Do you still remember the ageless Roger Milla dancing on the corner flag at the 1990 FIFA World Cup? The prolific goalscoring of Samuel Eto’o? or The incredible saves by Thomas N’Kono?
These players left an amazing impression on the game. In this guide, you will learn about the top 10 greatest Cameroon soccer players of all time.
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Who Are The Best Cameroon Soccer Players Of All Time?
1. Samuel Eto’o
Samuel Eto’o is a big name in Cameroon football. He’s not just a player; now he’s the boss of the Cameroonian Football Federation. Eto’o had a remarkable career, winning the African Player of the Year award a record four times.
He caught attention when he moved to Real Madrid at just 16., where he faced tough competition, so he went on loan a few times before landing at Mallorca in 2000.
At Mallorca, he set a club record with 70 goals. Then, in 2004, he joined Barcelona, recording 130 goals in five seasons. His time at Barcelona was golden, winning La Liga three times and the UEFA Champions League twice.
Eto’o played a massive part in both Champions League final victories, scoring in each. His performances earned him recognition, coming in third for the FIFA World Player of the Year in 2005 and making it twice into the FIFA FIFPro World XI.
Moving to Inter Milan in 2009, he became the first player to win two European continental trebles. He made history as the fourth player to win the Champions League two years in a row with different teams.
Despite brief stints elsewhere, including Chelsea and Everton, Eto’o found his scoring touch again in the Süper Lig with Antalyaspor. In 2015, he won the Golden Foot Award.
Besides his club career, Eto’o represented Cameroon, winning the Olympics in 2000 and the Africa Cup of Nations in 2000 and 2002.
He’s been to four World Cups and six Africa Cup of Nations tournaments. You can tell that Eto’o’s a legend in Cameroon’s football history, being their top scorer and the third-most capped player.
2. Roger Milla
Roger Milla is one of the greatest soccer players from Cameroon. Milla made a big name for himself in international football, having played in three World Cups for the Cameroon national team.
What’s unique about Milla is that he became a superstar at an older age. At 38, when many players retire, he impressed at the 1990 FIFA World Cup.
He scored four goals, making him the oldest goalscorer in World Cup history. Due to his performances In the tournament, Cameroon got to the quarter-finals for the first time. Even at 42, Milla was still balling.
In the 1994 FIFA World Cup, he scored again, breaking his record as the oldest goalscorer. Milla had a special celebration style, often dancing at the corner flag after scoring.
In 2004, Pelé included him in the FIFA 100 list, honoring the greatest living players. The Confederation of African Football also recognized his greatness, naming him the best African player of the previous 50 years in 2007. Milla’s World Cup performance was outstanding.
At the time of his retirement, he held the record for the most goals scored by an African player in the FIFA World Cup finals, with five goals. Although Ghana’s Asamoah Gyan later surpassed this record.
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3. Geremi
Geremi is one of the famous Cameroon soccer players. He started playing football at Racing FC, before moving to Cerro Porteño in Paraguay.
From there, he joined Gençlerbirliği in Turkey before making a big move to Real Madrid. At Real Madrid, he won two UEFA Champions League titles and was even nominated for the prestigious Ballon d’Or award.
Later, Geremi played for Chelsea. He scored crucial goals for Chelsea, including a memorable free-kick against West Ham United. During his time at Chelsea, the club won the Premier League twice.
Geremi then moved to Newcastle United, where he also had some notable moments, such as being appointed club captain.
He also had a great time with the Cameroon national team, winning Olympic Gold in 2000 and two Africa Cup of Nations titles in 2000 and 2002.
4. Thomas N’Kono
Thomas N’Kono is a former Cameroonian football player and one of Africa’s best goalkeepers. N’Kono played for Espanyol in Spain for nearly ten years, featuring in over 300 matches.
He also represented Cameroon in three World Cups and four Africa Cup of Nations tournaments. Starting his career in Cameroon with Canon Yaoundé and Tonnerre Yaoundé, N’Kono moved to Spain in 1982, after impressive performances in the FIFA World Cup.
He won the African Footballer of the Year award in 1979 and 1982. At Espanyol, he hardly ever missed a game, playing 333 competitive matches.
Also, N’Kono represent Cameroon in three World Cups, from 1982 to 1994. In 1982 and 1990, he was the starting goalkeeper as Cameroon reached the group stage and quarter-finals, respectively.
In 1994, he was called up as backup but didn’t play. After retiring from playing, N’Kono became a coach. He served as an assistant coach for Cameroon and also worked as a goalkeeping coach at Espanyol.
However, he faced controversy in 2002 when he was arrested in Mali for alleged “black magic” before a match. Despite this, he continued his coaching career, briefly serving as interim manager for Cameroon.
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5. Laureano Bisan-Etame Mayer
One of the most famous Cameroon footballers is Lauren, also known as Laureano Bisan-Etame Mayer. Lauren made a big mark in his career, especially during his time with Arsenal.
He was part of the legendary ‘Invincibles’ squad in the 2003–04 season and grabbed the Premier League title. Winning trophies was kind of his thing at Arsenal. But his success isn’t just limited to club football.
