 Aboubakar withCameroon in 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Vincent Paté Aboubakar[1] | |||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | (1992-01-22)22 January 1992 (age 33)[2] | |||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Garoua, Cameroon[3] | |||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)[4] | |||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Striker | |||||||||||||||||||
| Team information | ||||||||||||||||||||
Current team | Neftçi | |||||||||||||||||||
| Number | 45 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006–2008 | Coton Sport | |||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||||||
| 2009–2010 | Coton Sport | 15 | (7) | |||||||||||||||||
| 2010–2013 | Valenciennes | 72 | (9) | |||||||||||||||||
| 2011–2013 | Valenciennes B | 4 | (3) | |||||||||||||||||
| 2013–2014 | Lorient | 37 | (17) | |||||||||||||||||
| 2014–2020 | Porto | 83 | (36) | |||||||||||||||||
| 2016–2017 | →Beşiktaş (loan) | 27 | (12) | |||||||||||||||||
| 2019 | Porto B | 1 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||
| 2020–2021 | Beşiktaş | 26 | (15) | |||||||||||||||||
| 2021–2023 | Al Nassr | 34 | (12) | |||||||||||||||||
| 2023–2024 | Beşiktaş | 38 | (18) | |||||||||||||||||
| 2024–2025 | Hatayspor | 25 | (7) | |||||||||||||||||
| 2025– | Neftçi | 4 | (3) | |||||||||||||||||
| International career‡ | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009 | Cameroon U20 | 14 | (22) | |||||||||||||||||
| 2010– | Cameroon | 117 | (45) | |||||||||||||||||
Medal record
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 25 November 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 13 November 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Vincent Paté Aboubakar (born 22 January 1992) is a Cameroonian professionalfootballer who plays asstriker forAzerbaijani Premier League clubNeftçi andcaptains theCameroon national team.
Aboubakar began his career atCoton Sport and moved to Europe in 2010, playing forLigue 1 clubsValenciennes andLorient, totalling 109 appearances and 26 goals in France's top division. In 2015, he signed forPorto, where he played 125 games and scored 58 goals, winning aPrimeira Liga title. He won the TurkishSüper Lig while on loan atBeşiktaş in 2017, and again in 2021.
Aboubakar has earned over 110 caps forCameroon since his international debut in May 2010. He is currently the second-highest scorer in the history of the national team, behind onlySamuel Eto'o. He was part of their squads for the2010,2014 and2022FIFA World Cups, as well as theAfrica Cup of Nations in2015,2017,2021 and2023. Aboubakar scored the winning goal inthe final of the 2017 tournament, and was thetop goalscorer of the 2021 edition.
Vincent Aboubakar was born on 22 January 1992 inGaroua, North Region of Cameroon. He was raised in a devoutChristian family in a Muslim-majority city and his mother Maobeal Alice was adeaconess for the Evangelical Missionary Society of Cameroon.[5]
On 26 May 2010, Aboubakar signed withValenciennes in France.[6] He was assigned the number 9 shirt and made his debut in the club's opening league match of the season againstNice appearing as a substitute. He scored his first goal and hat-trick againstBoulogne inCoupe de la Ligue.
Aboubakar signed forLorient on a free transfer on 1 July 2013.[7] He made his debut for theBreton team on 10 August, playing the full 90 minutes of a 1–0 loss atLille, and scored his first goal eight days later, equalising in a 2–1 win overNantes at theStade du Moustoir.[8] He came joint second top scorer over the season with 16 league goals from 35 appearances, including braces in a 4–0 win atÉvian on 23 November and a 4–4 home draw withMontpellier on 20 April 2014.[9][10]
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Aboubakar signed forPorto on 24 August 2014, signing a four-year contract for a fee of €3 million, equivalent to 30% of his economic rights. He had previously been a target forHull City.[11][12]
He made his debut on 14 September in a 1–1Primeira Liga draw atVitória S.C., replacingHéctor Herrera in added time. Three days later in theUEFA Champions League, after coming on forJackson Martínez, he scored his first Porto goal to conclude a 6–0 home win overBATE Borisov in theUEFA Champions League group stage.[13] On 25 October, again as the Colombian's replacement, he scored a first league goal to wrap up a 5–0 victory atF.C. Arouca.[14] He was used almost exclusively as a substitute over the season, as Porto finished runners-up toS.L. Benfica.
