Former Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan has urged the new generation of African footballers to aim higher and surpass his record as the continent’s top World Cup scorer.
At 40, Gyan holds the record with six goals in 11 World Cup appearances, scored across three tournaments: 2006, 2010, and 2014. He is notably remembered for netting Ghana’s first-ever World Cup goal just 68 seconds into their 2006 match against the Czech Republic.
Speaking at the launch of Ghana’s World Cup kit by PUMA in New York, Gyan said, “For me, records are set to be broken. I count myself lucky to have scored six goals in World Cup history. The only African to reach that mark—and yes, the record is there to be broken. I wish the new generation all the best; someone will come and surpass it.”
Currently, Nigeria’s Ahmed Musa is the closest active player with four World Cup goals, though Nigeria will not feature in the 2026 tournament. Among likely participants, Morocco’s Youssef En-Nesyri has three goals, while Mohamed Salah and Mohammed Kudus have each scored twice.
Gyan’s message underscores the importance of ambition and legacy as Africa prepares to showcase its talent on the global stage at the 2026 World Cup.
