Former Ghana international Ahmed Barusso has shared a detailed reflection on how football has evolved since his playing days, drawing a clear contrast between the physical nature of the game in his era and the fast-paced, high-intensity style of modern football.
The former AS Roma and Black Stars midfielder believes today’s game is defined more by speed, power and refined tactical awareness, unlike the more physically demanding style he experienced during his career.
“During our time, football was more about physicality, but nowadays it is about speed and power. Players already know their roles,” Barusso said.
“In our days, football was a bit more physique and stuff. Now, I think it’s about speed and power, which is different. More technique. Nowadays it’s a different ball game altogether. Players are talented already. They know how to do a lot of things already.”
Barusso added that modern football often allows individual brilliance to decide matches, with single players capable of changing outcomes through moments of skill and creativity.
“Sometimes a game might be won by a player. Only one player does everything to make it possible. Even though he doesn’t play alone, he plays with others, but you see someone do something for something to happen,” he explained.
The former midfielder was careful not to directly compare current stars with Ghana’s golden generation, which included legends such as Michael Essien, Sulley Muntari, Asamoah Gyan, and Stephen Appiah.
“So our time of the game is different from now, so I can’t say I see players like me, Michael Essien, Sulley Muntari, Asamoah Gyan or Stephen Appiah are on the pitch. No, we are different players altogether,” he noted.
Barusso, who earned 10 caps for Ghana, also reflected on his own international career, admitting he often featured as a substitute but remained proud of his contributions to the national team.
“I can’t say much because I didn’t play a 90-minute game. All the games I played, I had to come on as a sub. It wasn’t bad. And the Nations Cup game against Cameroon, I came in. It wasn’t bad. And some of the friendly games we played. In France against Morocco, when I scored, they were all games that were important,” he said.
He concluded with a humble reflection on the competitiveness of international football and the depth of talent within the Black Stars setup.
“But well, it’s a national team, and we are many. Not all of us will get the opportunity to play,” Barusso added.
Barusso, who famously scored on his Ghana debut in a friendly against Morocco in 2007, remains a respected figure from one of Ghana football’s memorable generations. His reflections offer a thoughtful look at how the game has transformed over the years and the realities of representing the Black Stars at the highest level.
