From Olusosun to Africa's King: 5 records Victor Osimhen smashed before turning 27

Today, December 29, 2025, the football world pauses to celebrate a titan. As Victor Osimhen turns 27 amidst the high-stakes atmosphere of AFCON 2025, he isn't just another striker; he is a living legend in the prime of his powers.

While the masked assassin spent his morning in the Super Eagles camp preparing for tomorrow's clash against Uganda, the digital world has exploded with tributes. 

From the streets of Lagos to the stands of Istanbul, the message is clear: we are witnessing the greatest African striker of his generation.

Here are the 5 historic achievements that define Osimhen’s legacy as he hits this milestone age.

In 2023, Osimhen did what no Nigerian could do for over two decades: he was crowned the CAF African Footballer of the Year. 

By beating out legends like Mohamed Salah, he ended a painful 24-year wait for the Super Eagles, becoming the first Nigerian to hold the crown since Nwankwo Kanu in 1999. 

It was the moment he officially became the "King of Africa," a duly deserving accolade.

Osimhen achieved immortality in Italy by leading SSC Napoli to their first Serie A title in 33 years. 

He didn't just participate; he dominated. By scoring the Scudetto-clinching goal, he did what no player since Diego Maradona could, he brought the trophy back to the south of Italy.

During that legendary 2022/23 season, Osimhen scored 26 league goals to win the Serie A Golden Boot. 

In doing so, he became the first African player in the 125-year history of Italian football to finish as the league’s top scorer. 

He also shattered George Weah’s long-standing record for the most Serie A goals scored by an African player.

The world first trembled at the name Osimhen in 2015. At the FIFA U17 World Cup in Chile, he scored a staggering 10 goals in a single tournament. 

A decade later, that record still stands as the most goals ever scored by an individual in the history of the competition.

Proving his class is permanent, Osimhen's move to Galatasaray in 2024 saw him break the record for the most goals by a foreign player in a debut Turkish season (37 goals). 

He led the Lions to a historic domestic double, proving that whether in Italy or Turkey, the result is always the same: goals.

As he enters his 27th year, he is currently chasing the title of Nigeria’s all-time top scorer. He was the top scorer of the 2023 AFCON Qualifiers (10 goals) and has been the focal point of the Super Eagles' attack throughout this current AFCON 2025 campaign in Morocco

While Nigeria has already qualified for the AFCON Round of 16, Osimhen is expected to feature, at least from the bench, in tomorrow's game against Uganda. 

After finally getting off the mark against Tunisia, the 27-year-old is hungry to add to his tally and lead Nigeria to their fourth continental title.