Ghana's best and brightest midfielder Michael Essien was born on December 3, 1982 in Accra, Ghana.

Essien is a very gifted footballer, playing for one of the best football clubs in the world with Chelsea from the English Premiership League and for his country of Ghana that made a huge impression in the World Cup 2006 in Germany.

Getting his first real taste of international football, Essien played for Ghana in the World Youth championship back in 2001 in Argentina, he made such a good impression playing for his country that not soon after in 2002 he made his first start on the senior squad in the African Nations Cup versus Morocco.

In May of 2006, Essien got his big break on the international level representing his country in the 2006 World Cup. Essien played a huge part in the success of Ghana as his lead his team further into the tournament than any other African team had done before by reaching the second round of play and beating teams like the United States and the Czech Republic in the process. Unfortunately though, Essien could only watch his squad get defeated by Brazil 0-3 because of a suspension.

Even though Ghana was knocked out of the tournament by Brazil, they made considerable progress and Essien vowed to reach the World Cup again in 2010 when South Africa plays host to the most famous football tournament in the world. It will be the first time in history that Africa will host the tournament, no better time for Essien to lead his team to victory in front of his home country.