Papiss Cissé
A Senegalese striker famed for his explosive left foot and a catalogue of spectacular, often physics-defying goals in the English Premier League.
Born 1985 (age 41)·Senegalese footballer·Birthday: June 3·Millennials
Biography
Papiss Cissé scored one of the Premier League's most improbable goals. In 2012, his first season at Newcastle United, he collected the ball on the flank and unleashed a swerving, dipping volley from an impossible angle that beat Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Čech. That strike defined his reputation as a striker capable of the miraculous. Cissé had arrived in European football through FC Metz in France, then moved to SC Freiburg in Germany, where he scored goals with relentless efficiency. His partnership with Demba Ba at Newcastle became a potent force, propelling the club to a fifth-place finish. For Senegal, Cissé led the line with athleticism and a striker's instinct, a consistent and dangerous presence. His later career saw fluctuations, with loan spells and moves to clubs in China and Turkey. Yet the Chelsea goal, and the scoring run that preceded it, secured his place as a cult hero. He finished his Newcastle tenure with 44 goals in 131 appearances.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Papiss was born in 1985, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Papiss Was Born
The biggest hits of 1985
#1 Movie
Back to the Future
Best Picture
Out of Africa
#1 TV Show
Dynasty
Papiss's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1985Born
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1990Started school
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1998Became a teenager
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2001Could drive
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2003Could vote
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Turned 21
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2015Turned 30
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2025Turned 40
AI agents go mainstream
Gas: $3.10/galHome: $385,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"APT." — Rose & Bruno Mars
2026Age 41 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Scored 13 goals in his first 12 Premier League appearances for Newcastle United in 2012, one of the most prolific starts in the league's history.
- Netted a famous, technically audacious curling volley against Chelsea in 2012, often cited as one of the Premier League's greatest ever goals.
- Finished as the top scorer in the 2. Bundesliga in the 2009–10 season with 18 goals for SC Freiburg.
Did You Know?
He wore the jersey number 9 at Newcastle United, a storied number for strikers at the club previously worn by legends like Alan Shearer.
He and compatriot Demba Ba were known as 'The Two Dembas' by Newcastle fans, though Cissé's first name is Papiss.
He is a devout Muslim and is known for his charitable work, particularly in his hometown of Sedhiou, Senegal.
“I just see the ball and I shoot. It is a feeling in the moment.”
