Former Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan has identified his dramatic extra-time strike against the United States at the 2010 FIFA World Cup as the most special goal of his tournament career.
The legendary forward delivered one of the defining moments in Ghana’s football history during the tournament in South Africa, racing through to score the winning goal in extra time as the Black Stars defeated the USA 2-1 to book a place in the quarter-finals.
Reflecting on his World Cup memories in an interview with Channel One TV, Gyan revisited some of the biggest moments from his international career, including his landmark goal against the Czech Republic at the 2006 FIFA World Cup, the first goal Ghana ever scored at football’s biggest tournament.
“It’s something that will remain because it’s the first Ghanaian ever goal in a World Cup, which everybody was expecting,” he said.
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Although he acknowledged the historical significance of that strike, the former Sunderland attacker admitted the goal against the Americans remains the standout memory from his World Cup appearances.
“I think that was my best goal. The timing was on point. It was 1-1 in extra time, everybody was optimistic about how it was going to come,” he said. “As a striker, that wasn’t my best goal I’ve ever scored, but because of the timing and everything, I would say it was my best World Cup goal.”
Gyan further explained that while his personal favourite goal overall came against England during his career, the USA winner carries greater emotional weight because of the occasion and its impact for Ghana on the world stage.
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The former Sunderland A.F.C. and Al Ain FC striker remains Africa’s highest-scoring player in FIFA World Cup history, having netted six goals across three different tournaments for the Black Stars.