Lauren also did well on the international stage. He won an Olympic Gold Medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, representing Cameroon.
And not just once, but twice, he helped Cameroon clinch the Africa Cup of Nations titles in 2000 and 2002. Do you know Lauren holds both Cameroonian and Spanish nationality? That’s because he grew up in Spain.
6. Rigobert Song
Rigobert Song Bahanag was a great defender, mainly playing as a center-back but also capable of filling in as a right-back.
One of his remarkable achievements is his participation in eight Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, being the captain for five of them. This feat makes him a record-holder.
Also, Song played a record 35 consecutive games in the Africa Cup of Nations. He was instrumental in leading Cameroon to victory in the Africa Cup of Nations in 2000 and 2002.
With 137 international appearances, Song holds the record for the most-capped player in the history of the Cameroon national team.
Moreover, he represented Cameroon in four FIFA World Cups, in 1994, 1998, 2002, and 2010. Song began his professional career with Metz and helped the club secure the Coupe de la Ligue in 1996.
Then he went to the Serie A in Italy with Salernitana and the Premier League in England with Liverpool and West Ham United.
After stints in Germany and France, Song spent four successful years in Turkey with Galatasaray, winning two Süper Lig titles and the Turkish Cup.
Nicknamed “Big Chief” by Turkish fans, Song holds a unique record alongside Zinedine Zidane as the only player to receive red cards in two different World Cups.
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7. Patrick Mboma
Patrick Mboma is one of the greatest Cameroon soccer players of all time. In fact, he’s the fourth-highest goal-scorer for the Cameroon national team.
Mboma began his football career in 1993, then he went on to play for various clubs including Châteauroux, Paris Saint-Germain, Metz, and many others.
He even played in countries like Japan and Italy before retiring in 2005. For Cameroon, Mboma made a significant impact, scoring 33 goals in 57 matches.
He played in two FIFA World Cups, in 1998 and 2002. Mboma helped Cameroon win the gold medal at the 2000 Olympics and led them to victories in the 2000 and 2002 African Nations Cups.
In 2000, he was named African Footballer of the Year for his outstanding performances. His overhead goal against France in 2000 still rings in my head.
8. François Omam-Biyik
François Omam-Biyik is one of the top players In Cameroon football history. He made a big impact both in his home country and on the international stage.
Omam-Biyik had success playing for different French clubs before joining Marseille in 1992. Although his time there was short, he made a great Impression before moving to Lens later that year.
He also played in Mexico with Club América and Puebla F.C., and had brief times with European clubs in the late nineties, wrapping up his career after the 1999–2000 season.
In addition to his club career, Omam-Biyik had a remarkable international career. One of his greatest moments was in the 1990 World Cup when he scored a crucial header against Argentina, helping Cameroon secure a historic 1–0 victory.
Alongside his brother André, he played a key role in Cameroon’s journey to the quarter-finals in that tournament. He continued to impress in the following World Cups, including scoring against Sweden in 1994.
Omam-Biyik’s dedication to the national team saw him being called up for his third World Cup in 1998. Throughout his international career, he scored a total of 26 goals in 73 appearances, making him Cameroon’s record World Cup player with 11 matches across three tournaments.
9. Joseph-Antoine Bell
Joseph-Antoine Bell is considered one of the best Cameroon footballers, having begun his career with clubs like Eclair Douala, Oryx Douala, and Prisons Buea before joining Union Douala in Cameroon.
Afterward, he played for Africa Sports National and Al-Mokawloon al-Arab in Egypt. At the age of 31, Bell moved to France to play for Olympique de Marseille.
Despite starting late, he played consistently over three seasons. Then he had spells with Sporting Toulon Var and FC Girondins de Bordeaux, ending his playing days with AS Saint-Étienne.
Bell’s career wasn’t without challenges; malaria affected him, prompting his involvement in the United Against Malaria campaign in 2009.
He represented Cameroon at the 1982 and 1990 FIFA World Cups, although he didn’t play. However, he made his debut in the 1994 World Cup, enduring a rough aftermath with enraged fans setting fire to his house.
Also, Bell participated in the 1984 Summer Olympics and contributed to Cameroon’s victories in the 1984 and 1988 African Cup of Nations.
Despite being behind Thomas N’Kono in the national team’s pecking order, Bell’s talent and contributions remain highly regarded in the history of Cameroonian soccer.
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10. Vincent Aboubakar
Aboubakar’s contribution to Cameroonian football is remarkable. While he ranks third in the national team’s all-time top scorers, behind legends like Roger Milla and Samuel Eto’o, his impact is indisputable.
He’s known for his skills as a striker, playing for Beşiktaş in Turkey. Aboubakar moved to Europe in 2010 to play in Ligue 1 for the likes of Valenciennes and Lorient, scoring 26 goals in 109 appearances.
In 2015, he signed for Porto, netting 58 goals in 125 matches and secured a Primeira Liga title. Abubakar also won the Turkish Süper Lig with Beşiktaş in 2017 and 2021.
With the Cameroon national team, he’s recorded 100 caps since his debut in 2010, playing in multiple FIFA World Cups and Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.
He scored the decisive goal in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations final and emerged as the top scorer in the 2021 edition.