Top 10 Best Ghana Soccer Players Of All Time

Ghana has been a powerhouse in African football, consistently producing players who compete at the highest level.  This list, compiled following the Ghana Football Association’s official records and reputable sports journalism sources, remembers some of the best Ghanaian soccer players ever.

In this guide, we’ll highlight players who have impressed at the club level and significantly contributed to the success of the national team, the Black Stars.

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Who Are The Best Ghana Footballers Of All-Time?

1. Abedi Pele

Abedi Pele is one of the greatest Ghanaian footballers, starting his football career in 1978 with Real Tamale United in Ghana. Then he played in Qatar, Switzerland, and Benin before moving to Europe.

Abedi was one of the early African players to impress in European club football. In France, he played for Marseille, where he was part of the “Magical Trio” and helped the team win several league titles.

He also played for Lille, Lyon, and Torino in Italy, and 1860 Munich in Germany. Abedi represented Ghana in 73 matches.

Although he never played in a FIFA World Cup, he was a key player in Ghana’s victories in the African Cup of Nations. In 1992, he was voted the player of the tournament despite missing the final due to suspension.

He ranked highly in FIFA World Player of the Year voting in 1991 and 1992. He won several awards, including the France Football African Player of the Year Award and the BBC African Sports Star of the Year. Abedi holds the record for the most appearances at the African Cup of Nations.

2. Stephen Appiah

Stephen Appiah is one of the best footballers Ghana has ever produced. He started playing when he was just 15 years old for Hearts of Oak. Then he went on trials with Galatasaray’s youth team but returned to Hearts of Oak.

Later, he moved to Italy to join Udinese in Serie A where he played as a striker at first but then switched to midfield. Appiah also played for Parma and Juventus in Italy, also played for Fenerbahçe in Turkey, and Cesena in Italy.

He faced some challenges with injuries during his career, but he kept playing and performing well. In addition to his club career, Appiah played for the Ghana national team, the Black Stars.

He made his debut at a young age and became the team’s captain, leading Ghana to its first-ever qualification for the FIFA World Cup in 2006 and also captained the team in the 2010 World Cup. Appiah retired from international football after the 2010 World Cup, having earned 67 caps and scored 15 goals for his country.

3. Tony Yeboah

Tony Yeboah is a legendary Ghanaian footballer. He’s one of the best players ever in Ghanaian and African football history. Fans remember him for scoring amazing goals.

He did this a lot, and his goals often got featured in competitions for the best goal of the month or season. When he scored, he had a special way of celebrating. He would wag his finger at the crowd, showing his joy.

In the 1990s, Yeboah made a big name for himself playing in Europe. He played for 1. FC Saarbrücken, Eintracht Frankfurt, Leeds United, and Hamburger SV. Also played for teams in Ghana and Qatar.

In fact, he won the Bundesliga Golden Boot twice while playing for Eintracht Frankfurt. For Ghana’s national team, Yeboah was a key player for over ten years, playing in three Africa Cup of Nations tournaments during the 1990s.

In total, he scored 29 goals in 59 games for Ghana, that’s the fourth-highest goal total in Ghana’s history. Only Asamoah Gyan, Edward Acquah, and Kwasi Owusu scored more goals for the national team.

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4. Michael Essien

Michael Essien is one of Ghana’s best footballers ever. He started his career in Division 1 club Bastia in 2000, where he played in different positions before becoming a midfield powerhouse.

His move to Lyon saw him winning titles and impressing in the UEFA Champions League. Then came Chelsea, where Essien became a midfield rock, known for his powerful play and crucial goals.

He won the Chelsea Player of the Year and BBC African Footballer of the Year. Despite injuries, Essien’s impact at Chelsea was immense. Essien’s career took him to Real Madrid on loan and later to AC Milan.

He even played for Panathinaikos and Sabail before retiring from international football in 2018. With Ghana, Essien played in major tournaments like the FIFA World Cup.

5. Samuel Kuffour

Samuel Kuffour is one of the top soccer players in Ghanaian football history. He went to Europe when he was just 15, playing for Torino F.C. in Italy before moving to FC Bayern Munich in 1993. Kuffour spent 11 seasons with Bayern, where he became a key player.

He won the UEFA Champions League with the team in 2001 and was named man of the match in the Intercontinental Cup final the same year.

