Former Cameroonian international Samuel Eto'o has just breathed a sigh of relief: the Spanish courts have ruled in his favor in a long-standing dispute with the Spanish tax authorities. The administration initially demanded nearly €409,300 (over 260 million FCFA ) from him for the 2005 tax year.

A technical victory thanks to the prescription

The case concerned alleged irregularities in income tax (IRPP) during his golden years at FC Barcelona. The Spanish tax authorities accused the former striker of having under-declared his income, particularly that related to his image rights , by using shell companies and international commercial contracts — a classic financial arrangement at the time among football stars.

However, the court ruled that the tax authorities had missed the legal deadlines for taking action. The verdict: the case is time-barred. The Spanish tax authorities are therefore permanently unable to recover this sum.

Whitewashed? Not quite...

The important distinction: This decision is a purely procedural victory. The court did not rule on the merits of the case and in no way validated the legality of the star's tax returns for the 2005 fiscal year. In short, Samuel Eto'o is not declared innocent; the tax authorities simply acted too late.

The final curtain falls on a tax saga

This was not the first time the current Fecafoot president had run into trouble with the Spanish tax authorities. For fraud committed in previous years, Samuel Eto'o had already had to reach an agreement with the public prosecutor's office, admitting to some of the charges in exchange for a suspended sentence and heavy fines.

Although Spain remains a stage in his life marked by tax disputes — like Messi or Ronaldo — this decision allows the Indomitable Lion to definitively close a financial chapter that could have cost him dearly.