9 - Samuel Eto'o

vegitot

Senior Member
Yeah. Being clutch or winning trophies doesn't make you the best finisher. Drogba was extremely clutch but not the best finisher. Kane won nothing in his career but is one of the best finishers you'll ever see. Aguero's finishing is incredible and much better than Eto'o.


Not true. He was perfect for Barcelona but not "any team". He had specific strengths. He can't do Benzema's role for Madrid or Kane's role for Bayern or Milito's role for Inter.

Eto'o wasn't great at holdup play or dropping deep. While he was decent in the air he couldn't function as a focal point targetman. That's why Mourinho (who loved and rated Eto'o) needed Milito through the middle.

Eto'o was extremely sharp, quick, smart, hardworking, decent dribbler and great at getting in behind or being a fox in the box. He wasn't the most complete striker though with his back to goal.
Pure finisher then Kane or Aguero is better but Etoo is great finisher himself and with his super clutch ability, it takes him to different level.

All qualities you listed are more than enough to be a dream striker for any team.
 

Andresito

Senior Member
Staff member
Yeah. Being clutch or winning trophies doesn't make you the best finisher. Drogba was extremely clutch but not the best finisher. Kane won nothing in his career but is one of the best finishers you'll ever see. Aguero's finishing is incredible and much better than Eto'o.


Not true. He was perfect for Barcelona but not "any team". He had specific strengths. He can't do Benzema's role for Madrid or Kane's role for Bayern or Milito's role for Inter.

Eto'o wasn't great at holdup play or dropping deep. While he was decent in the air he couldn't function as a focal point targetman. That's why Mourinho (who loved and rated Eto'o) needed Milito through the middle.

Eto'o was extremely sharp, quick, smart, hardworking, decent dribbler and great at getting in behind or being a fox in the box. He wasn't the most complete striker though with his back to goal.
Well of course, how many strikers can play the specialized role of all other strikers? CFs usually have their niche, otherwise they won't be world class, generally. How many of those players mentioned could do the role of Eto'o?
 

jamrock

Senior Member
He's the best striker of his generation and In the history of football their is only 5 strikers worth taking over him.

Pele
Ronaldo
Van basten
Muller
Romario

Not one other soul, his impact when it matters and consistency speaks for itself.

If memory serves he's never lost a major final he's played in for club or country.

Milito playing a CF for inter, is simply a by product of eto'o being the more versatile of the two.
 

Temptation

Well-known member
Lewandowski, Henry and Suarez are clearly better than Eto'o but there's obvious and overwhelming bias against Lewandowski and Henry here.

You could debate Benzema vs Eto'o too even though I rate Eto'o higher.

Everywhere outside this forum, Lewandowski, Henry and Suarez are rated higher than Eto'o.

All these players peaked higher and had more longevity than Eto'o.
 

khaled_a_d

Senior Member
Lewa's longevity is tilted toward the end of his career, unlike Eto. Similar to a guy like Modric and Iniesta who both are almost equally durable but at different ends. Kluivert and Nestelroy were peak example of that, born in the same day an one peaked after the other had his career being almost over. A guy like Lamine could be at the end of his peak at 26 and it would still mean he was durable

The peaked higher is very dependent on how you view eras, there is a bit of inflated scoring numbers now considering all the data and new tactics, I don't think any of the new ones would do equally as good as Eto in early 2000's, but that's up for debate.

There is also a bit of what you want from his role? Eto could do a lot as main man, as a side kick, or even to completely sacrifice his game for the team, Only Benzema is close to him in that. There is also positional versatility,

In a way, Eto fits anywhere and in any time. He is just a winner who is there to do whatever it takes to win games.

Henry had a better career and was the better player, no doubt.
 

Temptation

Well-known member
Lewa's longevity is tilted toward the end of his career, unlike Eto. Similar to a guy like Modric and Iniesta who both are almost equally durable but at different ends. Kluivert and Nestelroy were peak example of that, born in the same day an one peaked after the other had his career being almost over. A guy like Lamine could be at the end of his peak at 26 and it would still mean he was durable

The peaked higher is very dependent on how you view eras, there is a bit of inflated scoring numbers now considering all the data and new tactics, I don't think any of the new ones would do equally as good as Eto in early 2000's, but that's up for debate.

There is also a bit of what you want from his role? Eto could do a lot as main man, as a side kick, or even to completely sacrifice his game for the team, Only Benzema is close to him in that. There is also positional versatility,

In a way, Eto fits anywhere and in any time. He is just a winner who is there to do whatever it takes to win games.

Henry had a better career and was the better player, no doubt.
Dude Lewandowski won a sextuple as the main man, topscorer and player of the tournament in every single competition with an absurd scoring rate and incredible all round performances all season. He broke Gerd Muller's all time record despite a long injury scoring 41 goals in 28 games. How many players ever have done that?

Lewandowski has like 23 goals in finals. Only Messi and Ronaldo have more.

Only Messi and Ronaldo have more knockout stage goals and CL goals than Lewandowski. His highest scoring season in the CL has only ever been bettered by Ronaldo (due to more number of games).

Lewandowski has 8 40+ goal seasons. For reference, Messi and Ronaldo have like 10. The next closest player has 3 40+ seasons.

A washed up tractor/grandpa version of him at Barca has comparable numbers to Prime Eto'o including big games like El Clasicos and Supercopa finals.
 

Temptation

Well-known member
I understand why the fans here love Eto'o so much though. He's definitely a bigger Barca legend than Lewandowski. I like Eto'o a lot actually. Eto'o is the perfect Barca striker and that Ibra deal was abysmal.

Barca Eto'o > Barca Lewy

Overall Lewy >> Overall Eto'o
 

KingLeo10

Senior Member
I understand why the fans here love Eto'o so much though. He's definitely a bigger Barca legend than Lewandowski. I like Eto'o a lot actually.

Barca Eto'o > Barca Lewy

Overall Lewy >> Overall Eto'o

Lewa the guy with 110 CL goals but not a single goal in the CL final and 1 trophy :lol:

Verus Mr. back to back trebles and scored in 2 CL finals (both huge goals). And 3 CL trophies.
 

jamrock

Senior Member
Henry
Lewa
Suarez

Are all probably more talented.

None have the one thing he has, which is a winners mentally to go with his talent which is also top tier.

In a final in any game that matters, I'm only taking the 5 I listed over eto'o.


He will score, assist, defend, fight.

Whatever it takes to win.
 

Temptation

Well-known member
Lewa the guy with 110 CL goals but not a single goal in the CL final and 1 trophy :lol:

Verus Mr. back to back trebles and scored in 2 CL finals (both huge goals).
Now compare the knockout stage goals in the CL. Is the final the only big game? Lewy's numbers in knockout stages are incredible.

You're taking a sample space of only 2 games for Lewy where he was great against PSG BTW. Just didn't score because it was a very cagey game and they triple marked him.

If we're taking just CL finals then Drogba would be a better player than Henry.

I'm pretty sure you don't believe this and agree with my point here but you gotta disagree publicly.
 

jamrock

Senior Member
Lewa the guy with 110 CL goals but not a single goal in the CL final and 1 trophy :lol:

Verus Mr. back to back trebles and scored in 2 CL finals (both huge goals).

And afcon final and Olympics final.

The man has scored a goal and won every single thing he has any business winning as player from Cameroon.

While having a 2:1 goals ratio in his career.

So let's not pretend he isn't a top tier goal scorer, to match some of the best in history.
 

Home of Barca Fans

Top