<P> Eto'o scored over 100 goals in five seasons with Barcelona, and is also the record holder in number of appearances by an African player in La Liga . In 2010, he became the first player to win two European continental trebles following his back - to - back achievements with Barcelona and Inter Milan . He is the second player in history to score in two UEFA Champions League finals and the fourth player, after Marcel Desailly, Paulo Sousa and Gerard Piqué, to have won the trophy two years in a row with different teams . </P> <P> As a member of the Cameroon national team, Eto'o was a part of the squad that won the 2000 Olympic tournament . He has also participated in four World Cups and six Africa Cup of Nations (being champion twice) and is the all - time leading scorer in the history of the Africa Cup of Nations, with 18 goals . He is also Cameroon's all - time leading scorer and third most capped player, with 56 goals from 118 caps . He announced his retirement from international football on 27 August 2014 . In 2015, he received the Golden Foot Award . </P> <P> Having trained at the Kadji Sports Academy in Cameroon, Eto'o joined Real Madrid's youth academy in 1997, but he could only train with Real Madrid B, as he was still a minor . Real Madrid B were relegated to the third tier, Segunda División B, where non-EU players are not allowed, and as a result, he was loaned to second division Leganés for the 1997--98 season . After making 30 appearances for the club and only scoring four goals, he returned to Madrid following the end of the 1998--99 season . In January 1999, he was loaned out to Espanyol, but failed to make any appearances for the club . </P> <P> The next season, in the winter transfer window, he transferred to La Liga team Mallorca on loan, scoring six goals in 19 games . At the end of the season, Eto'o left Real Madrid, signing a permanent deal with Mallorca for a club record £ 4.4 million fee . In his second season, he scored 11 goals and began to garner attention throughout the league . Mallorca President Mateo Alemany said of his style of play, "I doubt if there is any other player in the world who would please the fans more at this moment ." Eto'o himself commented on his rise to stardom, "I like it here in Mallorca; I have always been well looked after, the fans appreciate me and I also have a contract that runs until 2007 ." He returned the fans' appreciation when he donated € 30,000 in meals to travelling Mallorca supporters who made the journey to the Copa del Rey final against Recreativo de Huelva in 2003 . Mallorca won the match 3--0, with Eto'o scoring two late goals to seal the victory . </P>

Who is the most decorated soccer player of all time