Cameroon's top scorers: Aboubakar overtakes Milla and closes in on Eto'o

1. Samuel Eto’o: 56 goals

Samuel Eto’o is unquestionably the greatest goalscorer in Cameroon national team history, with 56 goals in 118 caps. He made his first appearance for the Indomitable Lions in 1997, aged just 16. Over the years, Eto’o became a mainstay of the side, playing at four World Cups (1998, 2002, 2010, 2014) and in six editions of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), winning it twice, in 2000 and 2002.

Named African Player of the Year four times, the man who is now president of the Cameroonian Football Federation (Fécafoot) did more than light up stadiums in his country's colours. His honours list is also dotted with prestigious titles won with big clubs such as FC Barcelona and Inter Milan.

1. Vincent Aboubakar: 44 goals

Vincent Aboubakar is currently climbing fast in the history of Cameroonian football. With 43 goals in 106 caps to date, he is one of the most prolific strikers of his generation. He made his debut in 2013 and quickly earned his place in the team thanks to his outstanding performances for European clubs. Aboubakar shone at AFCON 2017, where he was a key figure in the Indomitable Lions' triumph over Egypt. He did so again in the third-place play-off at the 2021 edition, where the former Porto player struck a vital double in 2 minutes when his side were trailing 3-1.

1. Roger Milla: 43 goals

Roger Milla, nicknamed "the old lion", is a living legend of Cameroonian football. He scored 43 goals in 102 caps, making him, alongside Samuel Eto’o, one of the two most respected strikers in the country's history. He made his debut in 1980, but it was at the 1990 World Cup in Italy that he truly made his mark. At 38, the African Ballon d’Or winner (1976 and 1990) emerged as the team's top scorer, with memorable celebrations that captivated the whole world.

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Milla was also a major figure at AFCON, helping Cameroon to victory in 1984 and 1988. His influence on the pitch and his knack of scoring in decisive moments made him a symbol of the resilience and passion of Cameroonian football. To this day, his legacy endures and inspires many young footballers, in Cameroon and beyond Africa's borders.

1. Patrick Mboma: 33 goals

His international career began in 1994, and he soon showed he was a formidable finisher. With 33 goals in 56 caps, Patrick Mboma was a key player at AFCON 2000, playing a decisive role in Cameroon's title win by scoring crucial goals throughout the tournament. He then won the African Ballon d’Or, before landing another AFCON two years later. Top scorer of that 2002 edition (3 goals), he came back in 2004 and scored 4. Besides his international contribution, the best player at the 2000 Olympics, where he finished with a gold medal around his neck, enjoyed a fruitful club career, notably in France, where he played for Paris Saint-Germain, FC Metz and Chateauroux.

1. François Omam-Biyik: 26 goals

François Omam-Biyik scored 26 goals in 75 caps, having made his national team debut in 1987. The 58-year-old enjoyed his moment of glory at the 1990 World Cup, where he scored crucial goals that took Cameroon to the quarter-finals, an unprecedented feat for an African side at the time. He scored a spectacular header against Diego Maradona's Argentina, the reigning world champions, in the opening match on 8 June at the San Siro.

His influence was not limited to goals. Omam-Biyik was a leader on the pitch and a model of hard work for his team-mates. After his international career, he continued to contribute to the development of Cameroonian football, sharing his experience as assistant coach, a post he currently holds.