Asamoah Gyan has named former Italy captain and World Cup winner, Fabio Cannavaro as the toughest defender he played against in his football career.
The former Black Stars faced Cannavaro in the country's maiden appearance at the 2006 World Cup in Germany, a game Ghana suffered a 2-0 defeat.
Reflecting on the match, Gyan admitted, “Italy was the toughest opponent I faced as a Black Stars player. Cannavaro was too tough to go past. I believed in my capacity to outclass defenders but he was too good for me.
“No wonder he won the Ballon d’Or that year. His efforts were buttressed by Nesta,” Gyan shared on Onua TV.
Despite failing to score against the eventual champions, Gyan found his stride in the subsequent game against the Czech Republic, notching his first-ever World Cup goal.
The Black Stars’ advancement to the round of 16 marked a historic milestone for the nation, as it was their debut appearance in the global tournament.
Gyan’s journey in the World Cup continued to flourish as he went on to score five more goals, totalling six overall, the highest tally achieved by an African player in the history of the tournament.
By the time he retired from professional football, Gyan had amassed 51 goals for Ghana, setting a record that remains unmatched.