With 26 goals, the striker was crowned top scorer of the Spanish League this season.
Cameroon’s international football striker, Samuel Eto’o Fils, was last Saturday crowned "Pichichi"; a title bestowed on the top scorer of the Spanish League. The goal getter scored the opener in Barcelona’s 3-1 away defeat by Athletic Bilbao, in their delayed final game last Saturday, to finish with 26 goals, one ahead of Valencia`s David Villa. He is the seventh player of Barcelona to grab the title. It’s a great feat for the striker who missed out on the honour last year when Villarreal`s Diego Forlan pipped him at the post on the last day of the season. His name will henceforth be written in golden letters in the annals of one of the strongest European leagues.
The African footballer of the year gave credit to his team mates without whom he would not have achieved the title. "It has been a team effort although only one
person gets the award. We have worked hard all season and have got our just rewards," Eto`o told reporters after the game.
The title of "pichichi" comes as the icing on Eto’o’s cake. The striker has been in superlative form this season. Eto’o emerged best scorer at the 2006 African Cup of Nations in Egypt with five goals. He was crowned African footballer of the year for the third consecutive time last February and voted third best FIFA footballer of the year in December 2005. The Turkish newspaper, Zaman Daily, also crowned him as the best player of the year, among other titles. Last week, Eto’o was voted best player of the final of the Champions League that pitted Barcelona against Arsenal.
Eto’o also had several honours with his team FC Barcelona: won the European Champions League last week, grabbed the Spanish Super Cup earlier in the season and emerged champions of Spain for the second consecutive time.
