Ghanaian football has been hit by a major development following the announcement that Iñaki Williams has retired from international football with the Black Stars.
The Athletic Club forward, 32, has brought his Ghana career to an end after representing the country for four years and featuring at two FIFA World Cup tournaments.
Williams’ decision comes shortly after Ghana’s 1–0 defeat to Colombia at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a match that marked his final appearance for the national team.
From Bilbao to the Black Stars
Born in Bilbao, Spain, to Ghanaian parents, Williams became eligible to represent Ghana through his family heritage.
After previously making one appearance for Spain, he chose to switch his international allegiance to Ghana in 2022.
He made his Black Stars debut in September 2022 against Brazil and was subsequently selected for Ghana’s squad at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Williams ends his international career with 28 appearances and two goals for Ghana.
His first goal for the Black Stars came against Madagascar during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign in November 2023.
He scored his second international goal against Chad in March 2025.
Although his goal tally was modest, Williams remained part of several important Ghana squads during his four-year international career.
Two World Cups With Ghana
One of the highlights of Williams’ international career was representing Ghana at two FIFA World Cups.
With his international career now over, Williams is expected to concentrate fully on his club career with Athletic Club.
He has become an established figure at the Spanish club and remains an important part of its attacking setup.
His international retirement also means Ghana will need to look toward a new generation of attacking players as the Black Stars prepare for their next chapter.
Iñaki Williams may have spent most of his life in Spain, but his decision to wear the Ghana shirt gave him a special place in the hearts of many Black Stars supporters.
From his debut in 2022 to his final World Cup appearance in 2026, he represented Ghana on some of football’s biggest stages.
Now, after four years, 28 caps and two goals, his Black Stars journey has come to an end.
