Gabonese footballer (born 1989)
Pierre-Emerick Emiliano François Aubameyang (born 18 June 1989) is a professional footballer who plays as a striker 👏 for Ligue 1 club Marseille and serves as captain for the Gabon national team. Having been recognised as one of 👏 the best strikers in his prime, he was renowned for his pace, finishing, and off-ball movement.[6]
The son of Pierre Aubameyang, 👏 Pierre-Emerick began his senior club career playing for Italian club AC Milan, but never appeared for the club as he 👏 went on a series of loan spells in France. He moved to Saint-Étienne in 2011. There, he won a Coupe 👏 de la Ligue title and joined Borussia Dortmund in 2013. In Germany, Aubameyang finished as the league's top goalscorer in 👏 the 2024–17 season and won a DFB-Pokal. He also ranks as the club's seventh highest all-time goalscorer.[7] In 2024, Aubameyang 👏 was the subject of a then-club record association football transfer when he signed for Arsenal in a transfer worth £56 👏 million (€60 million), making him the most expensive Gabonese player of all time.[8] With Arsenal, he won an FA Cup 👏 and finished as the league's joint-top goalscorer in the 2024–19 season.[9] After departing Arsenal in 2024, Aubameyang had spells with 👏 Barcelona and Chelsea before signing for Marseille in 2024.
Born in France, Aubameyang chose to represent Gabon at international level, eventually 👏 becoming the nation's all-time top goalscorer. He made his senior debut for Gabon in 2009 aged 19, and appeared in 👏 four Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and the 2012 Summer Olympics. In 2024, Aubameyang was named African Footballer of the 👏 Year; the first Gabonese and second European-born player to win the award.[10]
Club career [ edit ]
AC Milan [ edit ]
"My 👏 role model? Ronaldo, but the Brazilian, not the Portuguese one, I think [he] has revolutionised football with his way of 👏 playing. He was dynamic, technically strong and fast. He was an enormous player." —Aubameyang on the influence of his idol, 👏 Brazilian striker Ronaldo, on his own career.[11]
Aubameyang joined AC Milan's youth academy in January 2007. In August, he was part 👏 of the squad that finished fourth in the inaugural Champions Youth Cup held in Malaysia, where he made a name 👏 for himself and attracted the attention of scouts internationally. He scored against every opponent Milan played, finishing with seven goals 👏 in six matches.[12]
2008–09: Loan to Dijon [ edit ]
For the 2008–09 season, Aubameyang was loaned out to Dijon of Ligue 👏 2 in France to gain first team experience.[13] His performances there led him to appear in World Soccer's Talent Scout 👏 section in Summer 2009.[14] He finished with a total of ten goals and two assists in all competitions, including two 👏 goals in a Coupe de France tie against Selongey.[15]
2009–10: Loan to Lille [ edit ]
On 24 June 2009, it was 👏 announced Ligue 1 club Lille had decided to sign Aubameyang on loan.[16] Relative to his previous season, however, Aubameyang did 👏 not perform as well, scoring just two goals in 14 appearances, four as a starter.[citation needed]
2010–11: Loans to Monaco and 👏 Saint-Étienne [ edit ]
For the 2010–11 season, Aubameyang was loaned for the season to Monaco. On 21 August 2010, he 👏 scored his first goal for Monaco in an away match against Lens, then scored again on 29 August at home 👏 to Auxerre, where Monaco won 2–0.[17] In January 2011, after six months with the club, Aubameyang was loaned to Saint-Étienne 👏 until the end of the 2010–11 season, finishing the season with four goals and three assists. In July 2011, the 👏 loan was extended for the entire 2011–12 season.[citation needed]
Aubameyang with Saint-Étienne in 2011
On 22 December 2011, Aubameyang signed with Saint-Étienne 👏 on a permanent deal. He was quickly added to the starting line up and was given the number 7 jersey. 👏 In February 2012, he scored his first hat-trick against Lorient. He became an integral part of the squad, scoring half 👏 of the team's away goals during the season, and went on to be Ligue 1's 4th top scorer having scored 👏 16 goals behind Montpellier's Giroud with 21, PSG's Nenê with 21 too and Lille's Eden Hazard with 20.
