Osimhen Joins Elite International Goalscorers

Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has achieved a monumental milestone in his career, securing a place on the podium alongside global icons like Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Kylian Mbappé. According to the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS), the Nigerian forward is among the most prolific international goalscorers of the current decade, a testament to his unrelenting consistency on the world stage.

The prestigious IFFHS ranking covers the third decade of the 21st century, spanning from 2021 to 2030. Osimhen currently sits joint 14th on this distinguished list, having recorded 27 international goals for Nigeria since 2021. This places him in elite company with Serbia’s Aleksandar Mitrović, who also boasts 27 goals in the same period, underlining the 27-year-old’s ability to dominate matches against diverse international opposition.

A breakdown of his international production highlights remarkable consistency. He netted five times in 2021, matched that tally in 2022 and 2023, and added three in 2024. The 2025 calendar year saw a spectacular surge, with the forward delivering a career-high nine goals for the Super Eagles, driving his team forward in both AFCON qualifiers and competitive fixtures.

The IFFHS leaderboard is currently topped by Norway’s Erling Haaland with 49 goals since 2021, followed by England captain Harry Kane on 46, and Lionel Messi with 44. Cristiano Ronaldo follows with 41 strikes for Portugal, with Kylian Mbappé on 39 for France. Osimhen’s presence alongside these names reflects his status as a premier striker in global football.

Beyond the decade statistics, Osimhen’s overall impact for Nigeria continues to rewrite history. Since his debut in 2017, he has amassed 35 goals in 51 appearances, making him Nigeria’s second-highest goalscorer of all time. Having already surpassed legends like Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Segun Odegbami, and Obafemi Martins, he now sits just two goals behind the late Rashidi Yekini’s all-time record of 37.

His brilliance in 2025 was not limited to international duty. The Galatasaray marksman scored 46 goals across all competitions for both club and country, finishing as the joint fifth-highest scorer worldwide for the year. This achievement made him Africa’s leading marksman for 2025, marking the highest single-year tally by an African player since 2019.