Ask Eto 'o for a profile.

Full name: Eto 'o ·Samuel Eto'o

Birthday: 198 1 March 10

Height:180cm

Weight: 75 kg

Current team: Cameroon national team/Barcelona

Former team: Mallorca

Position on the court: striker

Super Black Pearl Eto 'o

If Shevchenko is the hottest European player in 2004 and Ronaldo Jr. is the most popular American player, then Eto 'o in Africa is the most famous player. After joining Barcelona, Eto 'o quickly burst into his superstar potential and became a super killer that frightened defenders all over Europe.

Not long ago, at the 2004 annual meeting of the African Football Federation held in Durban, South Africa, Eto 'o beat Ivory Coast international Drogba and Nigeria international Okocha and was elected as the player of the year by virtue of his outstanding performance in La Liga this season. Eto' o has thus become a player after Ghana? Bailey, Liberian player George? Victoria and Senegalese player Diouf became the fourth player to win the "African Footballer of the Year" in a row.

Eto 'o was unable to go to Durban to receive the prize because he participated in the Southeast Asian Tsunami Rescue Charity Tournament organized by FIFA in Barcelona, Spain. However, the 24-year-old young man expressed his gratitude through video recording: "I am very excited to win this honor again. I don't think I do better than others, just because I am luckier. What I want to say is that there are many equally talented players in Africa. They are the hope of African football. "

From Apprentice to Master

Like many African players, Eto 'o was born in a poor family in Cameroon, which was overwhelmed by the natural disasters in Otawa all the year round. Young Eto 'o can't afford to go to school, so he can only play football with his friends to kill time. Soon, this guy showed his unusual talent and was attracted by a talent scout and agent named yakubu. From then on, he began his own gold-seeking adventure in Europe.

Compared with most young people who go to Europe from the African continent, Eto 'o is undoubtedly lucky, because he doesn't need to go to some low-level leagues in Spain or France to hone himself, because his club has a very famous name: Real Madrid. However, behind the luck, misfortune is often hidden. 1997, Eto 'o, who was only 16 years old, signed a work contract with Real Madrid, but he obviously could not compete with big-name stars like Suk, Mijatovic, Raul and Guan Mingsheng for the main position. Real Madrid immediately loaned him to La ganis, a Serie B team, hoping that Eto 'o would get more playing opportunities there.

A year later, Eto 'o returned to Madrid and finally became a member of the Real Madrid League. However, that season was disastrous for him. On the one hand, because of injuries, on the other hand, because of the manager's distrust, Eto 'o only played for Real Madrid once in the whole season. 1999, Eto 'o, who didn't want to spend his youth on the bench in the Bernabeu, asked the club to rent himself out, and this time he came to Mallorca, a Mediterranean island country. In the first half of that season, Eto 'o 12 scored 6 goals, which obviously made Real Madrid, which was in trouble at that time, quite tempted. He recalled Eto 'o in the winter transfer, hoping that he could become a fireman. Eto 'o returned to Madrid with full confidence, but it was still a pot of cold water waiting for him. I played twice in half a season, and Eto 'o almost stayed on the bench for another half a year. The reality made Eto 'o give up Real Madrid completely, and he played for Mallorca for the next four seasons, during which he helped this small team in southern Spain win the UEFA Cup runner-up and the King's Cup of Spain.

In the summer of 2004, Eto 'o decided to completely change his career. Eto 'o doesn't want to keep vacillating between the two clubs until Mallorca buys his 50% ownership from Real Madrid. Atletico Madrid once wanted him, but Eto 'o made it clear that he didn't want to return to Madrid. Barcelona extended an olive branch to this genius. After spending 20 million euros in laporta, Eto 'o changed from Real Madrid to Real Madrid's sworn enemy.

"I didn't feel really calm until I came to Barcelona. I have everything I want here, victory, championship and constant goals. " In 23 La Liga matches this season, Eto 'o has scored 17 goals, equalling his goal record in Mallorca last season. "During my seven years in Spain, I started as an apprentice and finally achieved today's achievements." Eto 'o said, "I thank all the people who helped me, and they led me to the present height."

Solve old grievances with one goal.

"I don't have any complaints about Real Madrid. If I were the head coach, I would also choose those famous stars, as every big club does. " Although Eto 'o never denied that he hated Real Madrid, in fact, whenever Eto 'o played against Real Madrid, he always played beyond his level. Last season, Eto 'o led Mallorca to sweep Real Madrid 5-0 at the Bernabeu Stadium. At that time, all the fans of Real Madrid shouted his name, and impulsive fans even posted slogans outside the training ground, asking the club to exchange Cristiano Ronaldo for Eto 'o.

