Dieumerci Mbokani is a professional footballer from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, known for his role as a striker.
He won the prestigious Belgian Golden Shoe during his career, highlighting his exceptional talent on the field.
Mbokani is the all-time top goalscorer for the DR Congo national football team and has served as its captain.
Biography
Early Life
Dieumerci Mbokani was born in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, a country that has shaped his identity and career. His name, meaning "Thank God" in French, reflects a sense of gratitude that resonates throughout his life.
Career
Mbokani began his football journey at local club Bel'or, where he quickly made a name for himself by becoming the league's top scorer in 2004. His talent led him to TP Mazembe, and later to Europe, where he played for several clubs including R.S.C. Anderlecht, Standard Liège, and FC Dynamo Kyiv. Notably, he had a successful stint at Standard Liège, scoring 35 goals in 81 appearances. In 2010, he signed with AS Monaco for around €7 million, but after a challenging season, he returned to Anderlecht. His career also included brief spells in the Premier League with Norwich City and Hull City. Throughout his club career, he has been recognized for his striking abilities, earning the Belgian Golden Shoe as a testament to his skill.
International Career
On the international stage, Mbokani represented the DR Congo from 2005 to 2015, earning 31 caps and participating in the Africa Cup of Nations in 2013 and 2015, where he helped his team secure a third-place finish in 2015. His international career was marked by a harrowing experience during the 2016 Brussels bombings, which left him shaken but ultimately did not deter his passion for the game.
Personal Life
Tragedy struck in August 2011 when Mbokani's five-month-old son, David, passed away from cardiac arrest, a loss that profoundly affected him. Despite the challenges, Mbokani's resilience shines through in both his personal and professional life, making him a notable figure in Congolese football.
Collected from open sources (3) · facts link to sources · AI-processed
Gallery
Career & Clubs
Mbokani represented the DR Congo at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2013 and 2015, helping them to third place at the latter tournament. Mbokani was caught up in the 2016 Brussels bombings, alongside his international teammate Cédric Bakambu. Though both escaped unscathed, Mbokani was reportedly left "shaken". In the aftermath of this, after being sanctioned for missing a game as a result, he retired from international football with 31 caps. However, he returned to DR Congo's squad for the 2017 Cup of Nations in Gabon, and he was recalled to the national team in March 2019, although he withdrew due to injury.
Club
As of 29 November 2023
International
Scores and results list DR Congo's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Mbokani goal.
Mbokani began his career at local side Bel'or and was a league topscorer in the 2004 season with 16 goals. Then he moved to TP Mazembe. In the 2006–07 season, he made nine appearances for Anderlecht and scored four goals, including a hat-trick against Beveren on 7 May 2007. In 2007, he joined Standard de Liège and scored 35 goals in 81 league appearances. On 30 July 2010, Mbokani signed a deal with French side AS Monaco, after spurning reported interest from Liverpool, for a fee in the region of €7 million. After failing to impress in Ligue 1, on 9 August 2011, he signed a contract with Anderlecht for a reported fee of €3 million, stating that he looked forward to playing together again with his friend Milan Jovanović. The start of his spell at Anderlecht was dramatic, first injuring himself during one of his first training sessions, meaning he would be sidelined for at least two months. On 21 June 2013, Mbokani officially signed a contract with the Ukrainian club FC Dynamo Kyiv. On 14 July 2013, he scored his first goal in the very first game of the Ukrainian Premier League against Volyn Lutsk during the first half, which ended 1–1. On 31 August 2015, Mbokani was loaned out to English club Norwich City. On 31 August 2016, Mbokani was loaned out to English club Hull City. Mbokani made his debut on 17 September 2016 when he came off the bench, after 77-minutes, as a replacement for Abel Hernández in a 4–1 loss at home to Arsenal. On 20 June 2017, Mbokani was close to…
- Club
- VfL Wolfsburg (2011–2011)
- Club
- AS Monaco FC (2010–2011)
- Club
- TP Mazembe (2005–2006)
- Club
- Standard Liège (2007–2010)
- Club
- R.S.C. Anderlecht (2006–2007)
- Club
- R.S.C. Anderlecht (2011–2013)
- Club
- FC Dynamo Kyiv (2013–2015)
- Club
- Norwich City F.C. (2015–2015)
- Club
- DR Congo men's national football team (2005–2015)
- League
- Bundesliga
- League
- Premier League
- National team
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
Trophies & Awards
- Award
- Belgian Golden Shoe
Personal
Mbokani was born in Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, then called Zaire. The name "Dieumerci" means "Thank God" in French. In August 2011, his five-month-old son, David Mbokani, died of a cardiac arrest in his sleep.
Clubs
Played together with
- Aadil AssanaAS Monaco FC · 2011–2014
Aaron HuntVfL Wolfsburg · 2014–2015
Aaron Leya IsekaR.S.C. Anderlecht · 2014- Aaron WilbrahamNorwich City F.C. · 2011–2011
- Aaron WilbrahamNorwich City F.C. · 2011–2012
- Aaron ZehnterVfL Wolfsburg · 2025
Abdelaziz Ben TifourAS Monaco FC · 1956–1958
Abdelfettah BoukhrissStandard Liège · 2010–2012- Abdelhakim BouhnaR.S.C. Anderlecht · 2012–2014
- Abdellah LiegeonAS Monaco FC · 1981–1987
- Abderrahmane BoubekeurAS Monaco FC · 1954–1958
Abdou DialloAS Monaco FC · 2014–2015
Archive
Passport
Identifiers & aliases
Dieudonné "Dieumerci" Mbokani Bezua is a Congolese professional footballer who plays as a striker. He was captain and is the all-time top goalscorer of the DR Congo national football team.
Opinions of fans — not verified facts.
…