Victor Osimhen was born on December 29, 1998, in Lagos, Nigeria, but hails from Esan, specifically the village of Uromi in the Esan South East Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria.
His story is one of incredible perseverance and talent. Born on December 29, 1998, in Lagos, Nigeria, he grew up in a challenging environment.
His mother passed away when he was six, and his father lost his job soon after. To support his family, Osimhen hawked sachet water on the streets of Lagos. He grew up in the Olusosun area of Lagos, where he developed a passion for football, inspired by his idol, Didier Drogba.
Osimhen grew up in the impoverished Olusosun area of Lagos, where he faced numerous hardships, including the loss of his mother and financial struggles that led him to sell water sachets and other goods on the streets. His passion for football was evident early on, and he honed his skills playing in local youth leagues, supported by his elder brother, Andrew .
Back in 2019, he told France Football: “I lost my mom in October, I do not even remember the year. I was small. Three months later, my father lost his job. It was very hard for our family.
“My brother sold sports newspapers, my sister (sold) oranges in the street and me, bottled water in Lagos in the middle of the traffic.
“We had to survive so we stuck together. In the evening, we were all together and we gathered the money on the table. We gave everything to our big sister and she made food and organised everything
“Part of my life has been a struggle to survive. But that’s all I am today in the end. It’s hard to classify all that but each event has created my personality.”
EARLY STRUGGLES:
Osimhen’s upbringing couldn’t have been more different to many of his contemporaries.
He hustled in Olusosun to find ways of living and paying for his education.
To save money on clothing, he would regularly pay a trip to Africa’s largest waste dump in search of Nike trainers.
“Where I grew up, people live on the other side of an open dump,” he revealed.
“With my friends, we went there every Friday or Sunday to find shoes. We stayed there a long time. It was funny! We saw it as a game but when you think about it … It was always a fight.
“Sometimes you see, you found yourself with a Nike on the right foot and then you start looking for the other foot … And finally, you find the left foot and it’s a Reebok! My sister patched everything up and it was good. It was survival.”
PASSION FOR FOOTBALL
Watching Premier League football, especially Chelsea, gave Osimhen an escape and a dream.
Often wearing a Blues shirt, his older brother Andrew would take him to a viewing centre where the local community would gather round a TV set to watch all the action.
Osimhen would soon find himself training with the Lagos-based side Ultimate Strikers Academy, aptly named in this case for producing one of Africa’s current finest.
It would set him up for a remarkable explosion at youth level that alerted Europe’s top clubs.
In 2015, aged just 15, he was invited by former Barcelona winger Emmanuel Amunike to train with Nigeria’s U17s.
Already offering bags of pace and a strong physique, Amunike wasn’t afraid to throw Osimhen into the deep end.
After helping his country quality for the U17 World, he led Nigeria’s forward line – with some style too – in Chile.
The Super Eagles would win the competition, and Osimhen would finish as top scorer with 10 goals.
He would also win the Silver Ball for the best player of the tournament.
BUNDESLIGA AWAITS:
After witnessing a star being born, Europe’s top clubs showed an interest in Osimhen.
Arsenal, Man City and Spurs all wanted him. But the talent chose a move to Germany, after Wolfsburg struck up a partnership with Ultimate Strikers Academy.
He admitted money played a big part, as he chose the highest offer on the table.
But it wasn’t because of greed. Osimhen was desperate to provide, once again, for his family and help set them up.
“When I signed in Wolfsburg, I didn’t buy anything for myself with my bonus. I immediately bought a house in Lagos for my father,” he said.
“I gave money to my brothers and sisters, and today, everyone is okay in their businesses. It makes me happy to know that they have enough to eat.
“They always help me and it is normal I want to change their lives.”
Osimhen struggled for game time in Germany, with injuries and a bout of malaria affecting his form.
He was subsequently loaned out to Belgium side Charleroi, with an option for a permanent transfer included in the deal in 2018.
The move would ignite his career at club level – as he blasted 20 goals in 36 games in his only season with the club.
They did exercise their right to sign Osimhen at the end of the campaign for just Ł3m.
But smelling a quick profit, a month later he was sold to Lille for Ł20m as a replacement for Nicolas Pepe, who joined Arsenal.
Osimhen just got better and better. He scored twice on his debut in a 2-1 win over Nantes, netted his first Champions League goal against his beloved Chelsea, and was Lille’s top scorer with 18 goals in all competitions.
SERIE A STAR
Within one season, Napoli didn’t need much convincing that Osimhen was the man who could bring the glory days back to the club.
They splashed a record Ł70million on the forward, making him the most-expensive African footballer of all-time in 2020.
The move, though, was tinged with some sadness for Osimhen, who couldn’t forget his roots.
A few months prior to completing the deal, he lost his beloved father Patrick, who had managed the early stages of his son’s career.
For Osimhen, it was sad his parents weren’t around to witness his amazing achievement.
But, he shared a poignant message to his followers on Twitter after the move was completed.
“Mom and dad are proud for sure,” he wrote. You can bet they are with the role model Osimhen has become.
Osimhen’s time at Napoli has been marked by both triumph and turbulence. Despite facing injuries and personal losses, including the death of his father, he played a crucial role in Napoli’s 2022-2023 Serie A title win, scoring 26 goals in the season and becoming the league’s top scorer.
He also won the 2023 African Footballer of the Year award, cementing his status as one of the continent’s best players, this accolade marks a significant achievement for Osimhen, making him the first Nigerian to receive this honor since Nwankwo Kanu in 1999. The award recognizes his outstanding performance for both his club and the Nigerian national team during the 2022/2023 season. .
Internationally, Osimhen has been a key player for Nigeria since his debut in 2017, scoring 21 goals in 28 appearances. He remains a vital figure for both his club and country, known for his resilience, scoring ability, and inspirational rise from humble beginnings.
Victor Osimhen hails from Edo State, Nigeria, adding to the rich legacy of football talent from the region.