Former England international and Manchester United defender Gary Neville has praised Ghana striker Brandon Thomas-Asante following his impressive showing at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Coventry City forward played a key role in Ghana’s 1-0 victory over Panama on Wednesday night in their Group L opener, setting up Caleb Yirenkyi for the decisive late goal.
Speaking on the “Stick to Football” podcast, Neville highlighted the journey and resilience of the forward, who has risen through the lower leagues to reach the world stage.
“I love Brandon Thomas-Asante. He used to play for Salford. He deserves it. He deserves it, he’s good,” Neville said.
He recalled the striker’s early setbacks, including his release from Milton Keynes Dons as a teenager, and the moment he first came to wider attention during a trial period linked to Manchester United’s B team setup.
“He was at Milton Keynes Dons and got released. I think he was 18 or 19. We were setting up our B team, and we had trials. Warren Joyce was basically taking over our B team, and he said, ‘you’ve got to sign that lad now,’” Neville explained.
Neville also pointed to Thomas-Asante’s breakthrough spell at Salford City, where his form quickly became impossible to ignore.
“I remember going on holiday to Greece in August, and we’d started the season. I think he’d scored five or six in eight games. He was on fire. He was ripping up teams,” Neville said.
The former defender said the striker’s rise is a reminder of the importance of opportunity and persistence in football, noting how quickly fortunes can change for young players outside the top academies.
“He’ll be in the Premier League this year. He got Ghana in the World Cup,” Neville added.
Ghana’s win over Panama places them second in Group L behind England, who opened their campaign with a 4-2 victory over Croatia.
The Black Stars now turn their attention to a heavyweight clash against England on June 23 at Gillette Stadium, before concluding their group-stage campaign against Croatia four days later.
Ghana aim is to reach the knockout stage for the first time since their historic quarter-final run in 2010.
