Just a day after announcing his retirement from Ghana, Asamoah Gyan has made a shock U-turn on his decision after being phoned by his country’s president. Here are other footballers, including two South Africans and Lionel Messi, who came back from retirements.
Click through the gallery above to see 10 stars who made a U-turn on their international retirements.
The all-time record goalscorer of the Black Stars had initially announced his international retirement on Monday because coach Kwesi Appiah wanted to take the captaincy for the upcoming AFCON off him.
However, Ghana’s president Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo intervened and personally asked the 33-year-old to continue, which caused his U-turn.
On Wednesday, Gyan released another letter on his social media accounts saying he has had a change of heart due to the president’s intervention.
“A presidential request is one that cannot be disregarded,” he tweeted.
“I have taken the request of His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in good faith, and will make myself available for selection by coach Kwesi Appiah to help win the AFCON trophy.”
Ghana’s president reportedly also spoke with Black Stars coach Appiah, who is yet to announce his AFCON squad. It remains to be seen, who will captain Ghana at the tournament in Egypt, with reports claiming Appiah wanted to hand Andre Ayew the armband.
Read: Bafana’s AFCON Prep Squad Announced
Gyan, though, is not the only star to come back from international retirement. Argentina captain Messi, for example, announced his departure from the Albiceleste after their defeat in the 2016 Copa America final, only to return to playing for his national team a few months later.
Back in 2002, Bafana Bafana record goalscorer Benni McCarthy announced his retirement, but he, too, returned to representing his country in 2004. He later eclipsed Shaun Bartlett’s record of 29 goals for South Africa in 2008 and ultimately hung up his boots in 2012.
You can find more players who made a retirment U-turn in the gallery above and let us know in the comments section below what you make of Gyan’s retirement U-turn just a day later?
