Former Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan has revealed that he never felt the most pressure when facing elite teams, but rather when playing against sides considered “smaller” on paper.
Gyan, widely regarded as one of Ghana’s greatest footballers, rose to prominence during the 2006 World Cup in Germany. He later became Africa’s leading goalscorer at the World Cup and remains Ghana’s all-time top scorer.
In a recent interview with former England and Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand, the 40-year-old reflected on his international career, noting that representing Ghana always came with expectations—but the intensity of the pressure often depended on the opponent.
“There was always pressure playing for Ghana,” Gyan said. “Where I felt it most was playing against the minnows, but no disrespect to them.
“Playing against teams that we were statistically ahead of, going into such games we felt they had nothing to lose, but we did have something to lose. That is when I felt the pressure. But playing against the top teams, I didn’t feel the pressure,” he added.
Gyan retired from professional football in June 2023, leaving behind a legacy as one of Africa’s most prolific forwards.