On 20 April 👏 2013, Aubameyang was in the starting line-up for Saint-Étienne in the 2013 Coupe de la Ligue Final. Les Verts won 👏 the match 1–0 with a goal from Brandão to give Aubameyang his first major trophy as a professional footballer. He 👏 finished the season with 18 goals and seven assists in all competitions.[citation needed]
In the 2012–13 season, Aubameyang ended second in 👏 the competition's top-goalscorers list, scoring 19 goals and finishing behind only Zlatan Ibrahimović. From his 37 appearances, he also provided 👏 eight assists. The season was widely regarded as his breakout year—he appeared in the Ligue 1 team of the season 👏 and he won the Ligue 1 African Player of the Year award.[18]
Borussia Dortmund [ edit ]
Aubameyang with Borussia Dortmund in 👏 2013
On 4 July 2013, Aubameyang joined 2012–13 Champions League finalists Borussia Dortmund on a five-year contract.[19] He made his competitive 👏 debut for his new club on 27 July 2013 against Bayern Munich in the DFL-Supercup, replacing Jakub Błaszczykowski for the 👏 last 18 minutes of Dortmund's 4–2 victory, assisting Dortmund's final goal, scored by Marco Reus.[citation needed] On 10 August, Aubameyang 👏 made his Bundesliga debut and scored a hat-trick against FC Augsburg, including a goal from his first shot in the 👏 league. In the process, Aubameyang also became the first Gabonese player to appear in the Bundesliga.[20] On 27 November, he 👏 scored his first Champions League goal in a 3–1 win against Napoli in the group stage of the 2013–14 competition.[21] 👏 He later took a penalty against 1860 Munich that propelled Dortmund into the next round of the 2013–14 DFB-Pokal, finishing 👏 the year with 13 league goals and 16 goals in all competitions.[citation needed]
Aubameyang (left) playing for Borussia Dortmund in 2014
On 👏 13 August 2014, Aubameyang assisted Borussia Dortmund's first goal and scored the second goal in a 2–0 victory over Bayern 👏 Munich in the DFL-Supercup.[22] After scoring the goal, he celebrated by putting on a Spider-Man mask.[22] In Dortmund's next match, 👏 a 4–1 win over Stuttgarter Kickers in the first round of the DFB-Pokal, Aubameyang scored two-second-half goals and provided the 👏 assist for Adrián Ramos' goal.[23] On 13 September, Aubameyang scored his first Bundesliga goal of the season, netting Dortmund's final 👏 goal of their 3–1 win over SC Freiburg.[24] Three days later, Aubameyang scored Dortmund's second goal in a 2–0 win 👏 over future club Arsenal in the first group match of the Champions League.[25]
Aubameyang ended his second season in Dortmund with 👏 25 goals from 46 appearances, including one in the 2024 DFB-Pokal Final, where Dortmund were defeated 3–1 by VfL Wolfsburg 👏 at the Olympiastadion.[26]
2024–16: League runner-up [ edit ]
On 31 July 2024, Aubameyang signed a new contract to last until 2024, 👏 saying, "Every part of me wants to be here and I have never wanted to leave."[27] On 20 August, he 👏 scored a brace as Dortmund came from 0–3 down to win 3–4 at Odds BK in the first leg of 👏 their Europa League play-off.[28] By scoring in Dortmund's 1–1 draw with 1899 Hoffenheim on 23 September, Aubameyang became the first 👏 player in Bundesliga history to score in each of his team's opening six matches of a season.[29] He later extended 👏 this record to eight matches, scoring in the team's next two fixtures against Darmstadt 98 and Bayern Munich, before failing 👏 to score for the first time in the Bundesliga season in a 2–0 win at Mainz 05.[30]
On 22 October, Aubameyang 👏 scored a hat-trick in a UEFA Europa League match against Gabala of Azerbaijan.[31] Three days later, he scored another hat-trick 👏 in a 5–1 defeat of Augsburg at the Westfalenstadion.[32] On 8 November, Aubameyang scored the winning goal for Dortmund in 👏 a 3–2 Revierderby victory over rivals FC Schalke 04.[33] At the halfway stage of the Bundesliga season, Aubameyang was the 👏 league's top scorer with 18 goals from 17 appearances.[34]
