Sports News of Thursday, 8 January 2015
Source: ghanasoccernet.com
Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan has been ranked as the 4th best striker in the world in 2014 by respected French football magazine L’Equipe.
The Al Ain goal-machine came behind Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, who raked in 61 goals in the year under review.
His sworn rival Lionel Messi came second with 51 goals and Red Bull Salzburg striker Jonathan Soriano with 55 goals.
Gyan has become an amazing scoring freak since joining the gulf side in 2012 where he has emerged goal king in the last two years.
He netted 22 times for the United Arab Emirates side in the League, three in the UAE President’s Cup, 12 in the Asian Champions League and six during the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers for the Black Stars.
He also emerged Africa’s all-time leading scorer at the World Cup, surpassing the record held by Cameroonian legend Roger Milla.
Despite the impressive scoring record for both club and country, the former Sunderland striker failed to make CAF’s three-man shortlist for the 2014 Africa Footballer of the Year Award.
Gyan’s omission has attracted massive criticism globally as it mocks the credibility of Africa’s individual top prize award.
He is currently preparing with the Black Stars in Spain ahead of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea.