View source for Modeste M'bami

{{Short description|Cameroonian footballer (1982–2023)}}
{{more citations needed|date=January 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Modeste Mbami
| image = Modeste M'bami.jpg
| caption = Mbami playing for [[Olympique de Marseille|Marseille]]
| fullname = 
| birth_date = {{birth date|1982|10|09|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Yaoundé]], Cameroon
| death_date = {{death date and age|2023|01|07|1982|10|09|df=y}} 
| death_place = [[Le Havre]], France
| height = 1.72 m<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mbami, Modeste Mbami - Footballer |url=https://www.bdfutbol.com/en/j/j12452.html |access-date=2023-02-02 |website=www.bdfutbol.com |archive-date=28 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220928200548/https://www.bdfutbol.com/en/j/j12452.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
| position = [[Midfielder]]
| youthyears1 = 1999–2000
| youthclubs1 = Dynamo Douala
| years1 = 2000–2003
| clubs1 = [[CS Sedan|Sedan]]
| caps1 = 68
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2003–2006
| clubs2 = [[Paris Saint-Germain F.C.|Paris Saint-Germain]]
| caps2 = 83
| goals2 = 1
| years3 = 2006–2009
| clubs3 = [[Olympique de Marseille|Marseille]]
| caps3 = 77
| goals3 = 1
| years4 = 2009–2011
| clubs4 = [[UD Almería|Almería]]
| caps4 = 58
| goals4 = 1
| years5 = 2011–2012
| clubs5 = [[Dalian Aerbin]]
| caps5 = 0
| goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2011
| clubs6 = → [[Changchun Yatai F.C.|Changchun Yatai]] (loan)
| caps6 = 15
| goals6 = 3
| years7 = 2012–2013
| clubs7 = [[Ittihad FC|Al-Ittihad]]
| caps7 = 20
| goals7 = 0
| years8 = 2014
| clubs8 = [[Millonarios FC|Millonarios]]
| caps8 = 14
| goals8 = 0
| years9 = 2014–2016
| clubs9 = [[AC Le Havre|Le Havre]]<ref>{{LFP|m-bami-modeste}}</ref>
| caps9 = 8
| goals9 = 0
| totalcaps = 343
| totalgoals = 6
| nationalyears1 = 2000–2009
| nationalteam1 = [[Cameroon national football team|Cameroon]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalfootballteams.com/v2/player.php?id=1283|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120905191240/http://www.nationalfootballteams.com/v2/player.php?id=1283|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 September 2012|title=Mbami, Modeste|publisher=nationalfootballteams.com|access-date=21 January 2012}}</ref>
| nationalcaps1 = 37
| nationalgoals1 = 3
| medaltemplates = {{MedalCountry|{{CMR}}}}
{{MedalSport | Men's [[Football at the Summer Olympics|Football]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[2000 Summer Olympics|2000 Sydney]] | [[Football at the 2000 Summer Olympics|Team Competition]]}}
}}

'''Modeste Mbami''' (9 October 1982 – 7 January 2023) was a Cameroonian professional [[Association football|footballer]] who played as a [[midfielder]]. Mbami played for clubs in France, Saudi Arabia, and Cameroon, most notably [[Paris Saint-Germain F.C.|Paris Saint-Germain]] and [[Olympique de Marseille|Marseille]], both of which in [[Ligue 1]].

==Club career==
Born in [[Yaoundé]], Mbami started his career in his home country playing for Dynamo Douala but was quickly spotted by foreign clubs.

Mbami joined [[CS Sedan Ardennes|Sedan]] during the summer of 2000. Despite his young age, Mbami played ten matches in his first season in [[Ligue 1|Division 1]] and helped his club to finish fifth. He rapidly became a team regular and played 60 matches in the two following seasons. In 2003, the club was relegated to [[Ligue 2]] and Mbami decided to sign a five-year contract with [[Paris Saint-Germain F.C.|Paris Saint-Germain]] for €5 million after his agent Willie McKay halted advanced discussions with Wolverhampton Wanderers.

During his first season with Paris Saint-Germain, Mbami was associated with another young defensive midfielder, [[Lorik Cana]]. Despite their lack of experience, they played a big part in the club's good season, where Paris Saint-Germain finished second in Ligue 1 and won the [[Coupe de France]]. The club's 2004–05 season was less successful, in which Mbami bami was struggling with an injury. The 2005–06 season saw Mbami help Paris Saint-Germain to another Coupe de France title, while the club finished 9th in the league.

In August 2006, after three years at Paris Saint-Germain, Mbami was transferred to arch-rivals [[Olympique de Marseille|Marseille]], signing a three-year contract, and thus renewing his midfield partnership with Lorik Cana, who had signed for Marseille the season before.

Mbami left Marseille after his contract expired in the summer of 2009 and has since had trials at [[Premier League|English Premier League]] clubs [[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]], [[Bolton Wanderers F.C.|Bolton Wanderers]], [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]] and [[Wigan Athletic F.C.|Wigan Athletic]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/|title=Football News - all the latest breaking football stories - Mirror Online|website=www.mirror.co.uk|access-date=25 November 2019|archive-date=18 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190518134306/https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/|url-status=live}}</ref> After his contract ended with Marseille he moved on 30 September 2009 for a trial with the Spanish club [[UD Almería]], later Almería completed the purchase of the midfielder, the Cameroon player signed a contract with the Spanish club.

In July 2011, Mbami and [[Juan Jesús Gutiérrez Robles|Juanito]] were released by Almería. Then he joined [[China League One]] club [[Dalian Aerbin]] and was loaned to [[Chinese Super League]] side [[Changchun Yatai]] immediately. Mbami returned to Dalian Aerbin in 2012. However, he could not play for Dalian Aerbin in the 2012 league season due to the foreign players restricted rule. Mbami transferred to [[Saudi Premier League]] side [[Ittihad FC|Al-Ittihad]] in July 2012.

In 2014 he moved to Colombia joining [[Millonarios F.C.|Millonarios]], from the capital city [[Bogotá]]. Mbami was hired to play as a defensive midfielder and signed a contract for the 2014–15 season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=administrador |date=2014-02-12 |title=Modeste M’Bami oficialmente nuevo jugador de Millonarios - Noticias de Millonarios FC - MILLOS FC |url=https://millosfc.com.co/millonarios-fc/modeste-mbami-oficialmente-nuevo-jugador-de-millonarios,%20https://millosfc.com.co/millonarios-fc/modeste-mbami-oficialmente-nuevo-jugador-de-millonarios |access-date=2025-06-24 |language=es-CO}}</ref>

==International career==
Mbami won the [[Olympic Games|Olympic football games]] with his country in 2000 in [[Sydney]], also scoring the [[golden goal]] against [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]] during the quarter-finals. He was also in the team when Cameroon reached the finals of the [[FIFA Confederations Cup]] in 2003 and was part of the [[2004 African Cup of Nations]] team which finished top of its group in the first round of competition, before failing to secure qualification for the semi-finals.<ref>{{Cite web |title=https://www.fifa.com/en/articles/modeste-mbami-dies-aged-40-cameroon-psg-marseille |url=https://www.fifa.com/en/articles/modeste-mbami-dies-aged-40-cameroon-psg-marseille |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240804030652/https://www.fifa.com/en/articles/modeste-mbami-dies-aged-40-cameroon-psg-marseille |archive-date=2024-08-04 |access-date=2025-06-24 |website=www.fifa.com |language=en}}</ref>

Mbami was also in the [[Cameroon national football team|Cameroon national team]] that failed to qualify for the [[2006 FIFA World Cup]] as it finished second in its qualification group behind the [[Ivory Coast national football team|Ivory Coast]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=FIFA World Cup qualification (CAF) 2006, football - table and standings, match results, schedule, stats, videos, news |url=https://soccer365.net/competitions/736/2006/ |access-date=2025-06-24 |website=soccer365.net}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
Mbami acquired [[French nationality law|French nationality]] by [[naturalization]] on 26 December 2005.<ref>{{Cite web |title=JORF n° 0300 du 27 décembre 2005 - Légifrance |url=https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/jo/2005/12/27/0300 |access-date=2024-01-06 |website=legifrance.gouv.fr |pages=20038 |language=fr |format=PDF |archive-date=6 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240106004954/https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/jo/2005/12/27/0300 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Coaching career==
{{Expand section|date=January 2023|small=yes}}
In November 2019 he turned down a coaching job with the Cameroon national team.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50537788|title=Modeste Mbami : Ex-midfielder turns down Cameroon team manager role|work=BBC Sport|date=24 November 2019|access-date=25 November 2019|archive-date=25 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191125074612/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50537788|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Death ==
On 7 January 2023, Paris Saint-Germain announced that Mbami had died of a [[heart attack]], at the age of 40.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Modeste M'Bami, former Cameroon and PSG star, dies at 40 after heart attack |date=7 January 2023 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/jan/07/modeste-mbami-former-cameroon-and-psg-star-dies-at-40-after-heart-attack |work=The Guardian |language=en |agency=Reuters |access-date=7 January 2023 |archive-date=20 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240520163432/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/jan/07/modeste-mbami-former-cameroon-and-psg-star-dies-at-40-after-heart-attack |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=7 January 2023 |title=Modeste Mbami passes away |url=https://en.psg.fr/teams/first-team/content/modeste-mbami-passes-away-paris-saint-germain-tribute-mourning-2023 |access-date=8 January 2023 |publisher=[[Paris Saint-Germain F.C.]] |archive-date=7 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230107203725/https://en.psg.fr/teams/first-team/content/modeste-mbami-passes-away-paris-saint-germain-tribute-mourning-2023 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Career statistics==
:''Scores and results list Cameroon's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Mbami goal.''