Although Mallorca can often break the goal of Real Madrid, Eto 'o's goal can't arouse the anger of Real Madrid fans because the gap between the two teams is too big. However, after Cameroon goal machine joined Barcelona, everything was different. Eto 'o's goal can not only help Catalans beat Real Madrid, but also decide the league title.

20041October 20th, La Liga112nd round, Barcelona played against Real Madrid at home. Nearly 80,000 fans poured into the Camp Nou stadium. Because of Barcelona's excellent record this season, all Catalan fans want to see their team humiliate their old rival Real Madrid. Eto 'o didn't keep anxious fans waiting too long. In the 28th minute, Ronaldinho's accurate diagonal long pass found the space in Real Madrid's left backcourt. Carlos wanted to give the ball to goalkeeper casillas, but just as the Real Madrid goalkeeper was about to get it, a black lightning came out from the diagonal, grabbed it and shot it into an empty net. When Carlos and casillas looked at each other, Eto 'o was cheered by all the fans. Since then, Barcelona has become more and more brave, beating Real Madrid 3-0, laying a solid foundation for riding the dust in the standings this season.

This goal is not wonderful, and it doesn't even need any technical content. All it takes is Eto 'o to show his amazing speed. "This is the most important goal of my career so far, and I regard it as a kind of self-salvation." Eto 'o couldn't hide his excitement after the game. "After the game with Real Madrid, I won't have the slightest mood swings. I thank Real Madrid for bringing me to Spain, but now I only have Barcelona in my heart. "

Maybe it's naive Eto 'o who thinks too simply. Real Madrid fans can tolerate him joining Mallorca and even beating Real Madrid at the Bernabeu, but they can't tolerate Eto 'o wearing a Barcelona jersey as an enemy of Real Madrid. In April 10, there will be a revenge war at Real Madrid's home. Now they are seven points behind Barcelona in the standings, and that game will be the focus of the final championship. At present, radical fans have indicated that they will treat Eto 'o like Barcelona fans treat Figo. "Madrid people have never been warm to me, and I hope not this time." Eto 'o was a little uneasy about returning to the Bernabeu.

Find a spiritual home

Playing football in Europe, there are always some wandering feelings about African players. From Madrid to Mallorca, then to Barcelona, Eto 'o goes from central to southern Spain, and then to the seaport in the northeast. "I don't know where I will go next season, so I won't live with my family unless I can decide my future one day." Eto' o once complained.

All this has changed since joining Barcelona. Now Eto 'o's parents and brother have moved to a high-class villa in the rich area of Barcelona to take care of his daily life. "I like Barcelona, not just because of football. The food, environment and everything here make me feel very comfortable. " Eto 'o said, "If the club puts the contract renewal in front of me, I will sign my name on it immediately, anytime and anywhere."

"As far as I can remember, no African player has achieved great success in Spain." Eto' o said. Is it true?/You don't say. Both Pele and Diouf became famous in France, while Via won the honor of European Footballer of the Year in Italy. "Fortunately, I don't have to face the oppressive defense of the Italian defender, and I don't have to endure the cold climate in England. I like Spain, where there is warm sunshine and there is a lot of open space between the defender and the goalkeeper. " Eto 'o explained why he likes Barcelona: the sun, the beach and the football style that is conducive to his speed advantage.

Love goes both ways. Eto 'o loves Barcelona, and Barcelona loves this Cameroonian boy. "He is the most diligent African player I have ever seen." Head coach Rijkaard commented on his top scorer. At the beginning of the season, in order to make room for Swedish center Larsson, Eto 'o was placed on the right wing by Rijkaard. He has no complaints about this and is willing to contribute wonderful assists to his teammates. After Larsson's injury, Eto 'o returned to his good center position and performed equally well. Ronaldinho also praised his frontcourt partner very much. "I don't need to worry too much about my pass, because he can always catch up with the ball and send it into the opponent's door."

Besides Barcelona, Eto 'o has another concern, and that is his motherland. "I hope I can help Cameroon appear in Germany in 2006." Eto' o is looking forward to it. "Our performance in Korea is very bad. I used to believe that we could at least enter the knockout stage. Now we have a chance to prove that we can do better. " Among Eto 'o's respected predecessors, huh? Neither Bailey nor Via has participated in the World Cup, and neither has Diouf. "Maybe we can make a new breakthrough." 1990 When Cameroon reached the quarterfinals of the World Cup, Eto 'o was still a child. Now, he has taken uncle Milla's gun.