Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang holds multiple nationalities, possessing legal ties to France, Gabon, and Spain. Yet, when it comes to his football identity, his loyalty belongs strictly to the Gabonese national team, where he serves as the historic all-time leading goalscorer. Born in the commune of Laval, France, to a Gabonese father and a Spanish mother, his background spans three distinct European and African cultures.
Understanding his national status means looking past a simple birthplace tag. While he grew up holding French citizenship and even featured briefly for France at the youth level, his decision to represent Gabon was a deliberate choice to honor his family heritage.
Family Roots and Cultural Background
The striker's multi-ethnic upbringing shaped his early life across Western Europe. His father, Pierre-François Aubameyang—widely known as "Yaya"—was a prominent Gabonese international footballer and captain who spent a significant portion of his professional career playing in France. Because his father played for various French clubs, Aubameyang was born in Laval on June 18, 1989.
His mother, Margarita Crespo Aubameyang, is a native of Spain. Due to his mother's heritage, he holds strong cultural ties to Spain alongside his fluency in Spanish, French, and Italian. Growing up, he spent his childhood moving between France and Italy while his father transitioned into a scouting role for AC Milan. Despite living outside of Central Africa during his formative years, his household maintained deep connections to Gabonese traditions.
The International Dilemma: Choosing Gabon Over France and Spain
By the time Aubameyang rose through the ranks at AC Milan and began his professional career on loan spells in French football, his standout pace and goalscoring ability caught the attention of multiple national federations.
Under FIFA eligibility rules, he had three clear paths:
- France: By right of birth and the country where he developed his entire early football education. He even accepted a call-up to the France under-21 team in 2009.
- Spain: By right of maternal descent through his mother, making him eligible for the Spanish national setup.
- Gabon: By right of paternal descent through his father, giving him ancestral ties to the Panthers.
Although he appeared for the French U21 side, he quickly realized that his international ambitions lay elsewhere. He bypassed heavy pressure from major European federations to commit his senior career to Gabon.
Why Aubameyang Chose Gabon
Many young dual-nationals opt for footballing powerhouses to maximize their chances of winning major continental and global trophies. Aubameyang took the opposite route, choosing a developing football nation to honor his father's legacy.
His father had captained the Gabon national team with immense distinction during the 1990s. Wanting to mirror that path, the forward made his senior debut for Gabon in 2009 at just 19 years old. He has often noted that the decision required very little deliberation. He wanted young fans in Libreville and across Gabon to see one of Europe's elite strikers wearing their national colors.
Carrying the weight of a national team almost single-handedly brought unique challenges. Unlike players surrounded by world-class teammates in traditional powerhouse squads, Aubameyang often had to shoulder the creative and scoring burden for the Panthers through multiple Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaigns.
Historic Milestones with the National Team
Choosing Gabon didn't stall his individual growth; instead, it elevated him to legendary status within the country. Over a career spanning more than a decade at international level, he achieved historic milestones:
- He became Gabon's all-time leading goalscorer, surpassing previous team records by a wide margin.
- He captained the side through several AFCON tournaments, famously leading them to the quarter-finals in 2012 when co-hosting the event.
- He captured the prestigious African Footballer of the Year award in 2015, becoming the first Gabonese player in history to win the accolade.
Even when club disputes or brief disagreements with the Gabonese Football Federation surfaced, his commitment to representing his roots remained central to his public identity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang born in Gabon?
No, he was born in Laval, France. He acquired Gabonese nationality through his father, who played international football for Gabon.
Can Aubameyang speak Spanish and French?
Yes, he is multilingual. He grew up speaking French in France, learned Italian during his youth academy years in Milan, and speaks fluent Spanish thanks to his mother's heritage.
Did he ever play for the French national team?
He played a single match for the France under-21 team in 2009 on a friendly basis, but he never represented the senior French national team.
How many goals has he scored for Gabon?
He is the all-time top goalscorer for the Gabon national team, netting dozens of goals across qualification matches and major tournament appearances since his debut in 2009.
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