After first being capped for Cameroon in 1995, Mboma scored 33 goals in 57 matches. He played in the 1998 and 2002 World Cups, and also led Cameroon to the gold medal at the 2000 Olympics and victories at the 2000 and 2002 African Nations Cups. He was named African Footballer of the Year for his efforts in 2000. He scored a memorable overhead kick against France in 1998.