The Ghanaian Witch Doctor Who Claims to Have “Cursed” Cristiano Ronaldo and Harry Kane

The controversial figure went viral after claiming responsibility for hampering the performances of several stars who faced Ghana at the FIFA World Cup.

Superstitions have always been part of football. From lucky charms and rituals to pre-match routines, one of the most unusual stories in recent years involves a self-proclaimed Ghanaian witch doctor who claims to have influenced the performances of some of the sport’s biggest stars. His name resurfaced during the 2026 World Cup after he alleged that he had placed a curse on Harry Kane, though his international notoriety dates back to comments he made years earlier about Cristiano Ronaldo.

THE CURSE ON CRISTIANO RONALDO

The man at the center of the story is Nana Kwaku Bonsam, a traditional healer who gained worldwide attention during the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. At the time, he publicly claimed to have performed rituals intended to harm Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of Portugal’s opening match of the tournament.

Bonsam said he had used spiritual powers to cause physical problems for the Portuguese captain, who arrived at the World Cup dealing with a lingering knee issue. His remarks made headlines around the world when he predicted that Ronaldo would endure a disappointing tournament. While there is no evidence to support those claims, the story quickly went viral after Portugal was eliminated in the group stage and Ronaldo managed just one goal throughout the competition. Since then, whenever the Portuguese star experiences a difficult spell at a major international tournament, Bonsam often reemerges to claim responsibility for part of it.

HARRY KANE, THE LATEST TARGET

Twelve years later, Bonsam once again found himself in the spotlight after mentioning Harry Kane during the 2026 World Cup. Following a match in which the England captain failed to find the net, the Ghanaian claimed he had also carried out rituals designed to affect the striker’s performance.

The comments sparked thousands of reactions across social media and reignited debate about the role of superstition in sport. Coaches, players and analysts, however, generally agree that success on the pitch is determined by tactical, physical and mental factors rather than alleged supernatural influences. Even so, the story of the so-called “Ghanaian witch doctor” remains one of the most bizarre and widely discussed anecdotes to accompany the World Cup stage.