World Cup icons: Roger Milla, the forever young lion with the gyrating hips
Like many of the greats, Roger Milla gained international recognition at a World Cup, but one factor makes his story unique: he was 38 years-of-age.
The early years
Roger Milla spent his early childhood dribbling fallen oranges in rural Cameroon; before, at the age of 11, his father moved the family to Douala and Roger began to earn pocket-money playing for some local teams.
The physically gifted youth, who was also a national high-jump champion, made his debut in the country’s second division at the age of 15.
He worked his way up the ranks fascinating his coaches along the way; such as Peter Schnittger who worked with Roger at Leopard de Douala and the Cameroonian national side.
"‘He was very young still, and thin, not an ounce of fat on him. His legs were like chopsticks” says Shnittger in Ian Hawkey’s Feet of the Chameleon. “He was like a gazelle, bounding around.”"
Milla in France
After winning African Footballer of the Year in ’76 Milla earned himself a move to France. On French pastures the striker enjoyed a decent career spanning over 12 years, winning the Coupe de France with both Monaco and Bastia, and picking up a Ligue 2 title with Montpellier.
Internationally, Roger Milla helped Cameroon to a couple of African Cup of Nations and to their first ever World Cup in ‘82.
However, after three draws the Indomitable Lions were knocked out on goal difference and left bemoaning some controversial decisions, most notably a Milla goal struck off dubiously for offside.
In his late 30’s Milla moved to Reunion, a remote island in the Indian Ocean, viewing it as an ‘idyllic’ location to wind down his career.
He certainly fostered no secret ambition of a late international comeback; but after an unlikely sequence of events, that’s exactly what happened.
The Comeback
Just before Christmas in ’89 Milla returned to Douala to play in a testimonial. A large crowd turned out to see the ageless striker score two screamers, prompting the following day’s newspapers to boldly contemplate whether he could still offer something to the national team who would compete at that summer’s World Cup.
But before then Cameroon travelled to Algeria for the African Cup of Nations where the side’s showing was so poor that president Paul Biya demanded Milla be included in the World Cup squad.
At first Milla was not received well by the rest of the squad; nor by the trainers who were appalled by his conditioning. But after some gruelling work on the training ground he came on in a warm-up match against Hadjuk Split to score twice and begin to sway opinions.
"“It was then that we started to realise that maybe, even at 38, Roger could give us an extra dynamic,” commented goalkeeper Thomas N’kono. “I saw the hunger in him. . . His eyes were shining with it. He was determined. He knew people said he was going to fail.”"
1990 World Cup
Cameroon entered the tournament as 500-1 outsiders and lined up against World Champions Argentina in their opening fixture. Despite finishing the game with just nine men Cameroon won by a goal to nil in one of the competition’s biggest ever upsets.
Milla played his part coming on with ten minutes to go to put in a couple of heavy challenges on Diego Maradona and prove he could still keep up.
In the next game, versus Romania, Milla was called into action on the hour mark. And with 15 minutes remaining on the clock he put his side ahead.
The newly crowned oldest goalscorer at a World Cup ran to the corner flag to perform one of the tournament’s most iconic celebrations; described by Cameroonian novelist Eugene Ebode as:
"“not quite a samba but an erotic dance. . . finishing with the hand down by the groin, just to show the virile way that the defense had been pierced.”"
Soon after, Milla grabbed a sensational second, skinning his marker and firing it into the top corner. Cameroon had qualified for the knockout stage with a game still remaining.
In the last 16 Cameroon faced Colombia and Milla was called off the bench ten minutes into the second half; but on this occasion his impact was not as immediate.
The score remained level until extra time when Milla burst into life and sold two defenders before hammering it passed Rene Heguita into the top corner.
Three minutes later Roger proved he was still as fleet-footed as ever, nicking the ball off Heguita to add a second.
Cameroon became the first African side to reach the quarter finals and Milla found himself top scorer having only played 100 minutes of football.
Next, the Indomitable Lions next faced the Three Lions. Trailing by a goal to nil at half time Milla came on and, sure enough, helped his side draw level after Paul Gascoigne brought him down in the area.
Four minutes later Milla picked up the ball and the white shirts of England seemed almost fearful to approach the enigma who downed his opponent with almost every touch.
Milla caressed the ball toward the goal and slid it through to Eugene Ekeke who gave Cameroon the lead.
Cameroon looked like they were heading to the semi-final; but alas it was not to be. A Gary Lineker penalty put England level before the same scenario in extra-time ended Cameroon’s adventure.
The Aftermath
For his endeavors at the tournament Roger Milla was named African Player of the Year, 14 years after first receiving the accolade.
And four years later, the African Benjamin Button returned to football’s grandest stage at USA ’94. Roger Milla became the oldest outfield player to feature in a World Cup and at 42 years and 39 days he found the back of the net, allowing the world to enjoy those gyrating hips one final time.
Next: Can Croatia go all the way?
The long limbed striker with the mile wide smile is one of Africa’s most loved players of all time; his inspiring story forever reminding us all that age is just a number.