Former Chelsea and Barcelona striker Samuel Eto’o has been declared the biological father of a 22-year-old woman by a court in Madrid, following a legal process that began in 2018.
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Eto’o, 40, did not attend any court proceedings and has never publicly acknowledged paternity. However, Court No. 83 in Madrid ruled in favour of the woman, accepting the evidence presented by her mother.
According to court documents, the woman’s mother met Eto’o at a Madrid nightclub in 1997, when the Cameroonian footballer was playing for CD Leganés on loan from Real Madrid. The brief relationship led to a pregnancy in early 1998. The mother claimed that Eto’o initially promised to take responsibility but later cut off communication. Attempts to reach him during the pregnancy reportedly failed.
Despite being summoned, Eto’o did not respond to the lawsuit or appear in court. Based on the submitted biological evidence, the court ruled in favour of the plaintiff and ordered Eto’o to pay a monthly allowance of €1,400, retroactive to the date the legal action was filed.
Samuel Eto’o is regarded as one of Africa’s most iconic footballers. He rose to international prominence with FC Barcelona, winning two UEFA Champions League titles, and later added a third with Inter Milan. His club career spanned several top European sides, including Anzhi Makhachkala, Chelsea, Everton, Sampdoria, and Qatar SC.
On the international stage, Eto’o won two Africa Cup of Nations titles and an Olympic gold medal with Cameroon. He retired from professional football in 2019.
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