Javier Balboa may have only first visited the country of his parents birth in 2007.
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But the Spain-born winger's goals have made him a national hero, as they have helped Equatorial Guinea secure an Africa Cup of Nations semi-final against Ghana in Malabo on Thursday.
"I've always felt very loved in the country," said Balboa, who plays for Portuguese club Estoril, in an interview with AFP.
"Obviously, scoring two goals (against Tunisia in a 2-1 quarter-final victory)... I became the reference for the public, but it's a team job."
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Balboa, 29, also scored a penalty against Gabon and is joint leading scorer in the tournament, with Tunisian Ahmed Akaichi and Congolese Thievy Bifouma on three goals each.