World Cup 2010. Besides Messi, no one has more profoundly affected the world at large than Asamoah Gyan. By missing a penalty kick in the last minute of the last overtime, he lost the opportunity to usher the first African team into the semifinals of any World Cup. But he played fairly, and with heart, much more than can be said about many famous, wealthy European and South American players. To me, his reaction to this defeat embodies the love and beauty of game more than anything I have witnessed in many years. It represents the truthfulness and passion of not only African soccer but of soccer played around the world.
In a way, watching the world cup signifies ones’ loss. Only 22 players in the whole world can win. Billions will not play in the final. Ghana was so close you could taste it in the air 1000s of miles away and hear it in silence of the collectively held breaths of a continent. But Ghana and Asamoah, you were so close that for me, it was good enough. And while you may not win the World Cup, you certainly hold a place of high regard in the hearts and minds of millions.