List of international goals scored by Emmanuel Adebayor

Adebayor scored 32 international goals in 87 FIFA-recognised caps for Togo.

Emmanuel Adebayor is a Togolese former professional footballer who represented the Togo national football team as a striker from 2000 to 2019. A five-time Togolese Footballer of the Year,[1] Adebayor scored 32 international goals in 87 FIFA-recognised appearances, making him the country's all-time top-scorer;[2] he surpassed Kossi Noutsoudje's record of 13 goals on 7 February 2007 against Cameroon.[3] He made his international debut against Zambia on 8 July 2000 in a FIFA World Cup qualification match; he scored his first goal for Togo over two years later against Mauritania in Lomé, Togo.[3]

Adebayor's only international hat-trick came in a 6−0 FIFA World Cup qualification win against Swaziland (Eswatini since 2018) on 11 October 2008; he scored four goals in the match.[3] Adebayor helped Togo qualify for their first FIFA World Cup, the 2006 edition in Germany. He started all three group matches against South Korea, Switzerland and France, but did not score any goals and Togo ended up finishing last in their group.[4] Adebayor scored one goal in the Africa Cup of Nations, seven in Africa Cup of Nations qualification and six in FIFA World Cup qualification. The remainder of his goals, five, have come in friendlies. His most productive calendar year in terms of international goals was 2005, when he scored five goals in ten games for "The Sparrowhawks".[3]

Adebayor scored in his final game for Togo against Benin in March 2019; he later finished his football career aged 39 in 2023.[1] His 22-year long career helped to cement himself as a Togolese legend,[5] as he has been recognised as one of the greatest African footballers of his generation.[6][7]

  1. ^ a b Kanayo, Victor (21 March 2023). "Ex-Togo International, Adebayor, Quits Football". The Heritage Times. Archived from the original on 21 March 2023. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  2. ^ Mamrud, Roberto (20 January 2022). "Togo - Record International Players". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 20 August 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ "FIFA World Cup 2006 Germany". Global Sports Archive. Archived from the original on 21 March 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  5. ^ "Togolese legend, Emmanuel Adebayor announces retirement from football". Vanguard Nigeria. 21 March 2023. Archived from the original on 12 September 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  6. ^ Mukherjee, Soham (21 March 2023). "Ex-Arsenal & Man City striker Emmanuel Adebayor retires aged 39". Goal. Archived from the original on 23 June 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  7. ^ "50 Greatest African Players of All Time". Sports Illustrated. 90min. 22 July 2019. Archived from the original on 23 July 2019. Retrieved 12 September 2023.