In his second season in Portugal, following the sale of Martínez, Aboubakar played much more regularly. He opened the season on 15 August 2015 with two goals in a 3–0 win over Vitória at theEstádio do Dragão,[15] and scored twice the following 10 January in a 5–0 win at city rivalsBoavista FC.[16] He scored once in five games as the team reached the final of theTaça de Portugal, and scored the only goal of the fifth-round win atC.D. Feirense on 16 December 2015.[17]
On 27 August 2016,Süper Lig reigning championsBeşiktaş signed Aboubakar on a season-long loan.[18] He made his debut for theIstanbul-based club on 10 September, replacingOlcay Şahan for the last six minutes of a 3–1 home win overKardemir Karabükspor. He did not score until his eighth match, in which he contributed two goals to a 3–2 Champions League win atNapoli on 19 October 2016 that was his club's first win in the competition since November 2009.[19] Four days later he scored his first league goal, also assistingTalisca in a 3–0 victory overAntalyaspor atVodafone Park.[20] In March 2017, he scored in each leg of a 5–2 aggregate win overOlympiacos at the round of 16 in theUEFA Europa League, although he was sent off in the second game for fighting withPanagiotis Retsos.[21] He finished the season scoring 12 goals in 27 league appearances, as the Black Eagles retained their league title.
After returning to Portugal, Aboubakar was part of a three-pronged attack made of African players, alongside the MalianMoussa Marega and Algeria'sYacine Brahimi.[22] He scored his first hat-trick for the Dragons on 20 August 2017 in a 3–0 home win overMoreirense FC.[23] On 13 September, as the Champions League campaign began with a 3–1 home loss to Beşiktaş, he celebrated with his former teammates in their changing room.[24] He scored five times in the group as Porto advanced, including two-goal hauls in both wins over French championsAS Monaco.[25] On 10 December, he scored another hat-trick in a 5–0 win atVitória F.C. that put Porto back on top of the table.[26]
In September 2018, Aboubakar suffered ananterior cruciate ligament injury againstC.D. Tondela. He underwent surgery, causing a long-term absence.[27] On 4 May 2019, he made his comeback as a late substitute for Marega in a 4–0 home win overC.D. Aves.[28]
On 18 August 2019, Aboubakar played the full 90 minutes ofFC Porto B's 1–1 home draw withVarzim S.C. inLigaPro.[29]
After terminating his contract with Porto, Aboubakar returned to Istanbul to meet with Beşiktaş on 25 September 2020. The following day, he signed a contract until 31 May 2021.[30] In hisone season back in Istanbul, he was the fifth-highest goalscorer with 15 goals as his team won the league.[31][32] This included two on 29 November in a 4–3 win at city rivalsFenerbahçe.[33]
On 8 June 2021, Aboubakar signed withSaudi Pro League clubAl Nassr on a three-year deal. His salary was set at €6 million per year.[34]
Aboubakar reached a mutual agreement to terminate his contract at theRiyadh-based club in January 2023, being compensated for what remained of it. His exit was required in order to free a foreigner quota place forCristiano Ronaldo.[35]
On 21 January 2023, Aboubakar re-signed with Turkish club Beşiktaş as a replacement for departing strikerWout Weghorst. The 21⁄2-year deal involved a €1.1 million signing bonus and €1.5 million for the2022–23 season, and €3.1 million per season for the remaining seasons, in addition to a maximum of €12,000 per match depending on the duration and type of competition."[36] Aboubakar scored 13 goals from 16 matches in second half of the season, placing him ninth in the Süper Lig top scorers list for2022–23.[37]
On 11 December 2023, it was officially announced that Aboubakar has been excluded from the squad along withValentin Rosier,Eric Bailly,Rachid Ghezzal andJean Onana due to poor performance and incompatibility within the team.[38]
