At the end of the day, it’s all about winning trophies.
So, the failure of citizens to see their national team win trophies could be devastating as governments pump billions into sports to ensure success.
This agony of the beautiful game is a garland of shame hung around the neck of the Black Stars of Ghana and the colonial masters of the West African nation, England.
To put it into perspective, any Ghanaian who is 40 years and below has never seen the senior national team lift any trophy, despite a host of generational talents.
This means that except for former captain Abedi Pele, retired and current players within that timeframe have not experienced the thrill of winning silverware.
While these players have struggled to make an impact on the national stage, some have excelled and made it look easy while representing European football clubs.
Several players have made a significant impact worldwide, accumulating an impressive array of trophies and personal honours throughout their careers.
With that context in mind, The Ghana Report outlines a list of top decorated Ghanaian footballers who fell short of guiding the Black Stars to taste international glory.
Samuel Osei Kufuor (14)
Samuel Osei Kuffour stands as the most decorated Ghanaian footballer, with an impressive array of titles.
He won the prestigious UEFA Champions League in the 2000-01 season and the Inter-Continental Championship in 2001.
During his time at Bayern Munich, Kuffour helped the team secure six league titles, setting a record for a Ghanaian player in any of the top five European leagues: 1996-97, 1998-99, 1999-2000, 2000-01, 2002-03, and 2004-05.
Additionally, the stalwart defender won four DFB-Pokal (German Cup) titles and twice lifted the DFL-Ligapokal (German League Cup), further solidifying his legacy as one of Ghana’s greatest footballers.”
Asamoah Gyan (5)
Asamoah Gyan, also known as ‘Baby Jet’, played a crucial role in Ghana’s historic 2010 World Cup run, scoring a memorable goal against the USA in the round of 16.
He is renowned for his clutch goal-scoring ability, which has contributed significantly to Ghana’s achievements in various tournaments. Gyan holds the record for most World Cup goals scored by an African player, with an impressive six goals.
He is also the Black Stars’ all-time leading scorer with 51 goals in 109 appearances.
Although Ghana did not win any silverware during his time with the team, Gyan has five trophies to his credit during his time in the UAE.
He lifted his first trophy in 2012 when his side Al Ain defeated Al Jazira 2-1 for the Arabian Gulf Super Cup in Egypt.
The striker went ahead to win 3 league titles with the side: 2011-12, 2012-13, 2014-15 seasons and the UAE President’s Cup in the 2013-14 season.
Gyan moved to Shabab Al Ahli and added two more trophies to his collection: the UAE League Cup in 2016-17 and the UAE Super Cup in 2016.
Kwadwo Asamoah (13)
Asamoah’s illustrious football career was primarily based in the Italian Serie A, where he etched his name in history as the most-capped African player with 271 appearances, surpassing his Ghanaian counterpart Sulley Muntari.
The versatile left-footed player, who excelled as a full-back or winger, amassed an impressive six league titles in the Serie A, becoming the second player after Samuel Osei Kuffour to achieve this feat in any of the top-five European leagues.
Asamoah’s six-year tenure at Juventus was a trophy-laden era, as he won Serie A titles in 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18.
The former Asokwa Deportivo star also won four Coppa Italia and added 3 Italian Super Cups to take his total trophy count to 13.
Asamoah’s remarkable achievements in Serie A cement his status as one of the most successful African players in the league’s history.
Sulley Muntari (8)
The hard-tackling midfielder won his first trophy in European football with Premier League side Portsmouth after his team defeated Cardiff City by 2-0 to lift the 2008 FA Cup with Sulley playing the entire duration of the game.
He later joined Serie A side Inter Milan and won two league back-to-back titles with the side in the 2008-09 and the 2009-2010 seasons.
Muntari also won the Supercoppa Italiana in 2008 and 2010.
He went ahead to lift the Champions League with the same side in the 2009-10 season and the Club World Cup in the same season.
Muntari’s success in European football showcases his talent and dedication to the sport.
Bernard Tekpetey (8)
Bernard Tekpetey’s football career has been marked by significant milestones.
