Napoli’s prolific striker, Victor Osimhen, achieved a remarkable 8th place in the 2023 Men’s Ballon d’Or rankings.
His outstanding performance during the 2022-2023 season, marked by 25 league goals, played a pivotal role in Napoli securing their first Serie A title in 33 years.
Osimhen also outshone his competitors, Lautaro Martinez of Inter Milan and AC Milan’s Rafael Leao, to claim the prestigious title of Best Striker in Serie A.
In the UEFA Champions League, Osimhen showcased his prowess by netting five goals in six games, guiding Napoli to the quarterfinals.
His contributions extended to the international stage as well, as he played a crucial role in the Super Eagles’ qualification for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Notably, Osimhen became the first African to lead the Serie A scorers’ chart, surpassing George Weah’s long-standing record for the most goals scored by an African player in the Italian league.
This achievement is significant, as Victor Osimhen is the first Nigerian male player to be nominated for the Ballon d’Or in 24 years, following in the footsteps of Kanu Nwankwo.
With his 8th-place finish, Osimhen not only sets a new standard for Nigerian players at the Ballon d’Or but also becomes the highest-ranked African player at the event this year.
Renowned journalist Giuseppe Pastore underlined the significance of this achievement by stating, “this is the best result ever for a Napoli player,” eclipsing the previous record held by Ruud Krol, who finished 15th in 1980.
In the top 10 rankings, Victor Osimhen is in esteemed company alongside Julian Alvarez, Kevin de Bruyne, Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappé, Luka Modric, Rodri, Bernardo Silva, Vini Jr., and Lionel Messi.
