player · international archive · 2004–2009
Michael Essien
Be the first in the stands
GhanaArchive goals
6
for Ghana · 1 from the spot
Matches scored in
6
every one opens its match page below
Tournaments
2
most in the FIFA World Cup qualification (4)
Career span
2004–2009
first 2004-09-05 · last 2009-09-06
Counted from the international goal archive — every scorer-credited goal in the matches it covers, 1916 to today. A record of covered matches, not a complete career count; own goals never join a scorer's tally.
Michael Essien is a Ghanaian football coach and former player who is currently an assistant coach at Danish Superliga club Nordsjælland. — Wikipedia
identity matched to Wikidata · last verified 2026-09-14
In the line-ups
22 appearances in recorded line-ups · 2003–2011The archive holds 22 team sheets naming Michael Essien in Ghana's starting line-up, from 2003-11-16 to 2011-06-03.
22 appearances in the starting line-ups the archive holds — not a career total. Our line-up coverage is partial, so a match he played that we hold no sheet for is simply not counted here.
International goals in our archive
6 goals across 6 scoring matches · 2 tournaments · 2004–2009| Date | Opponent | Result | Minutes | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009-09-06 |  Sudan | W2–0(h) | 53' | FIFA World Cup qualification | Accra |
| 2008-02-03 |  Nigeria | W2–1(h) | 45' | African Cup of Nations | Accra |
| 2008-01-28 |  Morocco | W2–0(h) | 26' | African Cup of Nations | Accra |
| 2005-09-04 |  Uganda | W2–0(h) | 10' | FIFA World Cup qualification | Kumasi |
| 2005-06-18 |  South Africa | W2–0(a) | 91' | FIFA World Cup qualification | Johannesburg |
| 2004-09-05 |  Cape Verde | W2–0(h) | 24' (pen) | FIFA World Cup qualification | Kumasi |
Honours
12 team trophies · Wikipedia + Wikidata, community-updatedMarquee honours
UEFA Champions League
2011–12
Premier League×2
2005–06, 2009–10
Ligue 1×2
2003–04, 2004–05
| Team honours12 | ||||
| UEFA Champions League | ×1 | 2011–12 | Chelsea | |
| Premier League | ×2 | 2005–06, 2009–10 | Chelsea | |
| Ligue 1 | ×2 | 2003–04, 2004–05 | Lyon | |
| FA Cup | ×3 | 2006–07, 2008–09, 2011–12 | Chelsea | |
| Trophée des Champions | ×2 | 2003, 2004 | Lyon | |
| FA Community Shield | ×1 | 2009 | Chelsea | |
| Football League Cup | ×1 | 2006–07 | Chelsea | |
| Individual honours14 | ||||
| Player of the year · 4 | ||||
| BBC African Footballer of the Year | 2006 | |||
| Chelsea Player of the Year | 2007 | |||
| Ghana Player of the Year | 2007 | |||
| Ligue 1 Player of the Year | 2004–05 | |||
| Teams of the season · 6 | ||||
| CAF Team of the Year | ×4 | 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009 | ||
| Ligue 1 Team of the Year | ×2 | 2002–03, 2004–05 | ||
| Monthly awards · 1 | ||||
| Ligue 1 Player of the Month | 2004 | |||
| More honours · 3 | ||||
| Chelsea Goal of the Year | ×2 | 2006–07, 2008–09 | ||
| 2008 Africa Cup of Nations | ||||
The Stands
Supporters and discussion · Michael EssienSupporters
Discussion