Ghanaian football icon Stephen Appiah added prestige to the 2023 FIFA Awards in London, England, on Monday.
Invited by FIFA as a distinguished guest, the former Fenerbahçe and Juventus midfielder was in attendance, rubbing shoulders with other legendary football figures.
The former Black Stars midfielder, who notably captained Ghana during their historic qualification for the 2006 World Cup, was impeccably dressed in an all-black suit for the glamorous ceremony.
Among the esteemed company, he shared the spotlight with football luminaries like Brazil’s Roberto Carlos, with whom he clashed during the 2006 World Cup in Germany, Marseille Desailly, a French legend of Ghanaian descent, and Cameroon’s iconic Geremi Njitap.
The awards ceremony recognised and celebrated the outstanding achievements of the best players worldwide. Lionel Messi, the Argentine maestro, claimed the prestigious FIFA Men’s Player of the Year award, securing the ultimate jackpot.
Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmatí shone on the women’s stage, winning the FIFA Women’s Player of the Year accolade. Manchester City’s duo, Pep Guardiola and Ederson, were acknowledged for their stellar performances, leading their team to a remarkable Treble. The honors extended to Mary Earps and Sarina Wiegman, who also received trophies for their exceptional contributions to the sport.
Stephen Appiah, who made history as the first captain to lead Ghana to the World Cup in 2006, and was part of the squad that reached the quarter-finals in the 2010 tournament in South Africa, retired in 2015 after an illustrious career. His presence at the 2023 FIFA Awards served as a reminder of his significant contributions to Ghanaian and global football.