Asamoah Gyan says Ghanaian football supporters must decide whether his achievements with the Black Stars merit legendary status following his retirement from the game.
The former Sunderland and Al Ain striker is Ghana’s all-time leading scorer and the highest-scoring African player in FIFA World Cup history. However, despite those records, Gyan says he does not want to make the judgement himself.
“Right now, I leave it for the fans, because I’m retired now, so they have to decide whether I made it or not,” he told Kenya’s Sports Garage Show.
Gyan’s international career lasted for more than 15 years and included appearances at seven Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and three FIFA World Cups. He also remains the only African male player to have scored in three different editions of the FIFA World Cup.
The former Black Stars captain said his standing among supporters changed during and after his time as a player. While he was still active, Gyan explained, some fans questioned his performances and did not want him selected.
“Because the time when I was playing, of course there were people who didn’t like me. They didn’t even want to see me on the field. But now that I’m home, that I’m done, I’m retired, they understand the kind of person I was,” he added.
Gyan said the criticism he faced while playing had not prevented him from recognising the importance of the supporters’ view. Although his goalscoring record and international appearances form a significant part of his career, he believes the label of “legend” should be determined by those who watched him represent Ghana.
“It’s for the fans to decide,” he said.
His record at international level places him among the most notable players in African football. Gyan’s goals for Ghana make him the country’s leading scorer, while his World Cup record gives him a unique place in the history of the competition among African male players.
He represented the Black Stars across seven Africa Cup of Nations campaigns and three FIFA World Cup tournaments during an international career spanning more than a decade and a half. Yet Gyan continues to leave the final assessment of his contribution to Ghanaian fans.
Having retired, the former striker believes supporters are now able to view his career more fully and judge the impact he had on the national team. For Gyan, whether those achievements are enough to earn legendary status is not a decision for him to make.
