# Benjamin Asare
**Benjamin Asare** (born 1992) is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Accra Hearts of Oak and the Ghana national team, the Black Stars.[1](https://awakenews.com.gh/profile-of-benjamin-asare/) A late bloomer who worked as a steel bender, carpenter's assistant, polythene-bag seller, and trotro mate (a fare collector on Accra's minibuses) before establishing himself, he became Ghana's first-choice goalkeeper in 2025 and, at the 2026 [FIFA World Cup](https://www.edgepedia.org/fifa-world-cup), became the first goalkeeper from the [Ghana Premier League](https://www.edgepedia.org/ghana-premier-league) to represent the Black Stars at a World Cup.[2](https://ghanaguardian.com/from-trotro-mate-to-world-cup-hero-the-inspiring-rise-of-benjamin-asare/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1992; height 188 cm[3](https://preview.gpl.com.gh/players/benjamin-asare) |
| Club career | Sporting Mirren (2017), Accra Great Olympics (2020–2024), Accra Hearts of Oak (July 2024– )[2](https://ghanaguardian.com/from-trotro-mate-to-world-cup-hero-the-inspiring-rise-of-benjamin-asare/) • [4](https://sportsworldghana.com/benjamin-asare-bio-real-age-height-early-life-previous-clubs-and-achievements/) |
| Top-flight record | 50 clean sheets in 100 Ghana Premier League appearances, per his official league profile[3](https://preview.gpl.com.gh/players/benjamin-asare) |
| International debut | 21 March 2025, keeping a clean sheet in a 5-0 World Cup qualifying win over Chad[5](https://www.sofascore.com/football/player/benjamin-asare/1457083) • [2](https://ghanaguardian.com/from-trotro-mate-to-world-cup-hero-the-inspiring-rise-of-benjamin-asare/) |
| Honors | 2025 SWAG Male Home-Based Footballer of the Year; Goalkeeper of the Year at the 2025 Ghana Football Awards[2](https://ghanaguardian.com/from-trotro-mate-to-world-cup-hero-the-inspiring-rise-of-benjamin-asare/) • [3](https://preview.gpl.com.gh/players/benjamin-asare) |
| 2026 World Cup | In Ghana's squad; played in the group-stage 0-0 draw against England on 23 June 2026[6](https://www.fifatrainingcentre.com/media/native/tournaments/fifa-world-cup/2026/PMSR-M45-ENG-V-GHA.pdf) • [2](https://ghanaguardian.com/from-trotro-mate-to-world-cup-hero-the-inspiring-rise-of-benjamin-asare/) |
## Early life
Asare grew up in Korle Gonno, one of Accra's oldest communities, and traces his roots to the Akuapem ethnic group, a fact he revealed in an interview on The Delay Show.[2](https://ghanaguardian.com/from-trotro-mate-to-world-cup-hero-the-inspiring-rise-of-benjamin-asare/) The French database L'Équipe lists his birthplace as Kumasi.[7](https://www.lequipe.fr/fiche/benjamin-asare/154888) Before becoming a professional footballer he supported himself with a string of odd jobs while playing part-time football, including bending steel on construction sites, assisting a carpenter, selling polythene bags, and collecting fares as a trotro mate; he has said these experiences shaped his determination to succeed.[2](https://ghanaguardian.com/from-trotro-mate-to-world-cup-hero-the-inspiring-rise-of-benjamin-asare/) • [8](https://ghanasoccernet.com/from-selling-polythene-bags-to-black-stars-number-one-benjamin-asare-shares-journey-to-the-top)
## Club career
**Sporting Mirren and Great Olympics.** Asare's professional career began in 2017 with Sporting Mirren, now known as Accra City Stars, in the Ghana Division One League.[2](https://ghanaguardian.com/from-trotro-mate-to-world-cup-hero-the-inspiring-rise-of-benjamin-asare/) In 2020 he signed for Accra Great Olympics of the Ghana Premier League, debuting on 15 November 2020 in a 1-1 draw against Medeama SC and following up with a clean sheet in a 3-0 win over Legon Cities FC five days later.