Roger
Milla
(Cameroon)

Roger Milla at 38 was the star of the Cameroon team of
1990, scoring four goals as they became the first
African side to reach a World Cup quarter-final. Born
at Yaounde the capital of Cameroon, Milla began with
Eclair Douala, then played for Leopards of Douala.
With his next club, Tonnerre of Yaounde, he won
Cameroon league and cup medals.
Africa's Footballer of the year in 1976, he moved to
France in 1977 and spent two seasons at Valenciennes
before being transferred to Monaco. He had four
seasons with Bastia and between 1984 and 1987 was was
with St. Etienne before a move to Montpellier. He won
the French cup with Monaco in 1980 and with Bastia in
1981 and collected a French Second division
championship medal with St. Etienne. After 152 goals
in the French league, he retired to the French Reunion
Islands to play for Saint Pierre, helping them win the
local league title in 1990.
After 81 full caps, Milla was tempted out of
retirement for his second World Cup, returning after
the coach got the nod of approval from the other
players. In five games, all as a
"super-sub", Milla scored the two goals
which beat Romania and the two that beat Colombia. In
the quarter- final against England he was involved in
Cameroon's two goals. Milla, who changed his name from
Miller to sound more African, is the oldest man to
score in the final stages of a World cup. He was 42
when he scored against Russia in the 1994 World Cup.
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