History maker: Jerome Boateng becomes second Ghanaian to win World Cup

By Prince Dornu-Leiku
Jerome Agyenim Boateng is this evening not only celebrating victory over Argentina and the World Cup trophy with Germany, the man with Ghanaian blood also re-writes the record books as the second man from this country to win the FIFA World Cup.

He had earlier become the third Ghanaian to play in the World Cup final after Gerald Asamoah who also played for the same Germany at Korea/Japan 2002 when Die Mannschaffts lost 0-2 to Brazil.

Jerome, half-brother of Kevin Prince Boateng who endured a torrid World Cup with the Black Stars at Brazil 2014, joins the former France and Chelsea captain, Marcel Desailly as the only Ghanaians to get a World Cup winning medal after Desailly wrote his name in gold when winning with France on home soil in 1998.

Like Desailly in 1998, Jerome played every game of the 2014 triumph for Germany even facing his own Ghana and brother, Kevin-Prince in the thrilling 2-2 draw in the group stages, incidentally the only game Germany did not win in Brazil.

Like Desaillya again, Jerome achieves the ultimate in football as a player having already won everything at club level including the UEFA Champions' League and FIFA Club World Cup with Bayern Munich in 2013.

Born in Berlin, Boateng has also previously played for Germany at U-17, U-19 and U-21 level, winning the 2009 European U-21 Championship before winning his first senior cap on 10 October 2009 against Russia and was the first German international to get sent off on his debut. He received a second booking in the second half.

Despite this shaky start, he was called up regularly ever since and featured for Germany at both South Africa 2010 FIFA World Cup and EURO 2012 before the triumph at the Maracana 1-0 over Argentina tonight in the World Cup final.