Comparing Pierre Emerick Aubameyang’s Goal Scoring Stats to Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto’o

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang continues to score for fun at Olympique Marseille
• The Gabonese has had a successful career, and his numbers are quite impressive
• His stats are almost similar to those of legends, Didier Drogba and Samuel Eto'o

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang became the all-time top scorer in the Europa League on Thursday, February 22, after scoring for Olympique Marseille in the knockout round.

The 34-year-old remains one of Africa's greatest strikers of all time.

When talking about the best African marksmen of all time, names like Didier Drogba and Samuel Eto'o come up regularly, but Aubameyang has always been overlooked.

His numbers can hold up against any African footballer. However, his lack of major silverware has negatively impacted his legacy in that discourse.

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Drogba and Eto'o played for top clubs in Europe under legendary managers and won plenty of trophies. Meanwhile, Aubameyang never got that chance, even at his peak.

Despite playing for some of Europe's household names, the Gabon international has only one league title to his name.

Aubameyang's career history

The centre-forward bounced around academies in France, where he was born. After failing to impress at AC Milan, he was shipped to Dijon, Lille, Monaco and Saint-Etienne, respectively. Saint-Etienne became his permanent home for a while.

At the club, he began maturing as a striker. After 75 games, he scored 35 goals in 75 appearances, before catching the attention of Borussia Dortmund in 2013.

In Germany, he scored on his debut against Bayern Munich, then bagged a hat-trick on his Bundesliga debut against Augsburg. He scored 16 goals in his first season with Dortmund.

He won the Bundesliga 2016/17 Golden Boot after registering 31 goals in 32 appearances. That season, he led Dortmund to the DFB Cup glory. Moreover, he was the 2015 African Footballer of the Year.

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After four-and-a-half seasons in black and yellow, he scored 98 league goals in just 144 games and went toe to toe with his former teammate, Robert Lewandowski. He scored 141 times for Dortmund in 213 games, before joining Arsenal.

In England, he scored 92 goals in 163 appearances for the Gunners and three for Chelsea. He won the 2018/19 Premier League Golden Boot. His relationship with Mikel Arteta deteriorated, forcing him to join Barcelona.

Under Xavi, he played just 24 games and scored 13 goals, helping the Blaugrana win the 2022/23 La Liga title. The veteran striker is now thriving in France with Olympique Marseille. So far this season, he has scored 16 goals in 33 matches.

Aubameyang has also bagged 30 goals for his country, Gabon.

Samuel Eto'o career stats

The Cameroonian is considered the greatest African footballer ever. He won the African Footballer of the Year award four times. He played his best football at Barcelona and Inter Milan.

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Eto'o is the only player to win back-to-back trebles with two different clubs.

He won two AFCON titles and an Olympic gold medal with his country in Australia in 2000. The former Chelsea star is Cameroon's all-time top scorer, and the AFCON's all-time top scorer.

Diddier Drogba's career stats

The Chelsea legend is always mentioned alongside Eto'o as the greatest African footballer ever, despite starting his professional career at 23.

He played his best football in London, won plenty of trophies, and set many records. He was the first African to break the 100-goal mark in the Premier League and won four league titles, and the 2012 Champions League with the Blues.

Drogba won the African Footballer of the Year twice and took home the Premier League Golden Boot, twice.

Furthermore, he is Ivory Coast's record goal scorer.

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All stats courtesy of Transfermarkt.

Aubameyang makes history

Sports Brief earlier reported on Aubameyang making Europa League history after scoring for Olympique Marseille in the knockout round.

The striker scored Marseille's second goal in their 3-1 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk.

The French side registered a 5-3 win on aggregate to progress to the Round of 16.