Victor Osimhen

Victor Osimhen is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Süper Lig club Galatasaray and the Nigeria National Team.

Player Profile and Personal Life

Victor James Osimhen was born on December 29, 1998, in Lagos, Nigeria. The Nigerian striker stands 185 cm (6 ft 1 in) tall. His journey to stardom began with humble origins; after the death of his mother, he sold sachet water and newspapers in traffic to support his family, experiences he cites as the foundation of his resilience.

A devout Christian, Osimhen draws inspiration from figures like Sadio Mané and aspires to help disabled people across Africa. He is in a relationship with German-born model Stefanie Kim Ladewig, and the couple welcomed a daughter, Haly, in October 2022.

In recognition of his achievements, he was made a Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) by the Nigerian government in 2023.

Career

Osimhen began his senior career at VfL Wolfsburg in 2017 before finding his footing in Belgium with Charleroi. His breakout season came in Ligue 1 with Lille, where he scored 18 goals, prompting Napoli to sign him for a club-record fee of €80 million in 2020.

In Italy, he reached superstar status, winning the Serie A Best Young Player award and later leading Napoli to their first Serie A title in 33 years during the 2022–23 season. That year, he won the Capocannoniere as the league's top scorer with 26 goals—a record for an African player—and was named the Serie A Footballer of the Year.

In 2023, he made history by becoming the first Nigerian since 1999 to be named the African Footballer of the Year and finished eighth in the Ballon d'Or rankings. Ahead of the 2024–25 season, Osimhen joined Turkish giants Galatasaray on loan. He continued his prolific form, finishing as the Süper Lig's top goalscorer and helping the club secure a domestic double.

Internationally, Osimhen burst onto the scene by winning the Golden Boot at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup, leading Nigeria to victory. Since making his senior debut in 2017, he has become the nation's second all-time highest goalscorer. He has represented the Super Eagles at multiple Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, finishing as a runner-up in the 2023 edition.

Team Honors

• 2015 - FIFA U-17 World Cup, Nigeria U17
• 2015 - U-23 Africa Cup of Nations, Nigeria U23
• 2022–2023 - Serie A, Napoli
• 2024–2025 - Süper Lig, Galatasaray
• 2024–2025 - Turkish Cup, Galatasaray

Individual Honors

• 2015 - FIFA U-17 World Cup Golden Boot
• 2020 - Prix Marc-Vivien Foé
• 2022–2023 - Capocannoniere (Serie A Top Scorer)
• 2022–2023 - Serie A Best Striker
• 2022–2023 - Serie A Footballer of the Year
• 2023 - African Footballer of the Year
• 2024–2025 - Süper Lig Top Goalscorer