The legend of the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon has become at the age of 42, the oldest goalscorer in the history of the World Cup. It was June 28, 1994, during Cameroon’s 6-1 defeat against Russia. After scoring the only Cameroonian goal of the game, Roger Milla clinched a record which he still remembers with great emotion.
On the anniversary of this largely Russian-won match, FIFA.com spoke with the Cameroonian striker.
26 years ago today, you entered Russia and became the oldest player and scorer in the history of the World Cup. What does it feel like at that time?
A lot of satisfaction, it was seen during my celebration even if we ended up losing the match. Even today, I am very proud of it. This goal and this record was a way for me to show people who doubted me that despite my age, I could still do beautiful things. Physically, I was no longer 100% but I kept my technical faculties. It’s a beautiful record.
Does this goal remain your greatest sporting pride?
No, I do not think so. It’s a great individual performance but my greatest satisfaction remains to have helped Cameroon to reach the quarterfinals of the World Cup in 1990. It was historic for our country and our continent.
At the time, when you arrived in the United States, do you think of all these records?
I don’t think about individual performances at all when I enter a field and even less before the competition. The idea of breaking this record never crossed my mind. If I score and we don’t win, I’m disappointed like my teammates. Our common goal was really to do better than in 1990. But unfortunately, we did not succeed.
Among the records in the history of the World Cup, where do you rank yours?
Each record has its particularity. I don’t place one above another. You know, each of these players marked the World Cup in their own way. As a scorer, of course the records of Miroslav Klose (top scorer in the history of the World Cup) and Just Fontaine (top scorer in a single edition) speak to me a lot but I cannot classify them. Mine fits in this line obviously. For me, the only record that is above the fray is that of King Pelé and his three World Cups. There are no words to describe what he did at such a young age.
Do you think your record will ever be broken?
Nothing is impossible but it will be very difficult. With the evolution of football today, it is very hard to see a player be selected at 42 if not a goalkeeper and we know that it is rare to see a goalkeeper score. So I think my record still has a few bright days ahead of it.
Oleg Salenko scored a quintuplet that day, a record that still stands. Were you impressed?
We can only be impressed by this kind of performance, especially at the World Cup, even if I must admit that it was we who made it possible. We weren’t good enough in that game. We both set a record that day, which is why we took a photo together at the end of the match.
At the time, what did you take away from this match? The heavy defeat (6-1) or your record?
It was a mixture of emotions because we were eliminated and necessarily very disappointed not to have met the expectations placed in us. I also knew that I was playing my last World Cup match and that I was saying goodbye to the competition. So I was trying to put things into perspective and take advantage of every moment. Under these circumstances, we do not think much about the record because it happens in anecdotal conditions. Over time it takes on its full meaning and I am very proud of it.
And with hindsight? Do you still feel the same?
With hindsight, I try to retain the positive, therefore the record. I still have some regrets because for my last World Cup, I would have liked to go further in the competition and finish on a better note.
Let’s go back four years earlier, during the 1990 World Cup. That year, your selection arrived in the quarter-finals. It is the first time that an African team has achieved this performance. Do you remember how you felt at the time?
It was indescribable. Much joy, of course. We were very happy. It gave us a lot of self-confidence. We would have liked to go further because there was really room to do more. I do not want to enter into the controversies of the match against England but today with time, I have some regrets. I am convinced that we could go all the way. We have been welcomed in Cameroon as heroes and this is where you realize that you have achieved something great.
You have opened the door to other African selections. Senegal in 2002 and Ghana in 2010 managed to do as well. What is missing in African football to reach the last four?
Senegal and Ghana have shown that it is possible. We are still far enough from European football so it is difficult to reach this level but I remain optimistic. I have a feeling that present generations sometimes lack confidence and determination like we did back then. We have to believe in ourselves if we want to do this kind of performance at all the World Cups.
In Cameroon, there was Roger Milla then Samuel Eto’o. Who do you think will wear the Indomitable Lions in the years to come?
I do not know at all. There is not really a player standing out from the crowd right now and it may be better that way. It will allow us to be really focused on the collective. I don’t see any player with my qualities right now. Samuel Eto’o has also achieved great things. We are unique players and no one will be like us. We can just hope that Cameroon will shine in the future.
Do you see Cameroon qualifying again for the quarterfinals of a World Cup or more?
I hope so anyway, even if I know it will be difficult. Yet it is this kind of performance that makes other generations dream. To achieve this, the great African players must take responsibility when they play in the selection, which is not always the case.
Between Sadio Mané, Mohamed Salah, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Riyad Mahrez, Africa shines internationally. In your opinion, has the African continent caught up with the level of Europe and South America?
In terms of talent, the gap between Africans and European and South American players is narrowing day by day. I think that it is collectively that we still have to progress and it is players like Mané and Salah who can bring this know-how. They play in big clubs and know how to unite a group around a common goal. In a few years, there will no longer be any difference between them and us. Learning from our mistakes and working together are two things that will allow us to go further.
source: lebledparle
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