Former Barcelona, Inter Milan Striker Samuel Eto'o Announces Retirement

Three-time UEFA Champions League winner Samuel Eto'o announced his retirement from football on Friday after a 22-year senior career.

The 38-year-old took to Instagram to announce the news, writing: "The end. Towards a new challenge. Thank you all, big love."

Eto'o played for some of Europe's biggest clubs during his stellar career, including Barcelona, Inter Milan, Chelsea and Real Madrid, where he joined the youth academy in 1996.

He also made 118 appearances for Cameroon before his international retirement in 2014. He was named African Footballer of the Year four times in his career.

After a spell at Real between 1997 and 2000, during which he was loaned out three times, Eto'o joined Mallorca permanently in 2000 and won the Copa del Rey in 2003, scoring twice in the final. 

He earned a move to Barca in 2004 and established himself as one of the world's best forwards at the Camp Nou.

Eto'o won La Liga three times during his spell in Catalonia and was the division's top scorer in 2004-05 and 2005-06.

He also won the Champions League with the Blaugrana in 2006 and 2009, netting in the finals against Arsenal and Manchester United, respectively.

Having helped Barca to win the treble in 2008-09, Eto'o moved to Inter Milan, with whom he won another Champions League, the Serie A title and the Coppa Italia in his debut season:

Eto'o's two seasons at Inter were followed by spells at Anzhi Makhachkala, Chelsea, Everton, Sampdoria, Antalyaspor and Konyaspor. His final club was Qatar SC, whom he joined in August 2018.