Victor James Osimhen is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Serie A club Napoli and the Nigeria national team. He is widely regarded as one of the best strikers in the world, as well as one of the best players in Africa. He is known for his elite finishing, pace, strength, and athleticism.
We’d be seeing Victor Osimhen’s biography, date of birth, age, early life, family, wife, children, career, net worth, houses, cars, social media handles, and more.
Full name: Victor James Osimhen
Date of birth: 29th December 1998
Age: 25 years (2023)
Nationality: Nigerian
Girlfriend: Stefanie Kim Ladewig
Relative: Blessing Osimhen
Education: Ultimate Strikers Academy, Lagos
Occupation: Footballer
Net worth:
Victor Osimhen Biography and Early Life
Osimhen was born on 29 December 1998 in Lagos, Nigeria, to parents from Edo State. He grew up in the Olusosun area in Oregun/Ojota of Lagos State, where he faced poverty and hardship. He lost his mother at a young age and had to help his father, a bricklayer, to support his six siblings. He also had to sell sachet water on the streets to make ends meet. He started playing football at a tender age and joined the Ultimate Strikers Academy, based in Lagos. His footballing idol was Didier Drogba, whom he admired for his skills and personality.
Football Career
Osimhen’s entertainment career began when he represented Nigeria at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile, where he scored 10 goals in seven matches and won the Golden Boot award. He also helped Nigeria win the tournament for a record fifth time. His impressive performance attracted the attention of several European clubs, but he chose to sign a pre-contract with German club VfL Wolfsburg in January 2016. He officially joined the club in January 2017, after turning 18.
However, his time at Wolfsburg was marred by injuries and lack of opportunities. He made only 16 appearances for the club in all competitions, scoring no goals. He was loaned out to Belgian club Charleroi for the 2018–19 season, where he rediscovered his form and confidence. He scored 20 goals in 36 matches for Charleroi, who exercised their option to sign him permanently in May 2019.
Osimhen’s breakthrough season came when he moved to French club Lille in July 2019, signing a five-year contract for a reported fee of €12 million. He scored on his debut against Nantes and went on to score 18 goals in 38 matches for Lille in all competitions. He won the Ligue 1 Player of the Month award for September 2019 and was named in the Ligue 1 Team of the Year for the 2019–20 season. He also made his UEFA Champions League debut with Lille, scoring two goals in six matches.
Osimhen’s stellar performance for Lille attracted the interest of Italian club Napoli, who signed him in July 2020 for a club-record fee of €70 million, making him the most expensive African player of all time. He scored on his Serie A debut against Parma and became a key player for Napoli under manager Gennaro Gattuso. He scored 10 goals in 24 matches for Napoli in all competitions in his first season, despite missing some games due to injury and COVID-19.
In his second season at Napoli, Osimhen established himself as one of the best strikers in Serie A and Europe. He scored 25 goals in 34 matches for Napoli in all competitions, helping them win their first Serie A title since 1990. He also won the Serie A Best Young Player award for the 2021–22 season and became the highest goalscoring African in Serie A history with 35 goals. He also broke the record for the most goals scored by an African player in a single season in Europe’s top five leagues.
Osimhen has also been a regular member of the Nigeria national team since making his senior debut in June 2017 against Togo. He played at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, where he scored one goal and finished third with Nigeria. He has scored 21 goals in 28 matches for Nigeria so far, making him the fourth all-time highest goalscorer of the Super Eagles.
Personal Life
Osimhen is a devout Christian who believes that God is behind his success. He has a tattoo of Psalm 27:3 on his chest, which reads: “Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.” He is also involved in various charitable activities, such as donating money and food to orphanages and hospitals in Nigeria.
Osimhen is not married yet, but he has a girlfriend named Stefanie Kim Ladewig, a German whose roots can also be traced to Cameroon. They welcomed their first daughter, Hailey, on October 6, 2022, in Italy.
Net Worth
Osimhen is one of the richest and highest-paid footballers in the world. According to Pulse Sports, he has an estimated net worth of $2 million as of 2023. He makes money from endorsement deals with brands such as Nike, Pepsi, and MTN, plus his salary in Napoli.
Osimhen is a remarkable example of how talent, hard work, and determination can overcome adversity and achieve greatness. He inspires millions of people, especially young Africans, who dream of becoming football stars. He is a proud Nigerian who represents his country with passion and pride. He is Victor Osimhen, the rise of a Nigerian football star.
Social Media Handles
You can connect with Victor Osimhen on:
Instagram @VictorOsimhen9
Twitter @VictorOsimhen9
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