On 14 February 2024, Aboubakar had been pardoned by the club, and started training with the team.[39] He has been included in the squad for the upcoming game againstKonyaspor.[40]
Aboubakar signed with Turkish clubHatayspor after terminating his contract withBeşiktaş for an undisclosed reason.[41]On 9 May 2025, Aboubakar has terminated his contract with Turkish side Hatayspor by mutual agreement.[42]
On 21 October 2025, Aboubakar signed forAzerbaijani Premier League clubNeftçi on a one-year deal, with an option for a further year.[43]
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On 18 August 2009, Aboubakar was called up to theCameroon national under-20 football team for theFrancophone Games inBeirut.[44]
In May 2010, aged 18, he was named to theCameroon 23-man squad for the2010 FIFA World Cup. Aboubakar was the only player in the squad who was based in Cameroon.[45][46] He made his debut in thefriendly match on 29 May 2010 againstSlovakia.[47] On 11 August 2010, Aboubakar scored his first goal for the national team, in a friendly againstPoland.
He was called up for the2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, and subsequently for the2015 Africa Cup of Nations. In the2017 Africa Cup of Nations, Aboubakar scored an 88th-minute goal in the final to hand Cameroon a comeback 2–1 victory againstEgypt to end his nation's 15-year wait for a continental crown.[48][49]
Later that year, he was part of the Cameroon squad at the2017 FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia. He scored a consolation goal in their 3–1 loss to world champions Germany inSochi on 25 June.[50]
Aboubakar was a noted absence from Cameroon's2019 Africa Cup of Nations squad, with managerClarence Seedorf doubting his fitness after his recent return from long-term injury.[51]
Aboubakar returned to the national team for the2021 Africa Cup of Nations, hosted by his country at the start of the following year. He scored five group stage goals againstBurkina Faso,Ethiopia andCape Verde,[52][53][54] followed by a sixth in a 2–1 win overComoros in the last 16.[55] In the third-place match againstBurkina Faso, he scored twice in a 3–3 draw, which was eventually won on penalties.[56] With 8 goals in 7 games, he was the top scorer and made the Team of the Tournament.[57]
In the2022 FIFA World Cup, he scored a goal and provided an assist in a 3–3 draw againstSerbia. His goal was described as an "outrageous scoop" byBBC Sport.[58] He scored the winning goal againstBrazil in the third match, after which he drew his second yellow card for taking off his shirt and was therefore sent off.[59]
Aboubakar was injured before the2023 Africa Cup of Nations in the Ivory Coast.[60] He recovered in time for thelast 16, where his team were eliminated by rivalsNigeria, which also marked his 100th match with the national team.[61]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Coton Sport | 2009–10 | Elite One | 15 | 7 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 15 | 7 | |||
| Valenciennes | 2010–11 | Ligue 1 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | — | — | 20 | 4 | ||
| 2011–12 | 27 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 31 | 8 | ||||
| 2012–13 | 28 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 30 | 3 | ||||
| Total | 72 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 3 | — | — | 81 | 15 | ||||
| Lorient | 2013–14 | Ligue 1 | 35 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 36 | 16 | ||
| 2014–15 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 1 | ||||
| Total | 37 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 38 | 17 | ||||
| Porto | 2014–15 | Primeira Liga | 14 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4[c] | 3 | — | 20 | 8 | |
