and third [[Cameroon national football team#Most capped .26 top scorers|most capped player]], with [[List of international goals scored by Samuel Eto'o|56 goals]] in 118 caps.<ref name="9 Samuel ETOO">{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/etoo-intlg.html |title=Samuel Eto'o Fils - Century of International Appearances |work=[[RSSSF]] |access-date=3 June 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304062154/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/etoo-intlg.html |archive-date=4 March 2016 }}</ref> Eto'o announced his retirement from international football in August 2014.