In Palma, a court ruling has sharply reduced the alimony and education support that Cameroonian football legend Samuel Eto’o has been paying to his son, born in Mallorca. The court limited the monthly payment to 600 euros, far below the roughly 3,000 euros previously provided for his adult son Etienne’s livelihood.
Responding quickly, Eto’o’s former teams Real Mallorca and FC Barcelona and others watched as Etienne, now 20 years old, signed with Real Oviedo. For Eto’o, the move signaled a sense of financial independence and maturity on his part, which the player contends justifies reducing the maintenance obligation. Etienne’s mother disagreed, arguing that the father, as a top international footballer, had earned substantial wealth, and that his son had not yet reached full financial independence despite securing a contract with a second division team.
The mother argued that the name Etienne alone would not cover the costs attached to a young man still pursuing education, and she noted that her son would continue to require support for his studies and daily living. She stressed that the prior earnings of the father should not translate into a blanket end to support while his son is in the middle of his schooling and still developing his career path.
Etienne eventually moved to live with his mother after signing with a first division team in Portugal. Neither Etienne nor his mother wished to disclose details about the new contract, but the court observed that the footballer retained a salary comparable to that of a professional athlete, and the contract with a firm that represents athletes confirmed his ongoing status within the industry.
The Supreme Court ruled that Eto’o retains ongoing responsibility for his son, but that this obligation should align with Etienne’s current academic needs. The court indicated that funding should focus on completing high school studies and related educational expenses, including the alimony, within reasonable limits. The ruling confirmed a monthly alimony figure of more than 600 euros to cover ongoing schooling and associated costs for the famous player’s son.
Judges also criticized the mother’s behavior, reminding both parties that a parent remains responsible for a child’s expenses. The court noted that the broader pension arrangement could still benefit the son through the support structure established for him, especially given that Eto’o has not been active in competitive football for several years and there was insufficient evidence of an active job search to suggest an additional income stream not already accounted for in the alimony calculation.
The Palma court’s decision underscores that parental support in high-profile cases can be adjusted to reflect the child’s current educational status and living arrangements, while acknowledging the former athlete’s financial history and status. It also highlights how the court weighs household economics and the child’s progress toward independence, balancing a parent’s wealth against a young adult’s ongoing educational needs. The ruling serves as a reminder that responsibility for a child extends beyond the mere existence of a famous name and into the practical needs associated with education, housing, and daily life…
In summary, the case reaffirmed that Samuel Eto’o remains financially responsible for his son’s education and basic needs while the son completes his studies. The monthly figure of 600 euros covers the essential costs related to schooling and related living expenses, and the court left room for future reassessment if Etienne’s educational or career circumstances change. The decision reflects a nuanced approach to alimony, one that considers both the parent’s earning history and the child’s current phase of life, aiming to ensure that support remains proportional and meaningful to the son’s ongoing academic and personal development. This direction aligns with established legal principles that parental duties extend into late adolescence and early adulthood, especially when continued education forms the basis of long-term independence.