By Yisau Babatunde
When Victor James Osimhen steps onto the pitch at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in Naples, tens of thousands chant his name with joy and admiration. To many Italians, he is the warrior who ended Napoli’s 33-year of deadlock waiting for Serie A title. However, to millions of Nigerians, he is much more than that—he is the boy who overcame poverty, pain, and rejection to become one of the best football strikers and the most expensive African player in the world.
Humble Beginnings in Ajegunle
Born in December 1998 in Olusosun, a community near the Ajegunle area of Lagos, Osimhen’s childhood was far from glamorous. His father lost his job early, and his mother died when he was still a boy. To support his family, young Victor hawked sachet water and other goods on the streets of Lagos under the scorching sun. At that point, football was not just a game for him, it was an escape from poverty.
He began his football career training with makeshift balls, often barefoot, on dusty pitches with friends. His elder brother, Andrew, was also a footballer but never progressed past the amateur level. “Victor always said he would succeed where I failed,” Andrew recalled in one of his interviews.
Journey to Becoming More Than Striker
In 2014, Osimhen’s talent was recognized at Ultimate Strikers Academy, a grassroots club in Lagos. A year later, he was selected for the U-17 squad to represent Nigeria at the FIFA World Cup in Chile. His ten goals in seven matches set a tournament record and helped Nigeria to the title. He was awarded the Golden Boot and Silver Ball of the competition, attracting attention from European scouts.
In 2017, Wolfsburg in Germany signed him, marking his entry into European football. However, life abroad wasn’t easy; injuries, language barriers, and homesickness nearly derailed his career.
While struggling for game time at Wolfsburg, he was loaned to the Belgian side Charleroi in 2018. There, he rebuilt his confidence and football intellect, scoring 20 goals in his first season. Those performances earned him a move to Lille in France, where he netted 18 goals across all competitions and became one of the top strikers in Ligue 1. In his debut season, he was also voted Lille’s Player of the Season.
Heroic Fairytale: Becoming King of Naples
After an outstanding season in 2020, the Italian giants Napoli paid a club-record €70 million (potentially rising to €80 million with bonuses) to secure his signature, making Osimhen the most expensive African player at that time.
At Napoli, he initially struggled with injuries and COVID-19 but fought back stronger. By the 2022/23 season, he led Napoli to their first Scudetto trophy since Diego Maradona’s era, scoring 26 league goals. His protective mask, worn after sustaining facial fractures, became iconic. Neapolitans nicknamed him “Maskman,” and murals of his face appeared across the city as he cemented his hero status in the walls of Neapolitans.
Golden Sprint at Galatasaray
In 2024, Osimhen moved on loan to Galatasaray, where he displayed his football artistry and fulfilled the dreams of every Galatasaray fan, winning a trophy for them. By March 2025, the Turkish giants secured his permanent transfer in a record €75 million deal, the highest in Turkish football history.
He broke the club record for most goals scored by a foreign player in a single season, netting 37 goals and surpassing Mario Jardel’s long-standing record of 34 goals from the 2000/2001 season. Osimhen also became the first player in Galatasaray’s history to score a brace in a Turkish Cup final, helping the team secure the title against Trabzonspor in 2025.
Beyond Football Pitch
While Victor Osimhen is celebrated worldwide for his goals, records, and trophies, his influence extends far beyond the football fields. The Nigerian striker has consistently used his platform to give back to society, focusing on uplifting underprivileged children like him and communities.
Osimhen frequently visits his homeland, Nigeria, where he donates to orphanages and provides financial support to families in need. He also sponsors grassroots football tournaments in Lagos, offering opportunities to young players who, like him, began with little more than dreams and determination. In interviews, he often reminds the world of his humble roots. “I want every child on the streets of Lagos to know that their dreams are valid,” he said after winning the 2023 CAF African Player of the Year Award, becoming the first Nigerian to win it in 24 years.
Legacy in Making
At just 24 years old, Osimhen has already written his name in African and European football history. But for Nigerians, his legacy extends beyond goals and trophies. He is a symbol of hope, that even from the harshest beginnings, greatness is possible.
As one Nigerian fan remarked after Napoli’s Scudetto win, “Osimhen didn’t just win the league — he won the hearts of every boy selling sachet water in Lagos, showing them that tomorrow can be brighter.”
With many years ahead of him, Osimhen’s impact on the pitch and beyond is sure to continue growing.