Joseph Paintsil sat quietly on the LA Galaxy training ground, his mind drifting beyond the MLS pitches to the national colors of Ghana. Despite his consistent performances, he found himself on the fringes of the Black Stars squad, a position he believes he has outgrown.

His exclusion from Ghana’s 2022 FIFA World Cup squad was a bitter pill to swallow, especially after an impressive run in the Belgian top flight with KRC Genk. Now, with the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Chad and Madagascar approaching, Paintsil hopes for a different outcome.

“I think I should get a look in the national team, but it’s sometimes uncomfortable to be on the bench,” he admitted in an interview with Sportsblog247. While he respects the coaches’ decisions, he can’t hide his desire for more minutes on the pitch.

With Ghana’s squad announcement looming, Paintsil waits—eager, determined, and ready to prove his worth once again.