Biography
Jean-Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting is a professional footballer born on March 23, 1989, in Hamburg, Germany. Although he was born in Germany, he chose to play for Cameroon internationally and became one of the country's top goalscorers, with over 20 goals for the national team. His background blends German football development with aspirations in Cameroonian international football.
Choupo-Moting started his professional career at Hamburger SV and made his Bundesliga debut in August 2007 when he was just 18. He furthered his skills with a loan to 1. FC Nürnberg during the 2009-10 season and became a dependable forward in German football. In August 2011, he transferred to 1. FSV Mainz 05, where he evolved into a reliable goalscorer over three seasons. This success earned him a transfer to Schalke 04 in August 2014, where he was a regular starter and played in over 80 matches for the club.
Looking for new challenges, Choupo-Moting moved to Stoke City in the Premier League in August 2017. However, his time in England was tough as the club got relegated and he struggled for playtime in the Championship. This led to an unexpected move to Paris Saint-Germain in August 2018 on a two-year deal, where he was a squad player for the ambitious club. After his stint with PSG ended, he joined Bayern Munich in October 2020 on a free transfer to add to their attack.
His international career peaked during the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, where he was the top scorer and helped Cameroon reach the semifinals. This success confirmed his importance as one of Cameroon's key players of his generation. Once his contract with Bayern Munich ended after the 2023-24 season, Choupo-Moting took a big step by joining the Major League Soccer club New York Red Bulls in December 2024, marking his entry into American professional football.
Before Fame
Growing up in Hamburg with Cameroonian parents, Choupo-Moting was surrounded by football culture from an early age. He developed his skills at Hamburger SV's academy in Germany, which played a crucial role in shaping his future professional career.
The late 2000s were a great time for young players entering the Bundesliga. After Germany's disappointing performance at Euro 2000, clubs started investing more in developing young talent. Choupo-Moting took advantage of this shift, making his debut in the top league when the Bundesliga was becoming more competitive internationally and gaining global attention.
Key Achievements
- Top scorer at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations
- Champions League winner with Bayern Munich in 2020
- Over 20 international goals for Cameroon national team
- Bundesliga champion with Bayern Munich
- Helped Cameroon reach the 2021 AFCON semifinals
Did You Know?
- 01.He scored a crucial goal for Bayern Munich against Paris Saint-Germain in the 2020 Champions League final, helping his former club's rivals claim the trophy
- 02.Despite being born in Germany, he chose to represent Cameroon after playing for German youth teams up to the U-21 level
- 03.His surname is often hyphenated as Choupo-Moting, but he is commonly referred to simply as 'Choupo' by teammates and fans
- 04.He became the oldest player to score his first goal in a Champions League final when he was 31 years old
- 05.His father was a professional footballer who played in the German lower divisions