[4](https://sportsworldghana.com/benjamin-asare-bio-real-age-height-early-life-previous-clubs-and-achievements/) A serious injury shortly after his arrival sidelined him for almost two years, and he worked his way back to reclaim the club's number-one position.[2](https://ghanaguardian.com/from-trotro-mate-to-world-cup-hero-the-inspiring-rise-of-benjamin-asare/) Over four seasons he made 73 appearances for Great Olympics, with his standout season in 2023/24.[4](https://sportsworldghana.com/benjamin-asare-bio-real-age-height-early-life-previous-clubs-and-achievements/) The club was relegated from the Premier League at the end of that season despite his performances.[9](https://lite.apex-football.com/en-GH/news/s3455f8a260914en_gh)
**Hearts of Oak.** In July 2024 Asare joined Accra Hearts of Oak, one of Ghana's biggest clubs.[4](https://sportsworldghana.com/benjamin-asare-bio-real-age-height-early-life-previous-clubs-and-achievements/) During the 2024/25 season he kept 12 clean sheets in 18 matches, and the club extended his contract until 2027.[2](https://ghanaguardian.com/from-trotro-mate-to-world-cup-hero-the-inspiring-rise-of-benjamin-asare/) He became club captain and signed a further two-year extension in April 2025, a season in which he made 20 Ghana Premier League appearances by mid-April.[10](https://www.graphicnewsplus.com/ak_125561_read_file/newspapers/-preview-1744589410_llSKI?ak=n-1766&x=A3C1oI8oQ7yCMDgQ) His league profile credits him with 50 clean sheets in 100 top-flight appearances.[3](https://preview.gpl.com.gh/players/benjamin-asare)
## International career
Asare represented Ghana at the [African Nations Championship](https://www.edgepedia.org/african-nations-championship) (CHAN), a competition for home-based players, in December 2024, playing a two-legged tie against Nigeria that included a goalless draw at the Accra Sports Stadium on 22 December.[4](https://sportsworldghana.com/benjamin-asare-bio-real-age-height-early-life-previous-clubs-and-achievements/)
His first senior Black Stars call-up came in March 2025 for World Cup qualifiers against Chad and [Madagascar](https://www.edgepedia.org/madagascar).[2](https://ghanaguardian.com/from-trotro-mate-to-world-cup-hero-the-inspiring-rise-of-benjamin-asare/) He debuted with two consecutive clean sheets, in the 5-0 win over Chad and the 3-0 win over Madagascar, and became Ghana's first-choice goalkeeper under then-head coach Otto Addo.[2](https://ghanaguardian.com/from-trotro-mate-to-world-cup-hero-the-inspiring-rise-of-benjamin-asare/) He later lost the starting place after Portuguese coach [Carlos Queiroz](https://www.edgepedia.org/carlos-queiroz) took over the team.[2](https://ghanaguardian.com/from-trotro-mate-to-world-cup-hero-the-inspiring-rise-of-benjamin-asare/)
## 2026 FIFA World Cup
Asare was named in Ghana's squad for the 2026 World Cup, where the Black Stars were drawn in Group L with Panama, England, and Croatia.[11](https://as.com/futbol/mundial/ghana-en-el-mundial-2026-convocatoria-lista-jugadores-grupo-y-calendario-f202606-n/) When first-choice goalkeeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi was injured during Ghana's opening match against Panama, Asare came on to make his World Cup debut and retained his place for the England match.[2](https://ghanaguardian.com/from-trotro-mate-to-world-cup-hero-the-inspiring-rise-of-benjamin-asare/)
