When it comes to football, few narratives can compare to that of Victor Osimhen. From humble origins in Nigeria, he persevered relentlessly to become one of the top attackers in the world for Napoli.
In this piece, we will take a thrilling journey through Osimhen's career, following his rise from the densely populated streets of Lagos to the very top of Italian football. Find out how Osimhen overcome incredible odds to become the football sensation he is today. Along the way, we will discover more about his upbringing, his dedication to training, and the extraordinary skills that have made him one of the most exciting young players in the world and an invaluable asset for Napoli.
Who is Victor Osimhen?
Victor Osimhen is a professional football player for the Nigeria national team and the Serie A club Napoli. His world-class finishing, speed, strength, and athleticism have earned him a reputation as one of the best strikers in the world. Osimhen overcome tremendous obstacles to become the football sensation he is today, but his success is the result of a combination of perseverance, hard effort, and remarkable talent.
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Nigerian Football Star, Victor Osimhen. | Credit: SoarEagles. | Source: Google[/caption]
The Genesis of a Football Prodigy
Osimhen was born on December 29th, 1998 in Lagos, Nigeria. A native of Lagos State, he spent his formative years in the impoverished Olusosun neighborhood of the Oregun/Ojota area. His father was a truck driver who juggled the needs of his seven children. At the age of six, Osimhen lost his mother, forcing him to pitch in and assist his father support the family by selling sachet water.
Despite his circumstances, Osimhen loved the game of football and hoped to one day play at the professional level. He began playing with friends on the streets and then enrolled in the Lagos-based Ultimate Strikers Academy. He sought to model his game after that of his greatly admired hero, Didier Drogba, the all-time top scorer and former captain of the Ivory Coast national team.
The Nigerian national team saw potential in Osimhen and selected him to play at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile. There, he had a phenomenal campaign,
scoring 10 goals in seven games and winning both the Golden Boot and the Silver Ball for being the tournament's second-best player. Together with his teammates, he led Nigeria to their sixth U-17 World Cup victory, a 2-0 victory over Mali.
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Osimhen wins the golden boot at the U-17 World Cup in Chile[/caption]
Watch Victor Osimhen's performance as the Adidas Golden Boot Winner - FIFA U-17 World Cup:
https://youtu.be/ZlKhbACT0aE
After seeing Osimhen play at the U-17 World Cup, numerous European clubs expressed interest in signing him. These clubs included Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City, and Wolfsburg. After considering his options, he decided to sign with Wolfsburg in January 2016, committing to a pre-contract that would see him officially join the club the following year.
Overcoming Adversity: The Road to Success
In his first season in Germany, Osimhen had a rocky transition to Wolfsburg and encountered a number of difficulties. Soon after he arrived, he was injured, and it took several months for him to recover. Also, he had a hard time learning the local language and playing style.
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Victor Osimhen had a tough time at Wolfsburg. | Credit: WELT[/caption]
On May 13, 2017, he made his Bundesliga debut after coming on as a substitute in a 1-1 tie against Borussia Mönchengladbach. After making only 14 appearances for Wolfsburg and failing to score or make an impression, the club loaned him to Charleroi of the Belgian Pro League for the 2018-2019 season. However, he was loaned out to Belgian side Charleroi for the 2018-2019 season after failing to score or impress in 14 appearances for Wolfsburg.
While playing for Charleroi, Osimhen found his rhythm and confidence again, scoring 12 goals in 25 league games to help the club finish third in the regular season. He also contributed three goals in seven games during the Jupiler Pro League Europe Play-Offs, which decided the eighth and final berth in Europe. When Charleroi's option to purchase Osimhen from Wolfsburg was fulfilled in August 2019,
the club paid €3.5 million for the player before selling him to French club Lille for €22.4 million.
Osimhen had a breakout year for Lille, netting 13 goals and dishing out four assists in 27 Ligue 1 games to earn a spot on the UNFP Team of the Year. Along with making his debut with Lille in the 2019–20 UEFA Champions League, he scored two goals in five games, including against Chelsea and Valencia. Two months in a row (September and October 2019), he was voted Ligue 1's Player of the Month, and he also finished the year as Lille's Most Valuable Player.
Osimhen's Arrival at Napoli: Rise to stardom
In September of 2020, Napoli broke their transfer record by
paying €70 million to sign Osimhen from Lille for his outstanding play. He was signed for the second-highest transfer fee in Serie A history, behind only Cristiano Ronaldo, making him the most expensive African player in history.
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Victor Osimhen at Napoli. | Credit: the-sun.com.[/caption]
Osimhen got off to a rough start at Napoli due to injuries and a COVID-19 infection. On November 8, 2020, Napoli beat Bologna 2-1, and that was his first goal for the team. He got his first hat trick for Napoli on February 25, 2021, in a 3-1 UEFA Europa League victory over Granada. He played in 24 games during his debut season with Napoli and recorded 10 goals and three assists.
Osimhen improved greatly in his second season with Napoli, finishing with 21 goals and two assists in 27 games in all competitions. He surpassed Samuel Eto'o's record of 17 goals set in the previous season to become the African player with the most goals scored in Serie A history. He also became the first player for Napoli since Gonzalo Higuain in 2015–16 to score at least 20 goals in a season. He was selected for the Serie A Team of the Year and won the Serie A Best Young Player title for the 2021–22 season.
With 21 goals and four assists in 33 appearances across all competitions, Osimhen's stellar form from the previous season carried over into the 2022-23 season. He scored the decisive goals against Juventus, Inter Milan, and AC Milan to lead Napoli to their third Serie A championship and first since 1990. Additionally, he led Napoli to their first-ever UEFA Champions League quarterfinals with six goals in eight games. Since Diego Maradona in 1987–88 and 1988–89, no player has scored more than 20 goals in back-to-back seasons for Napoli than he did.
Watch all Victor Osimhen's goals in Serie A 2022/23
https://youtu.be/J1UnAsJolsU
Osimhen: National Team Hero
On June 10, 2017, Osimhen made his senior national team debut for Nigeria as a substitute in a 0-2 loss to South Africa in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier. On September 10, 2019, he scored his first goal for Nigeria in a 2-2 friendly tie against Ukraine. He represented Nigeria at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, where he scored one and his team finished third.
With Osimhen's contributions, Nigeria were able to qualify for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations with two games to spare, and he scored five goals and provided two assists in four games. In the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, he helped Nigeria win their group and proceed to the final round with four goals and an assist in six games.
Osimhen scored six goals and was named Player of the Tournament and Golden Boot winner at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations. His goal in the 88th minute of the final against Senegal gave Nigeria their fourth Africa Cup of Nations championship. He followed in the footsteps of Nwankwo Kanu as the only player from Nigeria to win the Africa Cup of Nations at both the under-17 and senior levels.
Osimhen has scored 17 goals for the Nigerian national team, tying him for sixth place all-time with Rashidi Yekini and Yakubu Aiyegbeni. Furthermore, he has scored ten or more goals for Nigeria at the international level at the youngest age ever. He has received high accolades from former Nigerian legends like Jay-Jay Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu, and Daniel Amokachi for his skill set, attitude, and leadership.
For his extraordinary service to Nigerian football and national pride, President Muhammadu Buhari named Osimhen a Member of the Federal Republic on May 29, 2023.
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Victor Osimhen, Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR). | Credit: @9ja_footballers. | Source: Twitter[/caption]
Osimhen: The Inspiration
The story of Osimhen is one of perseverance, tireless effort, and extraordinary talent. He had to overcome tremendous challenges to reach the level of success he has attained in football. He is a role model for young players all across the world and an example of what can be accomplished with hard work and dedication.
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