Ghana forward Antoine Semenyo says he is grateful to have surpassed the long-standing Premier League goalscoring record of his boyhood idol, Tony Yeboah.
The 26-year-old enjoyed a remarkable 2026 campaign in England’s top flight, scoring 17 league goals to become the Ghanaian player with the most goals in a single Premier League season.
Semenyo’s record-breaking achievement came during a memorable year in which he also played every minute of Ghana’s 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign.
The Black Stars reached the Round of 32 at the expanded tournament, with their group-stage campaign highlighted by a goalless draw against England.
For Semenyo, however, breaking Yeboah’s record carries special significance given the influence the former Ghana striker had on him while growing up.
“Tony Yeboah is a player I always looked up to. Asamoah Gyan too, (former Ivory Coast star) Didier Drogba, the names are endless,” he told CNN.
The Ghana international explained that watching African stars excel in the Premier League inspired him to dream of one day following in their footsteps.
“When they were playing in the Premier League, scoring every week, you wanted to do the same thing as a young kid. To think I’m doing it now, I’m grateful to God.”
Semenyo’s 17-goal campaign saw him move beyond Yeboah’s previous benchmark and further establish himself as an important figure for both club and country.
The forward also hopes his own success can inspire the next generation in the same way Yeboah, Gyan and Drogba inspired him.
“It’s a dream of mine to have kids looking up to me, following in my footsteps. It gives me more motivation to keep going,” he added.
Semenyo’s rise represents another significant chapter in Ghana’s long association with the Premier League, following in the footsteps of Yeboah, Gyan and other Black Stars stars who have made their mark in England.
The 26-year-old featured in Manchester City’s Community Shield loss to Arsenal on Sunday. Despite the disappointing result, Semenyo is expected to play a key role under new manager Enzo Maresca as the new Premier League season gets underway this weekend.
