Abedi Pele

Abedi Ayew, known the world over as Abedi Pele, was the player who proved an African could be the best man on a European pitch. An attacking midfielder of rare vision, he carried the nickname of the Brazilian great and, for a generation, was simply the face of African football.

Early life

He was born on 5 November 1964 in Ghana. His gift for the game earned him the Pele nickname as a young man, a comparison he spent his career justifying.

Marseille and European glory

He became one of the first African players to shape club football in Europe, starring for Olympique de Marseille in France. His crowning achievement came in 1993, when Marseille beat AC Milan to win the Champions League, with Abedi at the heart of the side, a landmark moment for African players in the European game.

Ghana

He captained the Black Stars for six years and, across a 16-year international career, scored 33 goals in 67 appearances and played in a record five Africa Cup of Nations tournaments. He won the African Footballer of the Year award three years running, from 1991 to 1993, a feat that placed him among the continent's all-time greats.

A footballing dynasty

His influence outlived his playing days through his sons. Ibrahim, Andre and Jordan Ayew all went on to represent Ghana, with Andre becoming national captain, making the Ayews the most prominent footballing family the country has produced. Abedi Pele remains the standard against which Ghanaian footballing greatness is measured.