Goal Rich List: Samuel Eto'o richest player in Africa

Samuel Eto'o has been ranked as the richest African footballer as evidenced by the new edition of the "Goal Rich List" ranking list.

Even though the Cameroon striker gains a lot, he also spends a lot for humanitarian works.

Being a footballer is not always about being on the pitch or scoring a goal but to also defend one's personal belief.

Whereas he was humiliated through a sex tape blackmail and other accusing fingers pointed at him, the midfielder did not paid heed but only continued to be the best and offer his help to charity when the need arises.

The Antalyaspor player commits himself in whatever he sets to do. Even to the extent of rallying against Islamists. The star of Cameroon football launched the "Yellow Whistl Blower FC" ("the Club of yellow whistles") to raise funds to help the victims of abuses of the Islamic sect Boko Haram.

National Superhero

Eto'o also came to the rescue of people who suffered from infectious diseases like hemorrhagic fever. Alongside FIFA and the World Bank, the footballer has pledged to promote programs; "11 for Health" and "11 against Ebola" in Africa.

As if that was not enough to give him a clear conscience, the attacker did not only use his money for charity work. He regularly offered huge sums to hospitals, schools and football academies. In late October, the footballer bought a house for the Embassy of Cameroon in Washington, offered for sale by the State of Cameroon.

The first African in the ranking

If Samuel Eto'o can afford to be so generous, so he owns capital which may still be the envy of Benzema and Valbuena. When the former captain of the Indomitable Lions played in the Anzhi Makhachkala club, he was simply the highest paid player in the world and half of his wealth was generated during his time in Russia.

According to the ranking of the richest footballers, the Cameroonian is still thriving. In the new edition of the annual top "Goal Rich List," Eto'o Fils is the first African on the ranking with a fortune estimated at 87 million Euros, against 62 million euros for the Ivorian Yaya Toure.

Globally, Samuel Eto'o ranked seventh in this top 20 that precede the only Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo (€ 210 million), Argentina's Lionel Messi (approximately EUR 200 million), the Brazilian Neymar (€ 135 million), the Swede Zlatan Ibrahimovic (€ 105 million), Britain's Wayne Rooney (€ 103 million) and the Brazilian Kaká (96 million euros).

The ranking is based on wages, contract durations, bonuses, advertising revenue and other benefits of sponsorship.

That said, Samuel Eto'o says that it is for charity work, "regardless of the money you have."