The England game on 23 June 2026 in Boston ended 0-0, with Asare's late save to deny winger [Bukayo Saka](https://www.edgepedia.org/bukayo-saka) widely praised.[6](https://www.fifatrainingcentre.com/media/native/tournaments/fifa-world-cup/2026/PMSR-M45-ENG-V-GHA.pdf) • [2](https://ghanaguardian.com/from-trotro-mate-to-world-cup-hero-the-inspiring-rise-of-benjamin-asare/) The performance made him the first goalkeeper from the Ghana Premier League to represent the Black Stars at a FIFA World Cup, and he is the first Ghana goalkeeper to record two clean sheets in a single World Cup, while Richard Kingson did not record two in either tournament.[2](https://ghanaguardian.com/from-trotro-mate-to-world-cup-hero-the-inspiring-rise-of-benjamin-asare/) • [12](https://zaponda.com/benjamin-asare-comprehensive-profile-review/) • [14](https://www.thesoccerworldcups.com/players/richard_kingson.php) After the tournament, Hearts of Oak publicly denied having set a transfer valuation on him.[13](https://gna.org.gh/2026/07/hearts-of-oak-deny-setting-transfer-fee-for-goalkeeper-benjamin-asare/)
## Recognition and personal life
Asare was named Male Home-Based Footballer of the Year at the 2025 SWAG Awards and Goalkeeper of the Year at the 2025 Ghana Football Awards.[2](https://ghanaguardian.com/from-trotro-mate-to-world-cup-hero-the-inspiring-rise-of-benjamin-asare/) • [3](https://preview.gpl.com.gh/players/benjamin-asare) After his national team debut, a viral video showed him boarding a trotro, and businessman Seidu Agongo gifted him a [Hyundai Elantra](https://www.edgepedia.org/hyundai-elantra).[3](https://preview.gpl.com.gh/players/benjamin-asare) He is known for his Christian faith and has reportedly led Black Stars players in prayer before and after matches; he keeps his family life private.[2](https://ghanaguardian.com/from-trotro-mate-to-world-cup-hero-the-inspiring-rise-of-benjamin-asare/)
## References
1. [Profile of Benjamin Asare, Awake News](https://awakenews.com.gh/profile-of-benjamin-asare/)
2. [From trotro mate to World Cup hero: The inspiring rise of Benjamin Asare, Ghana Guardian](https://ghanaguardian.com/from-trotro-mate-to-world-cup-hero-the-inspiring-rise-of-benjamin-asare/)
3. [Benjamin Asare, Ghana Premier League player profile](https://preview.gpl.com.gh/players/benjamin-asare)
4. [Benjamin Asare bio, real age, height, early life, previous clubs and achievements, SportsWorldGhana](https://sportsworldghana.com/benjamin-asare-bio-real-age-height-early-life-previous-clubs-and-achievements/)
5. [Benjamin Asare stats and ratings, Sofascore](https://www.sofascore.com/football/player/benjamin-asare/1457083)
6. [England 0-0 Ghana, FIFA Training Centre match report](https://www.fifatrainingcentre.com/media/native/tournaments/fifa-world-cup/2026/PMSR-M45-ENG-V-GHA.pdf)
7. [Benjamin Asare, L'Équipe fiche joueur](https://www.lequipe.fr/fiche/benjamin-asare/154888)
8. [From selling polythene bags to Black Stars number one, GHANAsoccernet](https://ghanasoccernet.com/from-selling-polythene-bags-to-black-stars-number-one-benjamin-asare-shares-journey-to-the-top)
9. [From Trotro Mate to Black Stars Goalkeeper, Apex Football](https://lite.apex-football.com/en-GH/news/s3455f8a260914en_gh)
10. [Graphic Sports, 14–20 April 2025](https://www.graphicnewsplus.com/ak_125561_read_file/newspapers/-preview-1744589410_llSKI?ak=n-1766&x=A3C1oI8oQ7yCMDgQ)
11. [Ghana en el Mundial 2026: convocatoria, lista, jugadores, grupo y calendario, AS](https://as.com/futbol/mundial/ghana-en-el-mundial-2026-convocatoria-lista-jugadores-grupo-y-calendario-f202606-n/)
12. [Benjamin Asare: Comprehensive Profile Review, Zaponda](https://zaponda.com/benjamin-asare-comprehensive-profile-review/)
13. [Hearts of Oak deny setting transfer fee for goalkeeper Benjamin Asare, Ghana News Agency](https://gna.org.gh/2026/07/hearts-of-oak-deny-setting-transfer-fee-for-goalkeeper-benjamin-asare/)
14. [Richard Kingson in the World Cups](https://www.thesoccerworldcups.com/players/richard_kingson.php)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Association football › Football people and teams › People › Men's footballers of Africa › West African footballers › Ghanaian and Ivorian footballers*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 11, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license