- Samuel Eto’o Fils is a Cameroonian football administrator and former player who is the current president of the Cameroonian Football Federation from 11 December 2021.
Category: Richest Athletes › Soccer Players
Net Worth: $95 Million
Born: March 10, 1981
Gender: Male
Height: 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Country of Origin: Cameroon
Source of Wealth: Professional Soccer Player
Eto’o was regarded by pundits as one of the best strikers in the world, and he is regarded as one of the greatest African players of all time, winning the African Player of the Year a record four times: in 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2010.
Since retiring from professional football, he has served as the president of the Cameroonian Football Federation, promoting the sport in his home country.
As of September 2023, Samuel Eto’o’s net worth is estimated to be $95 Million.
Samuel Eto’o Facts
- Eto’o has played in six Africa Cup of Nations championships and three FIFA World Cups as a national team member.
- Samuel Eto’o has secured his reputation as one of the greatest African players, winning African Player of the Year four times between 2003 and 2010.
- He’s the leading goalscorer for Cameroon, with 55 goals scored over 112 caps.
- While playing for Barcelona, he scored over 100 goals in five seasons.
- In 2010, Samuel Eto’o became the first player to win two European continental trebles.
Early Life
Samuel Eto’o Fils was born March 10, 1981 in Douala, Cameroon, and raised in the suburb of Nkon outside Yaoundé, near Cameroon’s capital.
Growing up in the poverty-stricken region of Mvog-Ada, he was raised alongside his two brothers, David and Etienne, who also became professional footballers.
After training in Cameroon’s Kadji Sports Academy, Eto’o moved to Spain in 1997 and trained with Real Madrid’s youth academy.
Career
Samuel Eto’o’s professional career began when he was signed to play for the La Liga team Mallorca, scoring six goals in nineteen games before moving to Barcelona.
This began his involvement with some of the richest soccer teams in the world, with Eto’s leading Barcelona to victory at the 2009 UEFA Champions League Final against Manchester United.
He would later go on to win the Champions League with Inter Milan, one of few players, including Gerard Piqué, to win this accolade with two clubs.
Along with Ronaldinho and Lionel Messi, Eto’o was a crucial player for Barcelona’s three La Liga title-winning streak
In a trade between Barcelona and Inter Milan, he moved to the latter club, with Zlatan Ibrahimović taking his place on the Barcelona side.
Eto’o continued to excel on the pitch, regularly scoring goals in some of the team’s most crucial games during his tenure.
In 2013, he moved to the UK to play for Chelsea alongside Fernando Torres, joining Everton the following year on a two-year contract.
Samuel Eto’o’s Career Earnings
Samuel Eto’o’s career earnings have fluctuated over the years, but at the height of his fame and popularity, it was comparable to some of the most successful players of all time.
His transfer to Premier League clubs saw his earning potential significantly boosted, bringing him in line with his teammates at prestigious clubs.
Here’s an estimated overview of Samuel Eto’o’s career earnings:
- Samuel Eto’o’s Salary In 2000 – $6.1 million
- Samuel Eto’o’s Salary In 2004 – $36.9 million
- Samuel Eto’o’s Salary In 2009 – $37 million
- Samuel Eto’o’s Salary In 2011 – $64 million
- Samuel Eto’o’s Salary In 2012 – $54 million
- Samuel Eto’o’s Salary In 2013 – $16.4 million
- Samuel Eto’o’s Salary In 2022 – $26 million
While Samuel Eto’o’s salary has declined in recent years following his retirement from soccer, he nevertheless maintains an impressive income through his business ventures.
Samuel Eto’o’s Net Worth Annually
Samuel Eto’o’s impressive career spanning several countries has helped secure continuous growth for his net worth through lucrative transfer fees and salaries.
As one of the richest athletes in the world, his net worth has increased further thanks to his sponsorship deals, business ventures, and real estate investments.
While Eto’o’s salary as Cameroon’s football administrator isn’t as high as his professional soccer income, he continues to experience growth in his wealth and assets.
Personal Life
In 2007, Samuel Eto’o married his childhood sweetheart Georgette Eto’o, with whom he resides in Paris, with their children, Siena and Lynn.