On 30 January 2024, Aubameyang scored his 19th and 20th league goals 👏 of the season to give Dortmund a 2–0 home victory over FC Ingolstadt.[35] Aubameyang reached 30 goals in all competitions 👏 in a 3–1 victory over VfB Stuttgart in the quarter-final of the 2024–16 DFB-Pokal. In addition to scoring himself, he 👏 assisted the side's other two goals scored by Marco Reus and Henrikh Mkhitaryan.[36] On 10 March 2024, Aubameyang scored for 👏 Borussia in their 3–0 win over Tottenham Hotspur in the UEFA Europa League Round of 16 first-leg. A week later, 👏 he scored both goals in the 2–1 second-leg victory at White Hart Lane, taking him to 35 goals for the 👏 season.[37] In scoring two goals in a 5–1 win against VfL Wolfsburg on 30 April, Aubameyang reached 25 goals in 👏 the Bundesliga season, thus ending as the league's second-top scorer behind Robert Lewandowski of Bayern Munich.[38]
2024–17: Bundesliga top goalscorer and 👏 DFB-Pokal [ edit ]
Aubameyang training with Borussia Dortmund in 2024
Aubameyang began his 2024–17 season in the Bundesliga with a double 👏 against Mainz 05 on 27 August in a 2–1 victory, while also scoring twice against VfL Wolfsburg on 20 September. 👏 Aubameyang scored three days later against recently promoted SC Freiburg, bringing his season total to 5, into a tie atop 👏 the scoring charts with Lewandowski early in the season. Following an injury to Marcel Schmelzer, Aubameyang wore the captain's armband 👏 for Dortmund for the first time on 22 October, also scoring a goal in the 3–3 draw at FC Ingolstadt.[39]
Aubameyang 👏 also got off to an excellent start in Dortmund's Champions League group stage matches, scoring in each of their first 👏 leg matches as Dortmund were joint top of their group with Real Madrid. However, Aubameyang was left out of the 👏 squad by Thomas Tuchel for their return leg against Sporting CP on 2 November due to an "internal issue".[40] It 👏 turned out that he received a one-game suspension for breaking club rules, by traveling to Milan instead of staying in 👏 Dortmund.[41] Expected to return that weekend at Hamburger SV, Aubameyang exploded with a four-goal performance in a 5–2 victory, their 👏 first in five tries in the Bundesliga, while also assisting Ousmane Dembélé for Dortmund's final goal.[42]
On 19 November, Aubameyang scored 👏 the only goal of a 1–0 win over Bayern Munich at the Westfalenstadion. This was Dortmund's first Klassiker victory in 👏 the league since April 2014.[43] On 7 December, Aubameyang scored Borussia's first goal in a 2–2 comeback draw with Real 👏 Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium to secure qualification to the next stage as group winners.[44] On 16 December, Aubameyang 👏 scored his 100th goal for Borussia Dortmund in a 2–2 draw away to 1899 Hoffenheim.[45]
On 4 March 2024, Aubameyang passed 👏 20 Bundesliga goals for the second consecutive season with two goals in a 6–2 defeat of Bayer Leverkusen.[46] Four days 👏 later, he scored a hat-trick in a 4–0 win over Benfica to put Dortmund into the quarter-finals of the Champions 👏 League.[47] On 20 May, Aubameyang scored twice in Borussia's final day defeat of Werder Bremen to end the season as 👏 the Bundesliga's top scorer with 31 goals.[48] In the final of the 2024–17 DFB-Pokal on 27 May 2024 he scored 👏 the winning goal, a penalty, as Dortmund beat Eintracht Frankfurt 2–1.[49]
Arsenal [ edit ]
On 31 January 2024, Aubameyang signed for 👏 Premier League club, Arsenal, for a then-club-record fee,[50] reported to be £56 million.[8]
2024–2024: Debut season, Premier League Golden Boot [ 👏 edit ]
Aubameyang (left) celebrating a goal in Arsène Wenger's last home game as Arsenal manager, 2024
On 3 February, Aubameyang made 👏 his debut for Arsenal against Everton in the Premier League in a 5–1 home victory, scoring the team's fourth goal, 👏 chipping the ball over a grounded Jordan Pickford.[51] After missing the Europa League matches against Östersunds FK for the Gunners 👏 due to being cup-tied, Aubameyang registered his first away goal for the club in the team's 2–1 away defeat to 👏 Brighton & Hove Albion.[52] Aubameyang registered his first assist for the team, setting up Henrikh Mkhitaryan's goal in a 3–0 👏 win over Watford, Aubameyang also scored the Gunners' second goal (which was assisted by Mkhitaryan), rounding the goalkeeper.[53]
Aubameyang kept up 👏 his fine goalscoring form by scoring twice in Arsenal's 3–0 home win against Stoke City. Aubameyang's goals against Stoke (one 👏 of which was also his first converted penalty for the club) made him the first player to score five times 👏 in his first six games for the club.[54][55][non-primary source needed] He netted his second brace for Arsenal, in manager Arsène 👏 Wenger's final home game for the club, opening and closing the scoring, whilst also assisting Alex Iwobi's goal, in an 👏 eventual 5–0 win over Burnley.[56] Aubameyang followed this up by scoring the only goal in Arsenal's 1–0 away win against 👏 Huddersfield Town. Aubameyang ended the season with ten goals and four assists in thirteen Premier League games and was the 👏 last goalscorer for Arsenal under Arsène Wenger.[57]
