Victor Osimhen has achieved what only the very best in world football manage, which is sustained relevance at the highest level. The Nigerian striker has been officially ranked among the most prolific international goalscorers of the current decade, standing shoulder to shoulder with the sport’s most recognisable names and flying Nigeria’s flag on a global stage dominated by European and South American icons.
Recognised by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS), Osimhen’s inclusion in the decade-long international scoring rankings confirms his status as one of the defining forwards of modern football. Since 2021, he has delivered 27 goals for the Super Eagles, a return that places him among the top international scorers worldwide and underlines Nigeria’s continued relevance in the global football conversation.
What makes Osimhen’s rise particularly compelling is the consistency behind the numbers. Across multiple seasons, through injuries, tactical changes and intense international schedules, he has remained Nigeria’s most reliable source of goals. His international output has grown steadily, peaking in 2025 when he produced his most prolific year yet in national colours, reinforcing his reputation as a striker who rises when responsibility is highest.
Globally, the IFFHS rankings are led by Erling Haaland, with Harry Kane, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian MbappĂ© completing an elite group of football’s most efficient scorers. Osimhen’s presence among such company is not symbolic, it is earned. In a decade measured by goals alone, the Nigerian forward has outscored dozens of celebrated attackers from traditional football powerhouses.
Since breaking into the Super Eagles in 2017, Osimhen has scored 35 goals in just over 50 appearances, making him Nigeria’s second-highest goalscorer of all time. In doing so, he has surpassed legends who defined earlier generations of Nigerian football, leaving only Rashidi Yekini ahead of him and within touching distance.
At club level, his impact has been equally emphatic. In 2025, Osimhen finished joint fifth worldwide for total goals scored across club and country, recording 46 goals and emerging as Africa’s highest goalscorer for the year and it was a reminder that Nigerian footballers are not merely participants in elite competitions, but leading contributors.
While major international silverware might have so far eluded him, Osimhen’s journey remains unfinished. With future continental tournaments on the horizon, the striker carries both experience and expectation, determined to translate personal excellence into collective success for Nigeria.
In an era where global football narratives often overlook African excellence, Victor Osimhen has forced recognition through relentless output and unmistakable presence.
He is not just scoring goals, he is asserting Nigeria’s place among football’s elite, one decisive finish at a time.
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