Former Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan has reminisced about the 2006 World Cup, acknowledging the challenge he faced against Italy, particularly against defender Fabio Cannavaro.
In what marked Gyan’s debut appearance in the World Cup, he encountered one of the era’s finest defenders and struggled to break through.
Reflecting on the match, he admitted, “Italy was the toughest opponent I faced as a Black Stars player. Cannavaro was too tough to go past. I believed in my capacity to outclass defenders but he was too good for me.
“No wonder he won the Ballon d’Or that year. His efforts were buttressed by Nesta,” Gyan shared on Onua TV.
Although Ghana suffered a 2-0 defeat in that match, Gyan found his stride in the subsequent game against the Czech Republic, notching his first-ever World Cup goal.
The Black Stars’ advancement to the round of 16 marked a historic milestone for the nation, as it was their debut appearance in the global tournament.
Gyan’s personal journey in the World Cup continued to flourish as he went on to score five more goals, totalling six overall, the highest tally achieved by an African player in the history of the tournament.
By the time he retired from professional football, Gyan had amassed 51 goals for Ghana, setting a record that remains unmatched.