Samuel Moutoussamy: Where does the DR Congo player get his surname from?

Samuel Moutoussamy, who played in the Group K match in the FIFA World Cup 2026 for DR Congo against Portugal, has drawn attention due to his second name, which sounds Indian.

The France-born defensive midfielder played a notable role in the match, which was significant for the country, as it earned its first World Cup point and scored its first-ever goal, more so against a star-studded team like Portugal. It was the country’s first appearance in the World Cup in 52 years. Moutoussamy had an 84% pass percentage in the match on Wednesday (June 17, 2026).

In an interview with the Congolese website leopardleader.com, he said his second name came from his father’s native country. “My mother is Congolese and my father is of Guadeloupean origin, so my last name is my father’s,” he said.

Guadeloupe is a Caribbean island and a French overseas region with a sizable population of Indian origin who had migrated as indenture labourers from South Asia, especially India, in the 19th century.

The Democratic Republic of Congo is an African country with a substantial Indian population. According to the data issued by the Ministry of External Affairs of India DR Congo has a total of 25,000 Indians and Persons of Indian Origin (PIO).

The 29-year-old midfielder, who made his first appearance for the national team in 2019, currently plays for the Greek Super League club Atromitos.

Moutoussamy, who has been capped 59 times for the DR Congo national team, also participated in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in the 2024 and 2025-26 editions.

Even though Moutoussamy is a player who generally doesn’t score goals or provide assists, he is one of the important players in the team. “We’ll leave our souls on the pitch,” he told Leopardsfoot before the playoff against Jamaica, according to The Guardian “We can’t play with fear.”

The match against Portugal was an instance of his importance and resilience. As a defensive midfielder, Moutoussamy played a pivotal role in defending the powerful attack of the opposite team. Moutoussamy had two shots on goal besides the 84% pass percentage. Even though Portugal had 75% possession, it managed only three shots on target.