SUMMARY
- Winning several honors across his career, Samuel Eto'o once caught the headlines after a statement said by him.
- As he entered the field of Camp Nou, Samuel Eto'o kept his form going and helped FC Barcelona win their first UCL title in 12 years.
Samuel Eto’o, the Cameroonian legend, has always been a player to catch the limelight. His finesse touches, and excellent scoring record proves why he is the one to adore himself. Winning several honors across his career, Samuel Eto’o once caught the headlines after a statement said by him.
Lionel Messi caught the eye of the world the minute he set foot on the soccer field. Smashing records since his teenage years, Lionel Messi’s success coincided with sheer brilliance across FC Barcelona’s teammates.
Samuel Eto’o was henceforth one of them, being a sheer force in the RCD Mallorca lineup. With such brilliance on hold, back then manager, Frank Rijkaard thought to bring in the Cameroonian striker to Camp Nou. As he entered the field of Camp Nou, Samuel Eto’o kept his form going and helped FC Barcelona win their first UCL title in 12 years.
🗣️ Reporter: “What was it like to play with Messi at Barcelona?”
🗣️ Samuel Eto’o: “No, I didn’t play with Messi. In my day, it was Messi who played with me. It’s completely different.” 🇨🇲🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/vYS6E8xQvg
— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) January 8, 2024
Partnering with Lionel Messi, many know how magical the Argentine forward is, a reporter once asked Eto’o, “What was it like to play with Messi at Barcelona?” Listening to this question, Samuel Eto’o felt violated and gave a reply which shocked many.
The reply he gave was, “No, I didn’t play with Messi. In my day, it was Messi who played with me. It’s completely different.” Giving such a response shocked several fans, and compared his arrogance to the Swedish striker, Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Samuel Eto’o’s achievements at FC Barcelona
Samuel Eto’o has always been a player to catch a spark. Being a sensation in Spain with CD Leganes, Real Madrid, and RCD Mallorca, Barcelona thought why not try and indulge him in their rebuilding lineup? Back in August 2004, this transfer was sealed for $26 million and Eto’o was unveiled to the Barcelona fans.
Across his Barcelona career, Eto’o featured across 234 matches across all competitions, wherein he went on to score 152 goals and also provided his teammates with 40 assists as well. Being a lethal force in attack, Eto’o led Barcelona to several achievements as well.
During his tenure with Barcelona, Eto’o helped his team win 2x UEFA Champions League titles, 3x La Liga titles, 1x Copa del Rey, and 2x Spanish Super Cup. Securing such brilliance in just 5 years showcases why Eto’o had every right to make such a statement.
At their peak, Eto’o was one of the most feared strikers in the world, a relentless goalscorer with a predatory instinct that rivaled anyone. He wasn’t just Messi’s sidekick he was a star in his own right, a Ballon d’Or contender, and a champion on three continents.
