Victor Osimhen: Nigeria and Napoli star tops FIFA Men’s Player of the Year shortlist

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

Nigeria forward, Victor Osimhen is one of the 12 nominees for the 2023 FIFA Best Player of the Year announced on Thursday.

The Napoli forward is the only African player on the list, as FIFA considered players’ performances from December 19, 2022, to August 20, 2023, in coming up with the nomination.

According to FIFA, Osimhen was in scintillating form throughout Napoli’s triumphant Serie A campaign. A complete centre-forward, the Nigerian’s eye-catching variety of goals underlines his extraordinary talent, with his 26 league goals in 2022/2023 including towering headers, impudent finishes ,and predatory close-range efforts.

By topping Serie A’s goalscoring standings in 2022/2023, Osimhen became the first African to win the Italian league’s Golden Boot award.

He will compete with 11 other players for the coveted prize, including  Julian Alvarez (Argentina), Marcelo Brozovic (Croatia), Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium), Ilkay Gundogan (Germany), Erling Haaland (Norway), and Rodri (Spain).

Other players nominated also include Khvicha Kvarastskhelia (Georgia), Kylian Mbappe (France), Lionel Messi (Argentina), Declan Rice (England), and Bernardo Silva (Portugal).