Former Black Stars striker Asamoah Gyan has revealed that the greatest pressure he felt while representing Ghana did not come against football’s heavyweights, but rather in matches against lower-ranked opponents where expectations were sky-high.

Widely regarded as one of Ghana’s greatest footballers, Gyan rose to international prominence at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, where his goals helped announce him on the global stage.

He would go on to carve out a remarkable international career, becoming Africa’s all-time top scorer at the World Cup and Ghana’s leading goalscorer of all time.

Speaking in a recent interview with former England and Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand, the ex-Sunderland, Al Ain and Shanghai SIPG striker explained that while wearing the national colours always came with responsibility, the psychological burden was heavier in games Ghana were expected to win.

“There was always pressure playing for Ghana,” Gyan said. “Where I felt it most was playing against the minnows, but no disrespect to them.

“Playing against teams that we were ahead of them statistically, when we go into such games they have nothing to lose, but we have something to lose. That is when I really felt the pressure. But playing against the top teams, I didn’t feel it as much.”

The former captain officially retired from professional football in June 2023, closing the chapter on a storied career that left an indelible mark on Ghanaian and African football.