Aubameyang scored his first goal of the following season in a 3–2 away win 👏 over Cardiff City on 2 September 2024. After a flick from Alexandre Lacazette, Aubameyang took a touch before curling the 👏 ball past the Cardiff goalkeeper. Aubameyang's strike from outside the box ended his personal run of 76 consecutive goals from 👏 inside the box in club football and was also his 150th goal in league football.[58] Aubameyang made his European debut 👏 for Arsenal, in the 4–2 home win over Vorskla Poltava, scoring two goals, before being substituted for Mesut Özil in 👏 the 57th minute. Aubameyang's goals meant that he had been directly involved in 12 goals in 10 appearances for Arsenal 👏 at the Emirates Stadium.[59] By October 2024, Aubameyang had tallied 16 goals in Premier League play since joining Arsenal in 👏 February. According to Opta statistics, that gave him a minutes per goal ratio of 104.6, which set the record for 👏 the best minutes per goal ratio in Premier League history (minimum 10 goals).[60]
Aubameyang became the first player to reach 10 👏 goals in the Premier League that season, following a brace in Arsenal's 4–2 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in the North 👏 London derby on 2 December. Aubameyang scored the Gunners' opening goal from the penalty spot and later curled a shot 👏 past Hugo Lloris in the second-half; he also grabbed an assist for Arsenal's fourth goal, which was Lucas Torreira's first 👏 goal for the club. The victory took Arsenal above Tottenham in the Premier League on goal difference.[61]
Aubameyang scored his first 👏 Arsenal hat-trick in the club's 4–2 win over Valencia on 9 May 2024. Aubameyang also set up the Gunners' second 👏 goal, scored by Alexandre Lacazette. Aubameyang's hat-trick meant that Arsenal reached the Europa League final, making it the club's second 👏 European final in thirteen years.[62] It also saw him become the first Arsenal player to score a hat-trick in the 👏 semi-finals of a European competition.[63]
Aubameyang finished the season with two goals in a 3–1 away win at Burnley, meaning he 👏 ended the season sharing the Premier League Golden Boot title with Liverpool's Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mané, on 22 goals.[64] 👏 He played the full 90 minutes in Arsenal's 4–1 defeat to Chelsea in the Europa League, failing to make a 👏 significant impact as the result meant Arsenal missed out on Champions League qualification.[65]
2024–2024: FA Cup win and departure [ edit 👏 ]
Aubameyang in a promotional image for Arsenal in 2024
On 11 August 2024, Aubameyang scored his and Arsenal's first goal of 👏 the season in their 1–0 opening match victory over Newcastle United at St James' Park, in which he demonstrated perfect 👏 technique to cushion a cross from Ainsley Maitland-Niles, to slot the ball past Martin Dúbravka, with José Mourinho hailing the 👏 strike as "a moment of genius".[66][67] Aubameyang scored his first home goal of the campaign in Arsenal's next game, a 👏 2–1 win over Burnley on 17 August. Aubameyang scored what turned out to be the winning goal, following an assist 👏 from Dani Ceballos.[68] Aubameyang scored his first European goal of the season on 19 September against Eintracht Frankfurt in the 👏 Europa League, as Arsenal won 3–0 away from home on matchday 1.[69]
Aubameyang's five goals in September, including equalizers against Tottenham 👏 and Manchester United and the winner against Aston Villa, saw him named the Premier League Player of the Month, beating 👏 the likes of Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold, Tottenham's Son Heung-min and Manchester City duo Kevin De Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez to 👏 the award.[70] On 5 November 2024, after Granit Xhaka was stripped of the Arsenal captaincy following his angry reaction to 👏 getting booed by the Arsenal supporters during their Premier League game against Crystal Palace,[71] head coach Unai Emery confirmed that 👏 Aubameyang would take over as the new Arsenal captain.[72]