In February 2016, he joined Schalke 04 after a successful trial period, moving from Ghanaian second-tier side Unistar Soccer Academy.
He then had stints with SC Paderborn and Fortuna Düsseldorf before permanently joining Bulgarian First League club Ludogorets Razgrad on June 29, 2021, following a season-long loan.
Since joining Ludogorets Razgrad, Tekpetey has experienced tremendous success, winning his first silverware in 2021. The team has dominated the league, securing four consecutive titles from 2020 to 2024. Tekpetey and his team have achieved unparalleled success in the Bulgarian league, winning not only the league cup but also the Bulgarian Supercup three times from 2021 to 2023.
Additionally, they clinched the Bulgarian Cup in the 2022-23 season, further solidifying their dominance. Tekpetey’s impressive collection of honours is a testament to his dedication and skill as a player.
Stephen Appiah (5)
Stephen Appiah’s European career began with a move to Udinese in Italy, where he initially played as a striker before transitioning to a deeper midfield position. He spent three seasons with the club before moving to Parma in 2000, after overcoming viral hepatitis. At Parma, Appiah won his first silverware, the Coppa Italia, in the 2001-02 season.
Appiah’s success at Parma caught the attention of Juventus, who signed him on loan in 2003 and later made the move permanent in 2004 for €6 million. With Juventus, Appiah won the Supercoppa Italiana in 2003 and the Serie A title in the 2004-05 season.
Appiah then moved to Fenerbahçe in Turkey, where he won two more trophies: the Süper Lig in the 2006-07 season and the Turkish Super Cup in 2007. Throughout his European career, Appiah demonstrated his adaptability, skill, and determination, earning him numerous honours and a reputation as a talented midfielder.
Micheal Essien (13)
He is the only Ghanaian player to have won league titles in two different top-five European leagues.
Michael Essien was a league winner twice with French Ligue 1 giants Olympique Lyon in 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 as well as Trophée des Champions in 2003 and 2004, before his move to the English Premiership side Chelsea.
His stint at the London-based club saw him decorate his trophy cabinet with nine more silverware.
He won the league title in 2005-06 and 2009-10 seasons. At the club, the versatile midfielder won a total of four F.A Cups in 2006-07, 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2011-12 seasons.
Essien also won the Football League Cup in the 2006-07 season as well as the 2009 FA Community Shield with Chelsea.
He went ahead to win the 2012 Champions League despite being an unused substitute in the final match against Bayern Munich.
Essien’s achievements make him one of the most decorated Ghanaian footballers in recent times, showcasing his skill, versatility, and success at the highest level.
André Morgan Rami Ayew (6)
From the youth system of Marseille, young Ayew was a talent that the club needed to keep thus promoting him and awarding him his first professional contract in 2007.
It took three years to finally lay his hands on a trophy with the French side.
Coupe de la Ligue was his first in the 2010-11 season and doubled it the following year in a back-to-back fashion.
Ayew also won the Trophée des Champions in 2010 and 2011 to make it four silverware before leaving the club for the English Premiership, joining Swansea and later West Ham.
On 21 July 2021, Qatar Stars League club Al Sadd SC announced that they had reached an agreement to sign Ayew who with his new club went ahead to win the Qatar Stars League and the Emir of Qatar Cup.
Daniel Amartey (7)
Daniel Amartey, a product of Inter Allies’ youth academy, was discovered by Magnus Pehrsson during a scouting trip to Africa. He joined Swedish side Djurgårdens IF and quickly made an impact, ranking as the 10th-best player in the league after his first season.
This led to interest from Liverpool FC, but Amartey ultimately joined Copenhagen FC in 2014, where he won his first trophy, the Danish Cup, in the 2014-15 season.
He went on to win two more trophies with Copenhagen, the Danish Superliga and another Danish Cup, in the 2015-16 season.
Amartey’s dream of playing in the English Premier League came true in 2016 when he joined Leicester City, helping the team win the league title in the 2015-16 season.
He added two more trophies to his collection in 2021, the FA Cup and FA Community Shield.
On July 21, 2023, Amartey signed with Turkish club Beşiktaş, who had just won the Turkish Cup in the 2023-24 season.