| 2015–16 | 28 | 13 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8[d] | 3 | — | 42 | 18 | |||
| 2017–18 | 28 | 15 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 6[c] | 5 | — | 43 | 26 | |||
| 2018–19 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[c] | 0 | 1[e] | 0 | 11 | 4 | ||
| 2019–20 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[f] | 2 | — | 9 | 2 | |||
| Total | 83 | 36 | 12 | 5 | 8 | 4 | 21 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 125 | 58 | ||
| Beşiktaş (loan) | 2016–17 | Süper Lig | 27 | 12 | 2 | 1 | — | 9[g] | 6 | — | 38 | 19 | ||
| Beşiktaş | 2020–21 | 26 | 15 | 3 | 1 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 29 | 16 | |||
| Al Nassr | 2021–22 | Saudi Pro League | 23 | 8 | 1 | 0 | – | 3[h] | 1 | – | 27 | 9 | ||
| 2022–23 | 11 | 4 | 1 | 0 | – | – | 0 | 0 | 12 | 4 | ||||
| Total | 34 | 12 | 2 | 0 | – | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 13 | |||
| Beşiktaş | 2022–23 | Süper Lig | 16 | 13 | — | — | — | — | 16 | 13 | ||||
| 2023–24 | 22 | 5 | 2 | 0 | — | 10[i] | 7 | — | 34 | 12 | ||||
| Total | 38 | 18 | 2 | 0 | — | 10 | 7 | — | 50 | 25 | ||||
| Hatayspor | 2024–25 | Süper Lig | 25 | 7 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | 28 | 8 | |||
| Neftçi | 2025–26 | Azerbaijan Premier League | 4 | 3 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | 5 | 5 | |||
| Career total | 347 | 136 | 30 | 13 | 11 | 7 | 43 | 27 | 1 | 0 | 431 | 183 | ||
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| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cameroon | 2010 | 7 | 1 |
| 2011 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2012 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2013 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2014 | 10 | 5 | |
| 2015 | 12 | 6 | |
| 2016 | 5 | 2 | |
| 2017 | 16 | 5 | |
| 2018 | 1 | 1 | |
| 2019 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2020 | 2 | 3 | |
| 2021 | 8 | 2 | |
| 2022 | 17 | 10 | |
| 2023 | 4 | 2 | |
| 2024 | 10 | 5 | |
| 2025 | 9 | 3 | |
| Total | 117 | 45 | |
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11 August 2010 | Stadion Poznań,Poznań, Poland | 5 |  Poland | 3–0 | 3–0 | Friendly |
| 2 | 5 March 2014 | Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa,Leiria, Portugal | 22 |  Portugal | 1–1 | 1–5 | Friendly |
| 3 | 6 September 2014 | Stade TP Mazembe,Lubumbashi, DR Congo | 27 |  DR Congo | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| 4 | 10 September 2014 | Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium,Yaoundé, Cameroon | 28 |  Ivory Coast | 2–1 | 4–1 | 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| 5 | 3–1 | ||||||
| 6 | 15 November 2014 | Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium, Yaoundé, Cameroon | 30 | DR Congo | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| 7 | 10 January 2015 | Stade d'Angondjé,Libreville, Gabon | 32 |  South Africa | 1–0 | 1–1 | Friendly |
| 8 | 25 March 2015 | Gelora Delta Stadium,Sidoarjo, Indonesia | 36 |  Indonesia | 1–0 | 1–0 | Friendly |
| 9 | 6 June 2015 | Stade Yves-du-Manoir,Colombes, France | 37 |  Burkina Faso | 1–1 | 3–2 | Friendly |
| 10 | 14 June 2015 | Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium, Yaoundé, Cameroon | 39 |  Mauritania | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| 11 | 6 September 2015 | Independence Stadium,Bakau, Gambia | 40 |  Gambia | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| 12 | 13 November 2015 | Stade Général Seyni Kountché,Niamey, Niger | 42 |  Niger | 2–0 | 3–0 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 13 | 30 May 2016 | Stade de la Beaujoire,Nantes, France | 45 |  France | 1–1 | 2–3 | Friendly |
| 14 | 12 November 2016 | Kouekong Stadium,Bafoussam, Cameroon | 48 |  Zambia | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 15 | 5 February 2017 | Stade de l'Amitié, Libreville, Gabon | 54 |  Egypt | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2017 Africa Cup of Nations final |
