Asamoah Gyan made his debut for the senior national team in a world cup qualifying match against Somalia in 2003. Gyan scored in the game making him the youngest ever player to score for the senior national team.
Asamoah Gyan help Ghana to qualify for its first-ever FIFA World Cup in 2006. He scored four goals in seven matches for Ghana during the qualifying campaign.
Gyan led Ghana to three successive world cup tournaments in 2006, 2010 and 2014. He is the all-time African top scorer in the history of the competition with six goals.
2006 FIFA World Cup, Germany
Ghana was in group E with three-time world champions Italy, FIFA’s second-ranked best team Czech Republic and the USA.
Ghana lost its first world cup match against Italy by 2-0. The Black Stars needed to win at all costs against the Czech Republic in their second game to boost their chances of qualifying for the next round of the competition.
On 17 June 2006, Ghana defeated the Czech Republic in the second group game by 2-0. Gyan scored the fastest goal of the tournament in 68 seconds against the Czech Republic and it was Ghana’s first goal at the FIFA world cup. Gyan missed a penalty in the 67th minute of the game to increase his goal tally.
Gyan received his second yellow card of the tournament in the 66th minute against the Czech Republic ruling him out to play in the final group game against the USA. Ghana defeated the USA 2-0 to advance to the knockout stage of the competition.
Ghana met defending champions Brazil in the round of 16. The black Stars were beaten by the South Americans 3-0. Gyan was sent off for diving in the 81st minute of the game.
Gyan made some records for himself in the tournament but it was a disappointing tournament in all for the 21-year-old striker.
2010 FIFA World Cup, South Africa
Ghana was in group D with Germany, Serbia and Australia. Ghana defeated Serbia in the first group game 1-0. Gyan converted a penalty in the 85 minutes to give Ghana the maximum three points.
Ghana’s second group game was against Australia on 19 June 2010. The black stars drew with the Socceroos in a 1-1 scoreline. Gyan scored for Ghana through the spot kick taking his goal tally to two in the tournament. Gyan was awarded man of the match.
Ghana lost 1-0 to Germany in the final group game but the black stars manage to seal qualification to the next round with a better goal difference ahead of Australia in the second position.
Ghana met the USA in the round of 16. The game travelled to extra time after a 1-1 draw in regular time. In the third minute of the first extra half, Gyan latched onto a high long ball, controlling it down and holding off two defenders before scoring the winner.
The match ended 2-1 in favour of Ghana. Gyan’s goal against the USA was one of the best goals of the tournament.
Ghana met Uruguay in the quarter-finals of the tournament. It was one Of the best games of the tournament. Ghana missed some players due to injuries and card accumulation but was able to hold the south Americans to the last minute of the game. The game travel to extra time after a 1-1 draw in regular time.
Ghana was awarded a penalty in the second half of the extra after Luis Suarez of Uruguay blocked a shot that was heading into the goal with his hand.
Gyan confidently stood behind the ball to convert the penalty with the whole of Africa behind him. After the referee whistled, Gyan missed the ensuing penalty kick off the crossbar. Ghana went on to lose the match 4-2 in a penalty shot out.
Ghana was the last African country left in the tournament and if Gyan had scored from the spot kick, Ghana would have been the first-ever African country to quantify into the semi-final of the world cup.
Asamoah Gyan had a wonderful campaign at the world cup and his performance earned him a move to English premier league side Sunderland at a record transfer fee in the summer of 2010.
Gyan was awarded BBC African footballer of the year in 2010.
2014 FIFA world cup, Brazil
Asamoah Gyan led Ghana to the 2014 Fifa world cup in Brazil as the captain of the team. The world was watching Gyan in 2014 after an impressive performance in the last edition in 2010. Ghana lost 2-1 to the USA in the open group game. Gyan was not on the score sheet in the evening.
Ghana’s second game in the group was against Germany. The black stars needed to win at all costs to boost their chances of qualifying for the next round of the competition. Mario Gotze put the Germans into the lead In the 51st minute. Three minutes later Andre Ayew put Ghana on a level with a header goal. Gyan announced his presence in the game in the 63rd minute after he put the ball in the middle right corner of the goal to put Ghana ahead.
Asamoah Gyan became the first Ghanaian player to score in three successive world cup tournaments.
Gyan scored in the last group match against Portugal but it was not enough to see Ghana through to the knockout stages as Ghana lost to Portugal 2-1
Gyan increases his world cup goal tally to six, passing Cameroonian legend Roger miller to become the all-time African top scorer in the history of the world cup.
Ghana exited the tournament in the group stage with one point.
It was the last world cup tournament for Ghana and the African legend.
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