On June 23, 1990, Roger Milla (Yaoundé, Cameroon, 1952) scored two goals in the overtime of the knockout stages of the 1990 World Cup against Colombia to make his country the first on the African continent to reach the quarters of the World Cup final. And in celebration of the goals, in a moment that is already football history, Milla ran to the corner and danced with the pole while the stands went wild.

The striker, who was 38 years old in Italy , removed the thorn of bad luck that his team had in Spain in 1982 , in what was his first appearance in a World Cup. Cameroon showed level football and did not lose a match, but could not get past the first phase. Eight years later that changed. Milla scored four goals in the Italian tournament and only England, in the quarters and in an exciting overtime (3-2), was able to beat them. He returned to play the World Cup in 1994 and despite the bad tournament in his country, Milla became the oldest player to score a goal in a World Cup final phase at 42 years old. 30 years after his dance against Colombia , Roger Milla chatted with EL MUNDO.

Everyone remembers his performances at the World Cup and his dances to celebrate the goals he scored in Italy '90. Why did you decide to celebrate them like this? During all these years I have realized that people do not forget that celebration, it has marked them. Interestingly, it was completely improvised. I don't know what made me celebrate like that. It was as a way of thanking all the fans for everything that had supported us. Do you think that World Cup changed the perception that fans and players had about African soccer and footballers? Yes, without a doubt. What we did in Italy allowed Africans to be taken seriously. And it's not just me saying it, journalists, fans and soccer experts around the world say it. What did European soccer players think about Africans in 1990? That we were mere strangers, that's why our performance surprised everyone. That is why, among other things, today people still remember our matches in that World Cup. In the first phase of Italy '90, Cameroon managed to beat Argentina (1-0), current world champion, led by Maradona. How did it feel to play against him? Maradona was a huge footballer, but I wasn't afraid of anyone. Argentina was the world champion and we were all concerned, not just him. Caniggia, for example, was dangerous. We prepared that game a lot, we did not want to be mere spectators.

Milla, considered the best African footballer of the 20th century , made the leap to Europe at the age of 25, to a French league that at that time received many African players. During the decade in which he was in French football he played in the First and Second Divisions with the Valenciennes, Monaco, Bastia, Saint-Etienne and Montpellier . In total, 106 goals made him remain in the memory of the fans, especially for the two French Cups that he won with Monaco and Bastia and the promotion with Saint-Etienne.

What do you do now? I am a traveling ambassador of the Republic and I take care of my Foundation, Heart of Africa. I am also a member of the CALIF (Collective of former players of the indomitable lions of soccer). It has been read that you would like to be President of Cameroon. Is that true? No, no, not at all. I have no political ambition, I do not know where those rumors come from. What do you miss most in the world of football? The competition, the adrenaline, the fans and above all the feelings that all this generated for me. I really liked playing soccer a lot. What is the best memory of your career? It is very difficult. I can't remember just one. The best are undoubtedly those of the World Cups. There are many great players who have never been able to play in a World Cup because their team has failed to qualify. Having the opportunity to do well in such a tournament is not within everyone's reach. What is your first memory of football? My childhood. I played soccer for fun, to hang out. I couldn't imagine that I was going to become a professional footballer. I just didn't even know what that meant. Do you currently watch soccer games? Which players and teams do you like? I am always watching soccer, especially big games. I love beautiful football. Barcelona, ​​Manchester City and even PSG play beautiful football. It is a pleasure to see them play. What team do you think can win the next Champions League and the next World Cup? There are still great teams and it will be very even, we will have great matches. And for the World Cup I think we have to wait a bit to see who qualifies. Would you have liked to have played in the Spanish league? If I could, I would have liked to play for Barcelona, ​​because of its highly technical football. But I think Madrid would have wanted me too. And not only in Spain, Bayern, Milan ... It would have been possible if he had arrived in Europe at the age of 17 or 18, like many other players. For you, who is the best player in history? King Pelé. Without discussion. You have to realize what he did at the World Cup when he was so young, it's just incredible. At that time, the World Cup was the highest. What do you think about the Black Lives Matter social movement? I fully subscribe. What they did to George Floyd was a catastrophe and I support what is happening in the United States. Did you suffer racism during your career? Yes, I faced racism when I played in France, but I didn't pay much attention to it. When a player made racist comments towards me, I responded on the field scoring goals. Racists are ignorant.

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