Asamoah Gyan: The Hip Life And Magic Numbers Of A Ghana Legend

Asamoah Gyan is without a doubt one of African football's most colorful characters, what with his wacky hairstyles, World Cup tears, music accolades, and bag of goals.Tuesday marked the end of the legendary Ghanaian's two-decade-long playing career, following a journey that took him around the globe.

The 37-year-old striker participated in three World Cups and seven Africa Cup of Nations (Afcons), and captained the Black Stars on numerous occasions, but was never able to claim victory.

BBC Sport Africa examines the statistics and incidents that defined his career off the field.

His record of 31 appearances in seven tournaments places him in a tie for second place on the all-time tally, again behind compatriot Ayew (34), while Egypt's Ahmed Hassan is the only player to have participated in eight Afcons.

Painstil told BBC Sport Africa, "Gyan is one of the finest strikers produced by Africa and Ghana."2.

World Cup victory and the penaltyGyan is also Africa's all-time leader in World Cup scoring, having scored six goals in three tournaments (2006, 2010 and 2014).

After assisting his country in qualifying for its first World Cup, he scored in the 68th second of Ghana's second group encounter against the Czech Republic at the 2006 tournament in Germany.

The Black Stars advanced to the second round before being defeated by Brazil.But perhaps the 2010 BBC African Footballer of the Year is best known for a sliding doors incident at the subsequent World Cup in South Africa, the first World Cup to be held on African soil.

After scoring two penalties to help Ghana qualify from a group containing Germany, Australia, and Serbia, he scored the game-winning goal in the 93rd minute of the round of 16 match against the United States, setting up a quarterfinal against Uruguay.

The subsequent events have become part of World Cup legend.Luis Suarez was sent off in the final minute of extra time for manipulating the ball on the goal line, effectively preventing Ghana from scoring the game-winning goal.But this time, with the entire world watching, Gyan's penalty kick hit the crossbar and went over.

Minutes later, he showed courage by scoring from the penalty spot, but Ghana lost the shootout 4-2."We all had to go to Gyan's [hotel] room," disclosed Paintsil."We did everything we could, but he cried all night.

Three is the enchantment numberCommentators at the World Cup were perplexed by Gyan's number three jersey.His brother and his Christian faith influenced this decision, which he maintained throughout his career.

Baffour Gyan, like his sibling, played 25 times for the national team as a striker.

Unsettling controversyIndeed, Gyan carried the number with him after he had it shaved and colored into the side of his head, a style he adopted following his 2010 World Cup tragedy.

His mohawk landed him in trouble in 2016 after a loan transfer to Al Ahli in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). He was one of more than 40 players who received a warning letter regarding "unethical hair."

Gyan agreed to trim his hair to prevent causing offense, but he returned to his mohawk for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.

Baby Jet achieves success.Some football aficionados around the globe may be unaware that Gyan has also had a successful music career.

Using the stage moniker Baby Jet, he collaborated with hiplife musician Castro to record three albums (hiplife being a well-known Ghanaian musical genre).

African Girls was published in August 2010 and won the Ghana Music Awards for best hiplife single of the year, although Paintsil's personal favorite is Do the Dance."It was one of the songs that traveled the world, not just Africa or Ghana."

Many Ghanaians danced to it, as did the band's dressing room on occasion.Gyan and Castro, both Ghanaians, met in Italy in 2005 when Gyan was invited on stage after being observed in the audience.