Long before the goals, the records, and the global spotlight, Asamoah Gyan was simply a young boy chasing a ball through the neighbourhood, guided by the footsteps of his older brother, Baffour Gyan.

Speaking in an interview on Ghana Police TV on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, the former Black Stars captain opened up about the early influence that set him on his path.

Gyan revealed that his football journey began at just nine years old, inspired directly by watching his brother play.

“I used to watch my older brother, Baffour Gyan. He loved playing football in the neighbourhood, and wherever he went, he took me along,” he said.

I signed my Rennes contract while on a hospital bed - Asamoah Gyan

Those informal street sessions became the foundation of something far greater. Following his brother around, learning by observation, and gradually developing his own ability, Gyan began to attract attention.

“People appreciated what I was doing at that time, so I took it upon myself to build on it,” he added.

What followed was a career that reached far beyond those early beginnings. Gyan went on to play in Europe with Udinese, Stade Rennais, and Sunderland, establishing himself as a powerful and reliable striker.

On the international stage, he became a central figure for Ghana, scoring the country’s first-ever goal at the FIFA World Cup in 2006 and later captaining the team at the 2014 edition.

He also led Ghana’s charge during the unforgettable 2010 World Cup, where the Black Stars reached the quarter-finals, capturing global attention.

Over time, his consistency and leadership saw him become Ghana’s all-time leading scorer with 51 goals.

FKA/MA

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