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ List of international goals scored by Modeste Mbami<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesk/kam-intres0009.html|title=Cameroon - Details of International Matches 2000-2009|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=4 February 2023|archive-date=8 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230308224239/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesk/kam-intres0009.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
!scope="col"|No.
!scope="col"|Date
!scope="col"|Venue
!scope="col"|Opponent
!scope="col"|Score
!scope="col"|Result
!scope="col"|Competition
|-
| style="text-align:center"|1 || 17 May 2002 || [[Parken Stadium]], [[Copenhagen]], Denmark || {{fb|DEN}} || || style="text-align:center"|1–2 || [[Friendly match|Friendly]]
|-
| style="text-align:center"|2 || rowspan="2"|29 January 2004 || rowspan="2"|[[Stade Taïeb El Mhiri]], [[Sfax]], Tunisia || rowspan="2"|{{fb|ZIM}} || || rowspan="2" style="text-align:center"|5–3 || rowspan="2"|[[2004 African Cup of Nations]]
|-
| style="text-align:center"|3 ||
|}

==Honours==
'''Paris Saint-Germain'''
* [[Coupe de France]]: 2004, 2006<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/match-direct/coupe-de-france/2003-2004/psg-chateauroux-live/59653|title=Résultat et résumé Paris-SG - Châteauroux, Coupe de France, Finale, Samedi 29 Mai 2004|publisher=lequipe.fr|access-date=26 February 2021|archive-date=15 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230115144542/https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/match-direct/coupe-de-france/2003-2004/psg-chateauroux-live/59653|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.leballonrond.fr/match.php?id=221039|title=Marseille 1-2 Paris SG|publisher=leballonrond.fr|access-date=26 February 2021|archive-date=2 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231102080841/https://www.leballonrond.fr/match.php?id=221039|url-status=live}}</ref>

'''Ittihad FC'''
*[[Kings Cup (Saudi Arabia)]]: [[2013 King Cup of Champions|2013]]

'''Cameroon'''
* [[Olympic Games]]: 2000
* [[Confederations Cup]]: runner-up 2003

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Lequipe|10000000000000000000011635}}
* [https://archive.today/20130630083827/http://www.sodasoccer.com/search/player/EE8B52A7E1FCF867.html Career stats] {{in lang|zh}}
* {{ESPN FC|86290/modeste-mbami}}

{{Navboxes
|title=Cameroon squads
|bg=#007A5E
|fg=#FCD116
|bordercolor=#CE1126
|list1=
{{Cameroon Squad 2000 Summer Olympics}}
{{Cameroon Squad Confederations Cup 2003}}
{{Cameroon squad 2004 African Cup of Nations}}
{{Cameroon Squad 2008 Africa Cup of Nations}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mbami, Modeste}}
[[Category:1982 births]]
[[Category:2023 deaths]]
[[Category:Footballers from Yaoundé]]
[[Category:Cameroonian men's footballers]]
[[Category:21st-century Cameroonian sportsmen]]
[[Category:Naturalized citizens of France]]
[[Category:French men's footballers]]
[[Category:Men's association football midfielders]]
[[Category:Cameroon men's international footballers]]
[[Category:Cameroon men's under-20 international footballers]]
[[Category:Footballers at the 2000 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:2003 FIFA Confederations Cup players]]
[[Category:Olympic footballers for Cameroon]]
[[Category:Olympic medalists in football]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2000 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists for Cameroon]]
[[Category:2008 Africa Cup of Nations players]]
[[Category:Ligue 1 players]]
[[Category:Ligue 2 players]]
[[Category:La Liga players]]
[[Category:Chinese Super League players]]
[[Category:Saudi Pro League players]]
[[Category:Categoría Primera A players]]
[[Category:CS Sedan Ardennes players]]
[[Category:Paris Saint-Germain FC players]]
[[Category:Olympique de Marseille players]]
[[Category:UD Almería players]]
[[Category:Dalian Professional F.C. players]]
[[Category:Changchun Yatai F.C. players]]
[[Category:Al-Ittihad Club (Jeddah) players]]
[[Category:Millonarios F.C. players]]
[[Category:Cameroonian expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Cameroonian expatriate sportspeople in France]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in France]]
[[Category:Cameroonian expatriate sportspeople in Spain]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Spain]]
[[Category:Cameroonian expatriate sportspeople in China]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in China]]
[[Category:Cameroonian expatriate sportspeople in Saudi Arabia]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Saudi Arabia]]
[[Category:Cameroonian expatriate sportspeople in Colombia]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Colombia]]
[[Category:21st-century French sportsmen]]
[[Category:20th-century French sportsmen]]