Asamoah Gyan Is Better Than Cristiano Ronaldo and Leo Messi, Says Countryman

The Ballon d'Or podium is missing one of Shanghai SIPG's stars, according to Aduana Stars footballer Yahaya Mohammed.

The Ghanaian believes his national team's captain, former Sunderland striker Asamoah Gyan, deserves his name to be included among the world's best.

Speaking to ASHH FM (via GhanaWeb), the 27-year-old claimed Gyan doesn't receive the respect he deserves in his home country.

"What Asamoah Gyan is doing here in Ghana is far better than that of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi," he said. "But sadly we don’t respect him because he is a Ghanaian.”

“I shall always rate Asamoah Gyan ahead of the two because if Gyan had been a European, he would have been [more] highly recognized than the two."

Mohammed believes Gyan would have outstripped the perennial player-of-the-year candidates if he had been given the same development opportunities as them.

Andres Kudacki/Associated Press

The Argentinian Messi has been with FC Barcelona from the age of 13, while Portuguese Ronaldo was nurtured by Sporting CP's academy before joining Manchester United at just 18. Gyan, meanwhile, never played in an academy.

“So if Gyan had even played an academy and gotten the opportunities they have, Gyan would have been devastating by now,” added Mohammed.

Gyan spent two years in the Premier League with the Black Cats between 2010 and 2012 before leaving for spells in the United Arab Emirates and China.

[GhanaWeb]