2006 World Cup changed everything for Me – Asamoah Gyan
Ghana football legend Asamoah Gyan says his impressive performances at the 2006 FIFA World Cup transformed his career and elevated him from a little-known Serie B player into one of the highest earners at Italian side Udinese.
Gyan emerged as one of the breakout stars of the tournament in Germany, helping Ghana reach the Round of 16 in the country’s first-ever appearance at the World Cup.
The former Black Stars captain scored in Ghana’s famous 2-0 victory over the Czech Republic and delivered standout performances against Italy and Brazil, attracting attention from several clubs across Europe.
Speaking to 3 Sports, Gyan revealed that his stock rose significantly after the tournament, with Russian club Lokomotiv Moscow presenting a lucrative offer for his signature.
“It really changed me, totally,” Gyan said.
“Playing in Serie B and then performing at the World Cup made people see me differently. I became a World Cup material player.”
The striker explained that although he was ready to move to Russia, Udinese were determined to keep him after his impressive displays in Germany.
“There were a lot of teams who wanted me, but the concrete offer was from Lokomotiv Moscow. It was a huge contract and I had agreed to it,” he said.
“But when I returned, Udinese didn’t want me to leave. Juventus wanted to sign Iaquinta from Udinese, so the club decided to keep me and improve my contract.”
Gyan disclosed that his salary was significantly upgraded, making him the second highest-paid player at the club behind Italian legend Antonio Di Natale.
“At that young age, my contract was very small, so they had to change everything. I became the second highest-paid player at Udinese after Di Natale,” he added.
Gyan went on to cement his place as one of Africa’s greatest World Cup players, becoming the continent’s all-time top scorer at the tournament with six goals across three World Cups for Ghana.
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