Samuel Eto'o retires from football at 38 after glittering 22-year career

Samuel Eto'o has announced his retirement from football after a trophy-laden 22-year playing career.

The Cameroonian legend, 38, began his career with Real Madrid and went on to play for 13 clubs including Barcelona, Inter Milan, Chelsea, Everton, and Sampdoria.

In a short message on Friday night (Sept. 6) the Cameroon legend regarded as one of the greatest African players of all-time announced that he has decided to call time on his career after leaving Qatar SC earlier this year.

He wrote on Instagram: "The End. Towards a new challenge. Thank you all, big love."

Eto'o who won three La Liga titles and two Champions League trouphies with Barcelona also helped his country to win Olympic gold at the 2000 Games in Australia, the Africa Cup of Nations in 2000 and 2002.

He also scored 56 goals in 118 appearances for his nation and was voted African Player of the Year four times, a record he holds with former Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure.

See his career stat below. 

Years -Team - Apps - Goals

 

1997–2000 Real Madrid 3 (0)

1997–1998 Leganés (loan) 28 (3)

1999 Espanyol (loan) 0 (0)

2000 Mallorca (loan) 13 (6)

2000–2004 Mallorca 120 (48)

2004–2009 Barcelona 144 (108)

2009–2011 Inter Milan 67 (33)

2011–2013 Anzhi Makhachkala 53 (25)

2013–2014 Chelsea 21 (9)

2014–2015 Everton 14 (3)

2015 Sampdoria 18 (2)

2015–2018 Antalyaspor 76 (44)

2018 Konyaspor 13 (6)

2018–2019 Qatar SC 17 (6)