On 1 December, following the dismissal of Emery, Aubameyang scored both goals 👏 in Arsenal's eventual 2–2 draw with Norwich City in interim head coach Freddie Ljungberg's first game in charge. Aubameyang's first 👏 goal (a penalty) had to be retaken, after VAR discovered there to be encroachment in the penalty area. Aubameyang's first 👏 effort was kept out by goalkeeper Tim Krul, however, his second effort (the same side as his previous attempt), was 👏 successfully converted.[73]
Aubameyang scored in Arsenal's 1–1 draw with Crystal Palace on 11 January 2024, but was also sent off for 👏 a late challenge on Palace midfielder Max Meyer. Aubameyang was originally given a yellow card for the tackle by referee 👏 Paul Tierney, however the card was eventually upgraded to a red card, by the VAR, resulting in Aubameyang's first-ever red 👏 card for the Gunners and would mean that the striker would miss Arsenal's next three matches against Sheffield United, Chelsea, 👏 and Arsenal's FA Cup tie against Bournemouth.[74]
On 27 February, in Arsenal's Europa League second leg round of 32 match against 👏 Olympiacos and with the aggregate score tied at 1–1, Aubameyang's scissor kick goal in extra time allowed his side to 👏 equalize the match and lead the tie on aggregate. However, following a 119th-minute goal by Olympiacos that meant Arsenal would 👏 be heading out of the competition, Aubameyang missed an open shot from five yards out in the last seconds of 👏 the match that would have seen his side through.[75] Following Arsenal's elimination, Aubameyang apologized for and lamented his miss, stating, 👏 "I feel very, very bad. It can happen but I do not know how I missed this chance. I was 👏 tired, I had some cramps but it is not an excuse."[76]
Following the resumption of the league in the wake of 👏 the COVID-19 pandemic, Aubameyang did not score or assist in the first three Premier League games after the restart for 👏 Arsenal, but eventually netted a brace on 1 July against Norwich City in a 4–0 rout. Aubameyang's first goal was 👏 his 50th in the league for Arsenal, making him the quickest player to reach 50 goals for the club in 👏 the Premier League era, having achieved the feat in just 79 league appearances, four games quicker than all-time club goalscorer 👏 Thierry Henry, and also became the sixth fastest to 50 in the Premier League, behind Andy Cole, Alan Shearer, Ruud 👏 van Nistelrooy, Fernando Torres and Mohamed Salah.[77] Aubameyang also assisted the Gunners' second goal, which was scored by Granit Xhaka.[78] 👏 He ended the season with 22 league goals, one behind Jamie Vardy, the winner of the Golden Boot, and tied 👏 with Danny Ings for second place.[79]
On 18 July, in their FA Cup semi-final against defending champions Manchester City, Aubameyang scored 👏 both goals in a 2–0 win for Arsenal, sending them to the final.[80] On 1 August, he converted a penalty 👏 and scored the winner in the final, as Arsenal defeated Chelsea 2–1 and Aubameyang lifted his first trophy with the 👏 club, becoming the first African to win the FA Cup as a captain.[81][82]
On 29 August 2024, Aubameyang scored a goal 👏 in normal time and the fifth and winning penalty in a shoot-out win against Liverpool in the Community Shield, after 👏 the game ended 1–1.[83] On 12 September, he scored in the first league game of the new season the final 👏 goal of a 3–0 win away to Fulham.[84] On 15 September, Aubameyang signed a new three-year contract with Arsenal.[85] On 👏 1 November, he scored a penalty in a 1–0 away win against Manchester United, to grant Arsenal their first Premier 👏 League win at Old Trafford since 2006.[86]
Aubameyang scored two goals for Arsenal in their 3–0 victory over Newcastle United on 👏 18 January 2024.[87] However, he did not play in the club's next three matches, in order to tend to his 👏 ill mother.[88] On 14 February, Aubameyang scored his first Premier League hat-trick in a 4–2 win over Leeds United. This 👏 took him to 200 career goals across Europe's top five leagues.[89] On 25 February, he scored two goals against Benfica 👏 in a 3–2 win to secure a place in the Europa League round of 16.[90] On 14 March, Aubameyang was 👏 left out of the starting line up in the North London Derby against Tottenham, the manager citing disciplinary reasons.
