Athletic Club forward Iñaki Williams has officially stepped down from international football, ending a four-year tenure with the Ghana national team.
Inaki Williams has concluded his international career with Ghana, finishing his time with the Black Stars after recording 28 appearances, two goals, and one assist.
The 32-year-old announced his retirement in a statement published on X on Friday, September 11, stating that he was ready to step aside after giving his all to the team.
“I feel the time has come to bring my journey with the Ghana national team to an end,” Williams wrote. “I leave happy, proud, and with the peace of mind of knowing that I gave everything every time I wore this shirt.”
The Bilbao-born forward featured in major global tournaments for the West African nation, including the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire as well as two FIFA World Cups—first in Qatar in 2022 and later at the 2026 World Cup.
Williams, born to Ghanaian parents, initially played for Spain at the youth level and made one senior appearance for La Roja in a May 2016 friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Because he was never capped again by Spain, FIFA rules allowed him to switch his international allegiance.
In July 2022, Williams formally decided to represent Ghana to honor his family roots. He earned his first Black Stars call-up two months later for a pair of friendly matches against Brazil and Nicaragua, officially making his debut on September 23, 2022, as a half-time substitute in a 3-0 loss to Brazil in Le Havre.
Reflecting on his international career, Williams said his experience playing for Ghana went beyond what happened on the field.
“Ghana has given me much more than football,” he said. “It has allowed me to come back home, feel even closer to my roots and experience the enormous pride of representing my country and wearing this flag on my chest.”
Expressing his gratitude to the fans, the forward thanked the public for their ongoing backing throughout his international career.
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who has been part of this journey and for all the love you have always shown me,” Williams added, promising to remain connected to the team in the future. “Ghana will always be a part of me. I will continue supporting the @blackstarsofghana_ as one of you, wherever I am.”
World Cup Appearances and Goal Record
Shortly after his debut, Williams earned a spot in Ghana’s 2022 World Cup squad in Qatar, playing in all three group-stage fixtures, including a 3-2 victory over South Korea.
His open-water goalscoring record for the team came later during the qualifying campaign for the 2026 World Cup. Williams scored his first international goal for the Black Stars in November 2023 against Madagascar and later added a second goal during a qualifier against Chad.
During his time with the team, he featured at major international tournaments, including the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, and the 2026 FIFA World Cup squad.
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