Somewhat perplexing later career choices have had a deep impact on the perception of Samuel Eto’o’s career and, as a result, has led to somewhat polarising opinions over how dominant a player he’s been.

There are no doubts Africa has produced many great players who’ve gone on to star in Europe, but Samuel Eto’o remains one of the continents greatest contemporary exports.

Love or loath him, often perceived as arrogant beyond belief, few can discount the trophy-laden career he’s had, during which he’s enjoyed success both at club and international level.

On Thursday March 10, the former Cameroon international celebrates his 35th birthday and an 18-year career in football which in its dying embers — for many — has failed to live up to its highest peaks.

There is no doubt that when talking about African strikers, one of the first names to come to mind is the Cameroonian’s. That being said, it is impossible to avoid the mention of Didier Drogba either, in very much the same way that Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have become the source of endless debate.

Indeed it is very difficult to differentiate who between Drogba and Eto’o is better, although general perception might suggest that it is the Ivorian who wins that poll. Perhaps the reason for it is the very recent image of the ex-Chelsea striker sinking the winning penalty to help the Blues lift the Champions League in 2011/12.

Conversely, the 35-year-old’s anonymous stint at Stamford Bridge is mostly remembered for his old man routine by the corner flag to hit back at former coach Jose Mourinho’s quip, who’d suggested the striker was past it.

Indeed football and fans both can both have rather short memories, and although an amusing anecdote, it falls short of encompassing the sheer dominance of Eto’o on the European stage.

Before Luis Suarez, he was the attacking lynchpin for Barcelona, the perfect striker in Pep Guardiola’s system and best foil for Lionel Messi. Eto’o helped guide the Blaugrana to a treble of trophies, and was thanked for his services by being sold to Inter.

Eto’o had the last laugh however. Meeting the Catalan outfit in the Champions League semi-finals the following year, he dumped them out to lead the Nerazzurri — alongside Diego Milito and Wesley Sneijder — to their own treble: the Cameroonian’s second in consecutive years.

The problem thereafter likely became that the forward disappeared from the public eye, moving to Russia where he spent two years at Anzhi Makhachkala. Moves to the Premier League with Chelsea and Everton failed to really thrust him back into the limelight, as age started catching up to him.

After a quick return to Serie A with Sampdoria, he headed for Turkey in 2015 where he still is today; although not even with any of the Istanbul giants as he pitches up for Antalyaspor instead.

Perception is everything, especially in football. And although none can fault him for making more financially driven moves following his success at Barca and Inter, one must wonder if it hasn’t dimmed the spotlight on his burgeoning trophy cabinet.

Even at international level, where he twice won the African Cup of Nations, gold medal at the 2000 Olympics and was four times named African Player of the Year, final memories of him aren’t positive ones.

Eto’o and Cameroon had not qualified for two AFCON tournaments and his rather convenient injury, ahead of the Indomitable Lions’ final 2014 World Cup group game before they were eliminated, will leave a sour taste in most observers’ mouths.

However Eto’o is much more than the arrogant, money-driven persona he portrays in public. It is just a character, often well illustrated by the way he sometimes refers to himself in the third person.

Who Eto’o really is however, is someone who’s given a lot to the game through his goals, trophies and personal honours. He’s also given back to the sport via his public advocacy against racism and youth development in his home nation through the building of football academies.