“I called him after his World Cup victory, he was…”

Samuel Eto'o and Lionel Messi have remained close friends since their time together at FC Barcelona, ​​where they were teammates between 2004 and 2009.

At that time, Eto'o was already the club's star striker while Messi, fresh from La Masia, was making his first steps in the first team.

Even after Samuel Eto'o left for Inter Milan in 2009, the two men continued to maintain a friendly relationship, and they stayed in touch. Eto'o, now president of the Cameroon Football Federation (Fécafoot), was one of the first people to congratulate Messi after Argentina won the 2022 World Cup.

During the broadcast The BridgeEto'o shared a touching anecdote about their exchange. He said that when he called Messi to congratulate him, he found him as reserved as ever, despite his age and success. “When Messi won the World Cup, I called him and greeted him by saying 'World Champion'. He was shy on the phone, as always,” he explained.

Eto'o also added: “Messi never changes. He always remains humble and reserved off the pitch, but as soon as he has a ball at his feet, he becomes a real lion. Everyone loves him for his simplicity and modesty.”

This anecdote illustrates both Messi's humility and the deep friendship that binds these two football legends.