Happy Birthday, Shabani Nonda!

One of Ligue 1 McDonald's most iconic strikers, Shabani Nonda, celebrates his 49th birthday today.

Nonda in his "prime" at Monaco

Monaco is famous for its legendary forwards. From Delio Onnis to George Weah, David Trezeguet and Thierry Henry, some of the greats to have graced the French game have passed throough the Principality club.

When Nonda spoke with Monaco's media channels back in 2023, he didn't want to be included in that conversation. "No, no! Maybe some people think so, fans for example, but I don't have the hindsight to judge it. Personally, I spent five years here, during which I tried to give the maximum to satisfy the club," he said.

It was his time in Ligue 1 McDonald's, initally with Rennes and then with Monaco that proved to be the pinncale of the former DR Congo international's professional career. In 178 games in France's top flight, he netted 88 goals.

For Les Rennais, he netted 37 in 77 games across a two-year stint, having joined in 1998 before moving on to the Principality club in 2000, just after they had been crowned French champions.

With Monaco, he netted 67 in 145 games, including finishing top scorer in Ligue 1 McDonald's in 2003, with 26 goals. That year, Les Monégasques would go close to winning the league title again, and instead, they would settle for triumph in the Coupe de la Ligue.

Ultimately, that would be Nonda's only trophy during his time in France. He was something of a nearly man, having arrived at Monaco just after their triumph the previous year, whilst he was also part of the side that reached the final of the Champions League, only to be defeated by Porto.

Nonda says that he had "the peak of his career" at Monaco, even if he would go on to have success elsewhere in Europe, notably winning the league with Galatasaray (2008).

🎉Happy Birthday Shabani Nonda 🎉

In 7⃣ seasons, the Congolese attacker 🇨🇩 played for @staderennais and @AS_Monaco_EN scoring 103 goals in all competitions! ⚽️ #Ligue1Legends pic.twitter.com/USbJisjlXm
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) March 6, 2019

The former DR Congo international (21 caps, 14 goals) also had stints at AS Roma and Blackburn Rovers. He would go one to score seven goals in 26 appearances in the Premier League.

Before coming to France, Nonda was already a big fan of French football. "[The images I had of it] were those of my childhood, with George Weah, Abedi Pelé, Jean-Pierre Papin... only big players. At home, there was a TV show on every Tuesday that showed all of the goals. I never missed it," said Nonda.

In his time in Ligue 1 McDonald's, he filled plenty of highlights reels all by himself and made his own history in France's top-flight.

Happy Birthday, Shabani Nonda!

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