| 16 | 24 March 2017 | Mustapha Ben Jannet Stadium,Monastir, Tunisia | 55 |  Tunisia | 1–0 | 1–0 | Friendly |
| 17 | 10 June 2017 | Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium, Yaoundé, Cameroon | 57 |  Morocco | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| 18 | 25 June 2017 | Fisht Olympic Stadium,Sochi, Russia | 60 |  Germany | 1–2 | 1–3 | 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup |
| 19 | 4 September 2017 | Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium, Yaoundé, Cameroon | 62 |  Nigeria | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 20 | 25 March 2018 | Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium,Kuwait City, Kuwait | 65 |  Kuwait | 1–0 | 3–1 | Friendly |
| 21 | 12 November 2020 | Reunification Stadium,Douala, Cameroon | 68 |  Mozambique | 1–0 | 4–1 | 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| 22 | 2–0 | ||||||
| 23 | 16 November 2020 | Estádio do Zimpeto,Maputo, Mozambique | 69 | Mozambique | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| 24 | 3 September 2021 | Paul Biya Stadium, Yaoundé, Cameroon | 72 |  Malawi | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 25 | 13 November 2021 | Orlando Stadium,Johannesburg, South Africa | 76 | Malawi | 1–0 | 4–0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 26 | 9 January 2022 | Paul Biya Stadium, Yaoundé, Cameroon | 78 | Burkina Faso | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2021 Africa Cup of Nations |
| 27 | 2–1 | ||||||
| 28 | 13 January 2022 | Paul Biya Stadium, Yaoundé, Cameroon | 79 |  Ethiopia | 2–1 | 4–1 | 2021 Africa Cup of Nations |
| 29 | 3–1 | ||||||
| 30 | 17 January 2022 | Paul Biya Stadium, Yaoundé, Cameroon | 80 |  Cape Verde | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2021 Africa Cup of Nations |
| 31 | 24 January 2022 | Paul Biya Stadium, Yaoundé, Cameroon | 81 |  Comoros | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2021 Africa Cup of Nations |
| 32 | 5 February 2022 | Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium, Yaoundé, Cameroon | 84 | Burkina Faso | 2–3 | 3–3 | 2021 Africa Cup of Nations |
| 33 | 3–3 | ||||||
| 34 | 28 November 2022 | Al Janoub Stadium,Al Wakrah, Qatar | 93 |  Serbia | 2–3 | 3–3 | 2022 FIFA World Cup |
| 35 | 2 December 2022 | Lusail Stadium,Lusail, Qatar | 94 |  Brazil | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup |
| 36 | 28 March 2023 | Dobsonville Stadium,Johannesburg, South Africa | 95 |  Namibia | 1–2 | 1–2 | 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| 37 | 12 September 2023 | Roumdé Adjia Stadium,Garoua, Cameroon | 96 |  Burundi | 3–0 | 3–0 | 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| 38 | 8 June 2024 | Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium, Yaoundé, Cameroon | 101 | Cape Verde | 2–0 | 4–1 | 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 39 | 3–1 | ||||||
| 40 | 7 September 2024 | Japoma Stadium, Doaula, Cameroon | 103 | Namibia | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| 41 | 11 October 2024 | Japoma Stadium, Doaula, Cameroon | 105 |  Kenya | 1–0 | 4–1 | 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| 42 | 19 November 2024 | Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium, Yaoundé, Cameroon | 108 |  Zimbabwe | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| 43 | 25 March 2025 | Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium, Yaoundé, Cameroon | 110 |  Libya | 1–0 | 3–1 | 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 44 | 3–0 | ||||||
| 45 | 9 June 2025 | Marrakesh Stadium,Marrakesh, Morocco | 112 |  Equatorial Guinea | 1–0 | 1–1 | Friendly |
Coton Sport
Beşiktaş
Porto
Cameroon
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