He remains a keen football advocate, showing his support for the French team Paris Saint-Germain.
Samuel Eto’o promotes his activities as president of the Cameroonian Football Federation through his popular official Instagram account, with over six million followers.
Awards And Achievements
A celebrated soccer player considered among the best of all time at the peak of his career, Samuel Eto’o has received many awards and accolades.
These awards give him the recognition he deserves as one of the richest soccer players in the world, both as an individual player and for his teamwork.
Here are some of the most notable awards and accolades from Samuel Eto’o’s career:
- 2000: Samuel Eto’o picks up the award for Young African Player of the Year.
- 2006: While playing for Barcelona, Eto’o helps the team win the UEFA Champions League for the first time, repeating the feat in 2010.
- 2010: Samuel Eto’o is awarded the FIFA Club World Cup Golden Ball.
- 2014: He picks up the honor of the African Cup of Nations’ all-time top goalscorer.
- 2016: Eto’o is given the Globe Soccer Player Career Award.
His continued involvement as an advocate and soccer ambassador will undoubtedly see him continue to gain recognition and awards for his work.
How Does Samuel Eto’o Spend His Money?
With his outstanding net worth and earning capacity, Samuel Eto’o has been able to invest in multiple real estate properties around the world.
He owns a luxury home in Paris and a $20 million property in Portofino in Italy, previously owned by George Herbert, 5th Earl of Carnarvon.
A fan of sportscars, he has also owned some of the most expensive cars in the world, including a Ferrari 458 Italia Mansory Siracusa and a Bugatti Veyron.
Highlights
Throughout his career, Samuel Eto’o has enjoyed prolific successes and highlights on both national and international stages.
He’s broken new records and proven himself as competent as some of the most iconic players of his generation.
Here are some of the best highlights of Samuel Eto’o’s career:
- 1997: Samuel Eto’o’s career kicks off with his short but successful time with Real Madrid, followed by a brief spell at Mallorca.
- 2000: While playing for the national team, he wins a gold medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics.
- 2004: His move to Barcelona begins his successful winning streak with the team that includes winning the Champions League
- 2009: While with Barcelona, Eto’o leads them to complete the Treble, a highly sought-after accomplishment.
- 2011: He becomes one of the highest-paid players in the world after Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala signs him with a salary of $20 million per year.
As he continues to represent soccer for his home country, we can expect Samuel Eto’o to enjoy many more career highlights in the years to come.
Favorite Samuel Eto’o Quotes
Samuel Eto’o has been outspoken on a range of topics when carrying out interviews, covering everything from his work ethic as a top athlete to handling racist comments on the pitch.
His unique insights into soccer show his love for the game and dedication to bringing it to a broader audience.
Here are our favorite quotes from Samuel Eto’o:
- “I spent two great seasons playing in the Russian championship. I could have stayed there, but I went to the Premier League, which is much more competitive and requires much greater levels of fitness.” – Samuel Eto’o
- “Football is beautiful. Football is beautiful because whether you win, draw, or lose, you can go and shake your opponent’s hand, whether they’re white or black or red or blue.” – Samuel Eto’o
- “When Ronaldinho arrived at Barcelona, they did not win anything. After my arrival, we won it all.” – Samuel Eto’o
- “My dream was to become a footballer, hope to become the best someday. And I worked for it. And I’ll tell you that the work is the magic of success.” – Samuel Eto’o
- “It is important to feel the support of my family. Mentally, I can get away from everything that is football when I come home to be with them. Yes, work is a pleasure, but there will always be family.” – Samuel Eto’o
3 Amazing Lessons From Samuel Eto’o
- If You See Injustice In The World, Speak Out
Samuel Eto’o’s experiences with racism while playing professionally led to his outspoken stance on the subject.
If you have a public platform and the ability to address injustice, use your platform to highlight these issues.
- Always Be A Good Sport
A good test of character is how someone responds to victories, and Eto’o believes it is important always to handle victory with grace.
Whenever his team has won a game, he makes sure to shake the hands of his opponents and congratulate them for their efforts.
- Train Hard And Frequently If You Want To Achieve Greatness
Hard work and graft are essential if you want to become the very best person you can be, so stick to a strict training regime and you’ll notice daily improvements.
