The memories of players who were once flamboyant and extravagant sometimes fall victim to time, with some forgetting their incredible achievements. One such star was Rabah Madjer!
The former Algeria international is considered by some to be one of the best footballers to have ever emerged from the country, and in 2007, his status as a continental legend was solidified when he was elected by CAF as one of the 10 best players of the past 50 years at that point. In fact, just two years earlier, the continent's footballing body had handed him a legend award.
Read: Egyptian media highlight broken Tau 'curse'
Many will remember him for his incredible backheel against Bayern Munich that helped FC Porto beat the German giants in the final of the 1987 European Champion Clubs' Cup (now known as the UEFA Champions League). With his side down by a goal to nil, his iconic equaliser would not only help them emerge as 2-1 victors, but it was a strike that would go on to become one of UEFA's 60 Legendary Moments.
Speaking to UEFA magazine in 2017, the former attacker described the moment as "a real explosion".
"I really didn't expect to score from a back-heel in the final," Madjer said. "What happened to me is extraordinary."
On this day exactly 34 years ago, FC Porto's Rabah Madjer made history by becoming the 1st ever African and Algerian player to score in the #UCLFinal with his backheel goal vs Bayern Munich, Madjer also became the 1st ever Algerian to win the #UCL title pic.twitter.com/rebTI0OKXA
— Algeria FC (@Algeria_FC) May 27, 2021
He went on to surprisingly add that if he "had controlled the ball, I would never have scored that goal"!
The Algerian's career began humbly, in his home country where he represented NA Hussein Dey until 1983, after being promoted to the first team as a young talent in 1975. He then joined Racing Club de Paris (Madjer helped them get promoted to the country's top flight in just one season), before moving to another French side, FC Tours, in 1985. The former centre-forward was, however, there for just six months before he was snapped up by Porto.
Looking back, it was perhaps the best career decision he could have made because his time in Portugal turned out to be extremely special.
He was in the Iberian Peninsula until 1988, and during that three-year span he managed to win, alongside the European Champion Clubs' Cup, two league titles, an Intercontinental Cup (now known as the FIFA Club World Cup), and four domestic cups. It was also in 1987, after his team's European triumph, that CAF awarded him the prestigious Player of the Year award.
In 1988, Madjer signed for Spanish side Valencia on a loan deal and made an instant impression by scoring on his debut, although he would play just 14 games for the club before returning to Portugal, and ended up departing the two-time European champions in 1991.
His international career was also something he could brag about, having led the Greens to victory as captain at the 1990 Africa Cup of Nations, the nation's first-ever continental trophy. It is safe to say that the former FC Tours player will forever be engrained in his country's history books because of both his individual and collective achievements that opened the door for footballers who would come through well after his time at the top of the game.
His first move to Europe, however, almost never happened.
Who knows whether or not he could have made the same impact if he did not break barriers in the way that he managed to do. This is because the Algerian FA, at the time, had a rule that prohibited players below the age of 25 from moving abroad, but Madjer would not allow that to curb his development.
After an impressive 1982 FIFA World Cup that saw him play a crucial role in his country's win over giants West Germany, the former striker became a target for clubs in Europe and fought the authorities to become an exception to the rule and, ultimately, a hero both on and off the pitch.
Read: Motsepe: The future of African football is bright
Disclaimer: SNL24 encourages freedom of speech and the expression of diverse views. The views of columnists published on SNL24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of SNL24.
WATCH: