In the run-up to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, The National’s Gary Meenaghan looks back at the figures of World Cups past who, while not necessarily the greatest the game has ever seen, were among football’s most interesting characters.
ROGER MILLA
Nobody knows for sure what age Roger Milla is, but it is universally accepted that the gangly, moustachioed Cameroon striker is the oldest player to ever score at a world cup finals and, therefore, is also the oldest player to ever inspire a generation to belly dance with a corner flag after scoring a goal.
A Career in Reverse
Milla, the son of a railway worker and born in Yaounde, changed his name from Miller to sound more African and was named his continent’s best player in 1976. A tall and skilful forward, he soon moved to France and – as well as representing Cameroon at the 1982 World Cup – flitted around mediocre clubs for the next 12 seasons. Officially 36, he finally retired to the Indian Ocean island of Reunion. That is where Milla’s story should end. Instead, that is where it begins.
Gyrating
In 1990 and at age 38, Milla accepted a personal invitation from Cameroon president Paul Biya to represent his country at the Fifa World Cup in Italy. Understandably, his selection was controversial, but Milla soon proved his worth. A second-half substitute, he scored both his side’s goals in a 2-0 win over Romania and netted another double – this time in extra-time – against Colombia to put an African team in the quarter-finals for the first time. His celebration after scoring, a gyrating hip sway with the corner flag, immediately enchanted the watching world.
Second Retirement
Milla became an African idol for his antics in Italy and quickly realised he had left football with little to show for it. He travelled the world playing in exhibition matches for money, requesting ridiculous wages from small teams who showed an interest and charging media for interviews. He refused to play in a friendly against England at Wembley in 1991 because the English Football Association refused to pay him a special appearance fee. In 1992, he became general director of the Cameroon national team – a position created especially for him by President Biya.
1994 World Cup
Incredibly, Milla featured again at the 1994 World Cup, capitalising on poor Russian defending to notch a goal just one minute after arriving on the field as a substitute. He was 42 years, one month and eight days old. He retired soon after for a third time and claims to have scored more than 1,000 goals in his career, although nobody knows for sure.
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