Kuffour’s passion for the game endeared him to fans, like when he famously beat the ground in frustration after Bayern lost the 1999 Champions League final.

Kuffour also played for AS Roma and had a brief loan spell at AFC Ajax. Despite offers from other clubs, he retired from professional football in 2009. Internationally, Kuffour represented Ghana for 13 years, earning his first cap at 17.

He was part of the Ghana U-17 team that won the FIFA U-17 World Championship in 1991 and finished as runners-up in 1993. Kuffour also played in the FIFA World Youth Championship in 1993 and the Olympics in 1992 and 1996, winning bronze in the latter.

6. ​Mohammed Polo

Alhaji Mohammed Ahmed, known as Mohammed Polo, is a top Ghanaian footballer. He’s famous for his dribbling skills and playing for Hearts of Oak. Mohammed Polo was a key player in Ghana’s 1978 African Cup of Nations win.

Polo played for teams like Auroras, Accra Great Olympics, and Al Wasl in Dubai. He joined Hearts of Oak in the 1970s and again in the late 1980s. Polo also represented Ghana’s national team, scoring 20 goals in 54 matches.

After retiring, he coached Hearts of Oak and Accra Great Olympics. Polo’s legacy is outstanding, with fans considering him Ghana’s greatest player. He owns the Polo Soccer Academy, which helps young players.

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7. Asamoah Gyan

Asamoah Gyan, a legendary Ghanaian footballer, is often regarded as one of the best in his Ghana football history. He began his career at Liberty Professionals before moving on to play for Udinese, Rennes, and Sunderland.

Gyan made waves with his impressive performances, including during the 2006 World Cup where he caught the eye of many. His time at Sunderland saw him set records and leave a lasting impact on English football.

Gyan contributions to the Ghanaian national team are unforgettable, from his debut at the age of 17 to becoming the country’s all-time leading goal scorer.

8. Ibrahim Sunday

Ibrahim Sunday is a famous Ghanaian footballer and coach. He’s highly regarded as one of the best footballers Ghana has ever produced. Sunday spent most of his career with Asante Kotoko, a prominent Ghanaian club.

One of Sunday’s notable achievements was winning the African Footballer of the Year award in 1971. He was also a key member of the Ghana national team, representing his country in two Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.

In 1970, Sunday and his club, Asante Kotoko, won the African Cup of Champions, which was a significant milestone for both him and the team. This victory was their first international title.

Sunday also made history, becoming the first African footballer to play in the Bundesliga when he joined Werder Bremen in 1975. Although his time there was brief, he had limited playing opportunities.

9. Sulley Muntari

Sulley Muntari, one of the best Ghanaian footballers ever, made his mark early on in youth tournaments playing for Liberty Professionals. His talent became noticed when he joined Ghana’s under-20 team at just 16 and finished runners-up in the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship.

Despite catching the eye of Manchester United during a trial, Muntari chose to begin his professional career in Italy with Udinese. In Serie A, Muntari became a key player for Udinese before making a move to Portsmouth in the English Premier League.

His time at Portsmouth was seen by memorable performances, including scoring in a historic 7-4 win over Reading and winning the FA Cup in 2008. Inter Milan signed Muntari, winning the Serie A title and the UEFA Champions League treble in the 2009-2010 season.

Muntari also represented Ghana, featuring in multiple FIFA World Cups and African Cup of Nations tournaments. One of his best standout moments includes being voted an All-Star Player in the 2008 African Cup of Nations.

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10. Karim Abdul Razak

Karim Abdul Razak is one of Ghana’s football legends. In 1975, Razak joined Asante Kotoko, one of Ghana’s most successful clubs. During his four years with the club, he won the African Footballer of the Year award in 1978.

In 1979, Razak took his game to the New York Cosmos of the NASL, playing alongside renowned players like Franz Beckenbauer and Carlos Alberto. After two years in New York, he returned to Kotoko in 1981.

He also went to play for Al Ain in the UAE and then to Arab Contractors in Egypt. Razak was an integral part of the team in Ghana’s victory at the 1978 African Cup of Nations, scoring important goals that led the team to glory.

His performance won him the African Player of the Year. Throughout his career with the Ghana national team, Razak represented Ghana in 70 international matches, scoring 25 goals.