Jordan Ayew becomes Ghana's oldest-ever World Cup player

Ghana captain Jordan Ayew etched his name further into the history books on Wednesday, becoming the oldest player ever to represent the Black Stars at a FIFA World Cup.

The 34-year-old forward reached the milestone when he led his country out for their Group L opener against Panama at BMO Field in Toronto.

At kickoff, Ayew was aged 34 years and 279 days, breaking the previous record of 34 years and 185 days set by Denis Odoi during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

The landmark appearance is the latest achievement in a distinguished international career that has spanned over a decade. Wednesday's encounter is Ayew's third World Cup tournament, drawing him level with some of Ghana's greatest football icons. He joins his brother André Ayew, legendary striker Asamoah Gyan, and former midfielder Sulley Muntari as the only Ghanaian players to have featured in three different World Cup editions.

The Leicester City forward first represented the Black Stars at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil before returning for the 2022 tournament in Qatar.

Ayew captained a Ghana side featuring several debutants, including a teenage sensation at the opposite end of the age spectrum.

His leadership and wealth of experience will be crucial as Ghana seek to navigate a challenging Group L that also includes England and Croatia.