On matchday 👏 16 of the 2024–22 season, Aubameyang was omitted from the squad for Arsenal's match against Southampton, with manager Mikel Arteta 👏 yet again citing disciplinary reasons.[91] Three days later, Aubameyang was stripped of the captaincy.[92] On 1 February 2024, Arsenal announced 👏 Aubameyang's departure from the club by mutual consent.[93]
Barcelona [ edit ]
On 2 February 2024, Barcelona reached an agreement for Aubameyang 👏 to join the club. Aubameyang signed a contract until 30 June 2025 with an option to agree departure on 30 👏 June 2024.[94] Aubameyang made his debut for Barcelona on 6 February 2024, coming on as a substitute in a 4–2 👏 win over Atlético Madrid.[95] On 20 February, he scored his first competitive goals in his fourth match for Barcelona, scoring 👏 a hat-trick in a 4–1 away win at Mestalla Stadium over Valencia in a man of the match performance.[96][97] On 👏 20 March, Aubameyang scored a brace and assisted Ferran Torres in his only El Clásico helping Barcelona to a 4–0 👏 away victory against the league leaders.[98]
On 14 May 2024, Barcelona beat Espanyol in a 4–2 win to secure the 2024–23 👏 La Liga title, meaning Aubameyang claimed the first league title in his career, despite playing just nine minutes for Barca 👏 before joining Chelsea in the summer of 2024.[99]
Chelsea [ edit ]
On 2 September 2024, Chelsea announced the signing of Aubameyang 👏 to join the club on a two-year contract.[100] Barcelona confirmed the fee was €12 million (£10.3 million).[101] Aubameyang made his 👏 Chelsea debut on 6 September, after being named a starter in a 1–0 Champions League defeat to Dinamo Zagreb.[102] On 👏 1 October, he made his league debut for the club and scored his first goal in a 2–1 away win 👏 against Crystal Palace.[103]
In the Champions League group stage, he scored two goals in two matches against his former club AC 👏 Milan.[104] However, he was later excluded from the 25-man Champions League squad for the knockout stages by coach Graham Potter.[105]
Marseille 👏 [ edit ]
On 21 July 2024, Aubameyang left Chelsea and signed a three-year deal with Olympique de Marseille.[106][107] On 12 👏 August, he made his debut coming on as a substitute on the 67th minute in a 2–1 win against Stade 👏 de Reims.[108] Three days later, he scored a brace against Panathinaikos in the Champions League third qualifying round which gave 👏 his team a 2–0 lead; however, Marseille conceded a penalty in the stoppage time which equaled the tie 2–2, before 👏 losing 3–5 on penalties to be eliminated from the competition.[109]
International career [ edit ]
Aubameyang was invited to play for Italy 👏 U19s after a good season with Dijon, but he debuted for the France under-21 team in February 2009 in a 👏 friendly match against Tunisia U21.[110]
Aubameyang was also eligible to play for Spain because he has Spanish nationality. He decided to 👏 represent Gabon because his father once captained the team, but he maintains close relationship with Spain and expressed a desire 👏 to play in La Liga prior to signing for FC Barcelona.[111][112]
On 25 March 2009, Aubameyang was selected for the Gabon 👏 national team[113] and made his debut for the squad. He scored his first goal in a 2–1 victory over Morocco, 👏 then scored a goal each in friendly matches against Benin, Togo, Algeria and Senegal.[114]
Aubameyang was a key member of the 👏 Gabon national side that reached the quarter-finals of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations as co-hosts of the competition. He 👏 netted three goals in total, finishing the tournament as one of the top scorers. On 5 February 2012, he set 👏 up the opening goal for his team and hit the post in the quarter-final against Mali. However, the match ended 👏 1–1 after extra time and Aubameyang had his penalty saved in the shootout to decide the game.[115]
