• Bryan Mbeumo was born in Avallon, France

• Mbeumo plays for Brentford FC

• Mbeumo represented Cameroon at the 2022 FIFA World Cup

Akshat Mehrish Bryan Mbeumo was born in Avallon in northern France. Through his mother and his birth, Mbeumo represented the France youth teams, making 10 collective appearances for the levels between Under-17 and Under-21. When Samuel Eto’o arrived in London with a proposition for Mbeumo in 2022, two years after his last cap for the France U21s, the attacker was left with a difficult decision. A Cameroonian legend, a former international for his country, and the president of the Cameroonian Football Association since 2021, Eto’o had been on the search for Mbeumo and other dual-nationals like him in a bid to rejuvenate the stagnant national team. Five-time champions of Africa, Cameroon, the Indomitable Lions, had not won the continental title since 2017. They had failed to register a point across six FIFA World Cup games across the 2014 and 2018 editions and were growing increasingly reliant on prolific but ageing striker Vincent Aboubakar.

Eto’o’s visit helped convince Bryan Mbeumo to switch his allegiance, to the delight of his Douala-born father and the family they had left behind in Cameroon. He made his senior international debut in September 2022; three months later, he sat beside Aboubakar and Co en route to Qatar for the FIFA World Cup. “As I played for France in the youth team and grew up in France, as well; it was hard, but I have travelled to Cameroon many times,” Mbeumo told BBC Sport Africa upon his switch. “My dad is very proud, and very happy for me. I'm grateful to be part of this for him and for my family, and he's very happy.” Since his debut, Mbeumo has collected nine caps for Cameroon, including three at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and scored once. The Indomitable Lions have undergone a significant reshuffle, with the lack of collective experience exposed amid the cracks in Qatar. However, their focus remains on the future, with another Africa Cup of Nations on the horizon. If the World Cup is the base template on which to build the new Cameroonian team, then Bryan Mbeumo will be the key going forward, in all likelihood. Cameroon require individuals to play with and eventually replace Vincent Aboubakar as the spearhead. Mbeumo’s displays through the end of the previous season and the beginning of the new one show that, in time, he can be that.

Bryan Mbeumo scored nine times in the English Premier League in 2022-23, securing his best return since his debut season with Brentford and more than double the production of the year before. He did so while playing in several different positions after a challenging campaign in 2021-22, but mostly dovetailing Ivan Toney in attack or as a part of the front three involving Yoane Wissa, Josh Dasilva, or, later, Kevin Schade. Toney’s untimely ban left Brentford without a number nine. While many believed that to be a significant hindrance in the Bees’ plans for the new season, Mbeumo seamlessly stepped into his shoes to occupy the talisman role. He has thrived since being given additional responsibilities by head coach Thomas Frank, who underlined the forward’s ability as a leading line in attack toward the end of the 2022-23 season. “I praised him (Mbeumo) a couple of weeks ago because he drives training with his attitude and work ethic and determination to want to get better and win,” Frank said in an interview. “He’s definitely a leader in the making.” Frank also commented on the Cameroonian forward’s strive to improve himself after some less-than-prolific campaigns: “The big praise goes to Bryan. He has grown more and more to be a key player for us. He works so hard; he’s a fantastic pressing player and can score goals and get assists, but maybe lacked enough goals. He works very hard on his finishing.” While only recently in the spotlight, Bryan Mbeumo has been a constant amid a sea of changes for Brentford during their ascend to the top flight. Joining the London club for a then-club-record £5.8 million fee from Troyes, the French youth international enjoyed his most productive season in red-and-white, playing alongside Ollie Watkins and Said Benrahma in 2019-20. The year after his first, as Toney replaced the outgoing Watkins and Benrahma, Mbeumo adapted to his new role as a support striker for the forward, sacrificing his goal output for the team’s greater good.

Toney and Mbeumo’s partnership brought Brentford to the Premier League; their understanding of each other’s movements was on full display in the club’s opening game against Arsenal, with the probing Mbeumo chasing flicks by Toney and leaving the Arsenal defence in tatters. As he awaits the return of his teammate from his expulsion, Bryan Mbeumo has taken over the responsibility of maintaining Brentford’s constant, upward trajectory. Two games into the 2023-24 season, the Bees are buzzing loudly, with Mbeumo scoring thrice in a win and a draw.