Ghana striker Inaki Williams is on the cusp of a historic achievement, being just four goals away from reaching a century of goals for Athletic Bilbao.
The Spanish-born is already nearing a remarkable milestone having scored his 96th goal for the club on Monday night.
The Black Stars forward displayed stamina and skill to outclass his markers and scored the decisive goal as Bilbao secured a 3-2 victory over Girona.
Inaki Williams, known for his pace and clinicality has already netted 10 goals, a testament to his consistency and goal-scoring ability. This achievement places him just one goal shy of his tally from the previous season and five goals behind his personal best of 15 during the 2018/19 season.
Iñaki Williams has scored his second goal ⚽️ in 2024.#3Sports pic.twitter.com/jdiAmFTquW
— #3Sports (@3SportsGh) February 19, 2024
The 29-year-old’s endurance has evidently contributed to his success with the club as he has only missed two league games in the last seven seasons.
Williams scored his first goal for the club in February 2015 against Torino in the Europa League. The strike made him the first black player to score for the club and he has since improved with remarkable numbers. He finished that season with three goals in all three matches including a header against Barcelona in the final of the Copa del Rey at the Camp Nou and since then steadily climbed the club’s all-time top scorers chart. With 96 goals, he now shares the 16th spot with José Iraragorri.
The forward’s current form is expected to play a crucial role for the team as they aim for a place in the Champions League. Currently fifth, Valverde’s men are two points away from a Champions League slot behind Atletico Madrid.
While Williams continues to shine at the club level, concerns arise about his performance for the national team. Since switching allegiance to Ghana in 2022, the striker has scored only once in 17 games for the Black Stars, prompting discussions about the disparity in his club and international performances. Some attribute his struggles to adapting to Ghana’s playing style, while others speculate on the impact of the different football environments.
As Inaki Williams eyes a 100-goal milestone, the subsequent matches appear crucial for the player and club.