Victor Osimhen Ranked Among Decade’s Top International Scorers by IFFHS

Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen has earned global recognition after being named by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) among the most prolific international goal scorers of the decade.

The Nigerian forward, currently playing for Galatasaray S.K., secured a place on the podium in the IFFHS rankings for top scorers of national teams in the third decade of the 21st century (2021–2030).

His inclusion places him alongside some of the modern game’s most iconic forwards, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Kylian Mbappé.

Osimhen is joint 14th in the standings with Aleksandar Mitrović, with both players scoring 27 international goals since 2021 — a testament to the Nigerian striker’s consistency at the highest level.

A breakdown of his yearly returns highlights steady production: five goals each in 2021, 2022, and 2023; three in 2024; and a surge to eight in 2025 — his most prolific international year within the ranking period.

Leading the IFFHS decade chart is Erling Haaland with 49 goals, followed by Harry Kane (46), Messi (44), Ronaldo (41), and Mbappé (39). Other prominent names on the list include Memphis Depay and Mehdi Taremi (34 each), Romelu Lukaku and Sadio Mané (32), and Son Heung-min (28).

Beyond the decade rankings, Osimhen’s standing in Nigerian football history continues to strengthen. Since making his senior debut in 2017, he has scored 35 goals in 51 appearances, making him Nigeria’s second-highest goalscorer of all time. He has moved past notable figures such as Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Segun Odegbami, Obafemi Martins, and Ikechukwu Uche, and now trails only the late Rashidi Yekini by two goals.

In 2025, Osimhen was joint fifth globally for combined club and country goals, finishing the year with 46 — the highest tally recorded by any African player since 2019. His performances further cemented his status as Africa’s leading marksman during the period.

The 2023 African Footballer of the Year has already claimed two Africa Cup of Nations bronze medals and one silver at the Africa Cup of Nations, though continental gold remains elusive. With the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations set to be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, Osimhen will be eager to translate individual brilliance into major silverware for Nigeria.

From decisive goals on Europe’s biggest stages to record-breaking feats in national colours, Victor Osimhen’s trajectory suggests a forward firmly establishing himself among football’s modern greats — a relentless scorer shaping a legacy defined by consistency and ambition.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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