World Cup 2010 : Gyan nominated for the World Cup Golden Ball
This friday, the FIFA published a list of ten players nominated to the election of the 2010 World Cup's best player award. For his influence at the heart of the Ghanaian attack, Asamoah Gyan is part of this selection, along players such as Lionel Messi, Wesley Sneijder or Xavi.
As the World Cup final approaches, between Spain and the Netherlands, the FIFA published this Friday a list of ten players, amongst which the World Cup’s best player will be named.
The Stade Rennais is represented in this list through its striker Asamoah Gyan, who helped Ghana to reach the competition last eight against Uruguay. Ghana was agonizingly close to manage an unprecedented performance, and become the first African nation to qualify for a World Cup semi-final.
On a personal point of view, Gyan was very close to equal Cameroon Roger Milla’s goalscoring record . With 4 goals in two World Cups, Gyan is only one goal away from the best African goalscorer in the World Cup history. Only 24, he could write history during the next World Cup, in 2014 in Brazil.
At the end of a successful season in Rennes, with 13 Ligue 1 goals, Gyan confirmed his return to the highest level after years of recurring injuries. With three goals in five games, the Rennes forward showed he was essential to the “Black Stars”. Decisive in front of the goal, Gyan also did much to help the game construction, through his ability to hold the ball up and his constant movement.
By all means, a great reward for the only African player nominated for the Adidas South Africa 2010 World Cup Golden Ball. The winner will be announced this Sunday, after the final, and will succeed to Zinedine Zidane.
The ten nominated players for the 2010 World Cup Golden Ball
- Diego Forlan (Uruguay),
- Asamoah Gyan (Ghana),
- Andres Iniesta (Spain),
- Lionel Messi (Argentina),
- Mezut Ozil (Germany),
- Arjen Robben (Holland),
- Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany),
- Wesley Sneijder (Holland),
- David Villa (Spain),
- Xavi (Spain)