Latest News
Victor Osimhen’s historic FIFA U-17 World Cup goal record faces threat after a decade
By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
Victor Osimhen holds the record for the most goals scored in a single edition of the FIFA U17 World Cup. The Nigerian forward netted a tournament-high 10 goals to propel the Golden Eaglets to glory at the 2015 FIFA U17 World Cup in Chile, a feat that remains one of the competition’s most iconic achievements.
A decade later, Osimhen’s astonishing haul still stands untouched — but now, for the first time, the record is under real threat.
Before Osimhen’s emergence, the record was shared by France’s Florent Sinama Pongolle and Ivory Coast’s Souleymane Coulibaly, who each scored nine goals in 2001 and 2011, respectively. Pongolle powered France to the title in Trinidad and Tobago, while Coulibaly lit up Mexico with his lethal finishing.
Then came Osimhen: 16 years old, fearless, relentless, unstoppable.
His tournament became a blueprint for consistency and goal-scoring hunger.
He opened his account against the United States, added a brace against hosts Chile, and struck again in a tight loss to Croatia — finishing the group stage with four goals.
The knockout rounds showcased his true dominance. A hat-trick in a 6–0 demolition of Australia in the Round of 16. Another goal against Brazil in a 3–0 quarter-final win. A calm penalty in the semi-final victory over Mexico.
And finally, a record-breaking tenth goal in the final as Nigeria defeated Mali 2–0 to lift their fifth U17 world title.
Such was Osimhen’s brilliance that runner-up Johannes Eggestein of Germany finished with only four goals, less than half of the Nigerian’s tally.
Since 2015, two players — England’s Rhian Brewster (2017) and Argentina’s Agustín Ruberto (2023) — have reached eight goals, but neither could match Osimhen’s extraordinary standard.
At the ongoing 2025 FIFA U17 World Cup in Qatar, Austria’s Johannes Moser has rekindled the race for immortality.
The 17-year-old striker has already scored eight goals, including both strikes in Austria’s 2–0 semi-final win over Italy.
A brace in the final against Portugal would tie Osimhen’s record.
A hat-trick would break it.
But Portugal have their own rising star in Anísio Cabral, the Benfica sensation with six goals so far. Should the final turn chaotic or goal-heavy, he remains a genuine threat in the Golden Boot battle.
Portugal booked their place in the final after edging Brazil in a tense penalty shootout.
While Austria and Portugal prepare to battle for glory — and potentially for history — Nigeria, the most successful nation in U17 World Cup history with five titles, is noticeably missing from the tournament.
Despite CAF enjoying 10 qualification slots, the Golden Eaglets failed to secure a place at Qatar 2025. Africa’s best performers were Morocco and Burkina Faso, both of whom exited at the quarter-final stage.
As the final approaches, all eyes will be on Moser and Cabral — and whether Victor Osimhen’s decade-long record can survive one more night.
