Florent Stéphane Sinama Pongolle is a French former professional footballer who played as a forward. He was signed at only 16 by Liverpool, but could never impose himself in the first team. He also spent several seasons in Spain, with Recreativo, Atlético Madrid and Zaragoza.
On 30 August2006, Sinama Pongolle signed a one-year contract at Recreativo de Huelva, with an option to sign on for a further two years. On 4 May 2007, the Andalusians confirmed he had agreed to a deal until 2011, for a fee of €4 million. He was Recre's top goalscorer in his two La Liga seasons with the team, at 12 and ten respectively. Sinama Pongolle joined Atlético Madrid on 3 July 2008, for a fee believed to be in the region of £8 million. Initially thought of as a backup to Diego Forlán and Sergio Agüero, he benefitted from an injury to the Uruguayan, scoring four goals in his first five league appearances for the Colchoneros, with braces against former club Recreativo and Getafe CF; later in his debut campaign, injury and match bans to Maxi Rodríguez saw him playing several games as right winger, as the team once again finished fourth.
Sporting / Rostov
In the winter transfer market opening in 2010, Sinama Pongolle was transferred to Sporting CP for €6.5 million, with the fee possibly raising to €7.5. On 26 March 2010 he scored his first goal for the Lions, but also conceded an own goal in a 2–3 loss at C.S. Marítimo. Sinama Pongolle spent the following two seasons on loan, with Real Zaragoza and AS Saint-Étienne, the latter in his homeland. On 30 August 2012 he terminated his contract with Sporting, going on to spend two years in the Russian Premier League with FC Rostov where he featured rarely.
Later years
On 9 September 2014, Sinama Pongolle signed with Major League Soccer's Chicago Fire FC. In November of the following year, after a short spell in Switzerland with FC Lausanne-Sport, he joined Dundee United. In July 2016, Sinama Pongolle joined Chainat Hornbill F.C. of the Thai League 1, scoring once in his debut but in a 2–7 away defeat against Chonburi FC. In early November, in spite of the team's relegation, the 32-year-old extended his contract until 2018. Sinama Pongolle returned to the island of his birth in January 2019, rejoining Saint-Pierroise with Uruguayan strike partner Diego Silva also making the same move from Thailand. Though he retired partway through the campaign, he contributed to them becoming the first Outre-Mer club since 1989 to reach the last 32 of the Coupe de France, scoring a hat-trick in the fourth round 9–1 win over ES Étang-Salé.
International career
After his under-16 and under-17 exploits, Sinama Pongolle made his France under-21 debut on 21 August 2002. He was a part of the squad that participated in the 2006 UEFA European Championship which took place in Portugal and, at the end of his four-year tenure with this category, ranked first in caps and goals. Sinama Pongolle played his only game with the senior side on 14 October 2008, during a 3–1 friendly win against Tunisia.
