‘Been putting fake smile for a year’ - Super Eagles star Boniface reveals hidden pain in cryptic post

Super Eagles striker Victor Boniface has stunned football fans with a raw confession that he's been masking deep personal struggles for nearly a year, lifting the lid on the mental and emotional toll that even elite athletes face despite their success on the pitch.

The Bayer Leverkusen striker's vulnerable social media post has resonated across the football community, with the Super Eagles forward crediting his faith while admitting the smile fans have seen hasn't always been genuine.

"Been putting fake smile for almost a year. But God know why all this is happening. Grateful to God," Boniface wrote, prompting an outpouring of support from fans who are now seeing a different side of one of Nigeria's brightest talents.

For the millions who follow Boniface on social media, the 25-year-old is known as the king of "vibes", a jovial, prank-loving personality who seemingly navigates European football's pressures with ease and humour.

But this week, that carefully constructed facade crumbled.

The cryptic message, though brief, offers a glimpse into what could be described as a year of professional heartbreak, physical struggles, and mounting mental pressure. 

While his Super Eagles teammates battle for AFCON glory in Morocco later today against Algeria, Boniface finds himself in a much lonelier fight.

The timing of Boniface's revelation is particularly poignant. Medical reports indicate the striker is facing a devastating knee injury that threatens not just his current season, but potentially his entire career trajectory.

On January 8, he travelled to Innsbruck, Austria, to consult with world-renowned knee specialist Prof. Dr. Christian Fink, a last-ditch effort to find answers about persistent issues that have plagued him for months.

The prognosis is grim - the Nigerian will head for surgery, meaning he won't play again this season. Declining the operation risks permanent damage; undergoing it means at least six months on the sidelines.

Adding salt to the wound, sources reveal that high-profile transfer moves to AC Milan and Al-Nassr both collapsed in early 2025 after Boniface failed medical examinations due to the condition of his knee. Those collapses coincide eerily with when the "fake smiles" appear to have begun.

Perhaps most painful of all has been watching from afar as Nigeria storms through AFCON 2025. After enduring a gruelling 13-game goal drought for the Super Eagles and struggling to reach match fitness, Boniface was omitted from Eric Chelle's final 28-man squad.

Seeing Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen lead the line, and Akor Adams occupying the striking role he once dreamed of making his own, has reportedly weighed heavily on a player already battling physical and mental demons.

This isn't Boniface's first encounter with adversity. Having survived two previous ACL tears and the devastating loss of his mother early in his career, the striker has previously opened up about struggles with depression.

While Boniface seeks a third medical opinion and contemplates surgery, the Nigerian football community has rallied around him with messages of support and prayer, a quick reminder that sometimes the bravest thing an athlete can do is remove the mask and ask for help.