In July 2012, Aubameyang 👏 represented Gabon at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. He scored in the team's opening game against Switzerland, which was 👏 Gabon's first-ever Olympic goal, and would also prove to be Gabon's only goal of the tournament. They were eliminated in 👏 the group stage.[116]
On 15 June 2013, Aubameyang scored a hat-trick of penalty kicks in Gabon's 4–1 2014 FIFA World Cup 👏 qualifying win over Niger. He then scored a brace against Burkina Faso in the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations Qualification.[citation 👏 needed]
Aubameyang captained Gabon at the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations, scoring the team's opening goal of the tournament in their 👏 2–0 win over Burkina Faso on 17 January 2024.[117] He also scored a brace against Mali on 25 March 2024. 👏 He is Gabon's highest goalscorer. He rejected a callup for a pivotal World Cup qualifier at home to the Ivory 👏 Coast, which they lost 3–0.[118]
On 25 March 2024, Aubameyang captained Gabon to a 3–0 win at home to DR Congo, 👏 scoring the third goal to ensure qualification to the African Cup of Nations to be staged in Cameroon.[119] In that 👏 time, he contracted malaria, in which he got a fever and had to be hospitalized.[120]
On 6 January 2024, Aubameyang tested 👏 positive for COVID-19 before Gabon's first game in the African Cup of Nations.[121] Aubameyang withdrew from the tournament a few 👏 days later to undergo further medical examinations in England after being diagnosed with heart lesions.[122]
On 18 May 2024, Aubameyang announced 👏 his retirement from international football.[123] He made a total of 72 appearances for the Gabon national team and scored 30 👏 goals.[124] However, a year later, he announced he had changed his mind and would return to the national side. He 👏 said his decision had been prompted by a meeting with President Ali Bongo Ondimba.[125]
Media [ edit ]
Aubameyang was involved in 👏 the Amazon Original sports docuseries All or Nothing: Arsenal, which documented the club by spending time with the coaching staff 👏 and players behind the scenes both on and off the field throughout their 2024–22 season.[126][127]
Produced by Fulwell 73, FIFA released 👏 Captains in 2024, an eight-part sports docuseries following six national team captains in their respective 2024 FIFA World Cup qualification 👏 campaigns.[128] Aubameyang, representing Gabon, starred alongside Thiago Silva (Brazil), Luka Modrić (Croatia), Andre Blake (Jamaica), Hassan Maatouk (Lebanon) and Brian 👏 Kaltak (Vanuatu).[128] It was released by Netflix and also shown on FIFA's own streaming platform, FIFA+.[129]
Personal life [ edit ]
Aubameyang 👏 was born in Laval, France.[130] He is the son of former Gabonese international footballer Pierre Aubameyang and younger half-brother of 👏 Catilina and Willy, who have both played for Milan's youth teams.[131] His mother is Spanish.[132] He is married to Alysha 👏 Behague, the couple have two sons, Curtys and Pierre.[133][134] In August 2024, Aubameyang suffered a broken jaw during a violent 👏 robbery of his home in Barcelona.[135]
He is multilingual and speaks French, English, Spanish, Italian, and German.[136]
Career statistics [ edit ]
Club 👏 [ edit ]
As of match played 20 December 2024[137]
International [ edit ]
As of matches played on 9 September 2024[138][139]
Appearances and 👏 goals by national team and year National team Year Apps Goals Gabon 2009 7 2 2010 10 3 2011 5 👏 0 2012 8 4 2013 4 3 2014 4 2 2024 10 5 2024 4 2 2024 4 2 2024 👏 2 1 2024 5 1 2024 2 1 2024 6 3 2024 1 1 2024 2 0 Total 74 30
Honours 👏 [ edit ]
Aubameyang in 2011
Saint-Étienne
Borussia Dortmund
Arsenal
Barcelona
Gabon
Individual
Orders
Commander of the National Order of Merit of Gabon: 2024[173]
See also [ edit ]
