Legendary Ghanaian striker Asamoah Gyan has mentioned that he grew up idolizing Brazil’s Ronaldo and he believes his career was modelled around the former Real Madrid star and his elder brother (Baffour Gyan).

Gyan is Ghana’s record goal scorer after bursting onto the scenes in 2003.

That was just a year after the Brazilian legend had inspired his country to the 2002 FIFA world cup conquest.

Ronaldo (originally known as Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima ) is widely considered one of the greatest football players of all time.

Nicknamed  ‘El Fenomeno’ (The Phenomenon) in his playing days, Ronaldo won the FIFA World Player of the Year in 1996, 1997 and 2002, the Ballon d’Or in 1997 and 2002, and the UEFA Club Footballer of the Year in 1998.

His exploits at an early age saw him break the world transfer fee record twice and is one of very few players to play for both Real Madrid and Barcelona.

He also won the FIFA World cup twice (1994 & 2002).

Although Gyan might not have reached the exact levels of his idol, he still can be counted as having had an stunning career.

The ‘BabyJet’ is Africa’s top scorer at the FIFA world cup, and Ghana’s all time top scorer.

The former Black Stars captain in an interview with TV3 Sports says he was inspired at a young age by Ronaldo and his senior brother Baffour Gyan (with whom he played together at the Black Stars).

When asked who was his idol while growing up as a footballer, Gyan answered “Ronaldo, the Brazilian and then my brother (Baffour Gyan).