Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has shared an emotional and harrowing account of the severe facial injury he sustained during a 2021 Serie A encounter between Napoli and Inter Milan, an incident that left him facing life-threatening complications and permanently altered his career.
Speaking in a recent interview with Nigerian media personality Daddy Freeze, Osimhen recounted the brutal head-on collision that occurred at the San Siro, which left him with multiple fractures to his cheekbone and eye socket. The incident unfolded during a routine aerial challenge, as he attempted to connect with a cross while Inter Milan’s defender, Milan Škriniar, simultaneously challenged for the ball.
“It was a game against Inter Milan in San Siro,” Osimhen recounted. “My teammates crossed the ball, so I wanted to head the ball and the guy was bringing his own head and hit my face. All the bones on my face were broken.”
The force of the impact was so severe that Osimhen temporarily lost consciousness on the pitch. “I was seeing blank until their goalkeeper touched me — that was when I knew I was alive. It was a near-death injury,” he said, recalling the terrifying moment. After lying motionless on the turf for nearly ten minutes, he was transported directly to the hospital.
Initially, Osimhen said he didn’t grasp the seriousness of the injury. In his mind, it was just another blow that he would recover from quickly. “I asked our team doctor when I would play again. I never knew the injury was that bad,” he said. It wasn’t until X-rays were conducted that the full extent of the damage became clear.
The striker admitted that he initially resisted the idea of undergoing surgery. “I said I am not doing surgery. I cannot allow you to cut my face,” he revealed. However, the team doctor explained that the surgery wouldn’t be performed externally, but rather internally, through the jaw — a procedure that came with its own risks, including dietary restrictions. “He said no, they will go through my jaw and I cannot eat there for the rest of my life,” Osimhen explained.
Following the operation, Osimhen was advised to wear a custom protective facial mask to shield his reconstructed bones from further trauma. It’s a piece of equipment that has become a constant part of his appearance on the pitch — and for good reason.
“It was recommended and the doctor said, left for him he will keep on wearing it (the mask) till he’s done,” he said. When Osimhen asked about the potential consequences of discarding the mask too early, the doctor’s response was chilling: “If you get the same hit again, you’re done.”
Osimhen has continued to wear the mask throughout his career since the injury — not as a matter of superstition or habit, but out of necessity. “There are worse injuries in football but I could have lost my eyes. That’s the reason why I put on the mask, so I can jump and head,” he said, underscoring how close he came to an irreversible tragedy.
Despite the physical and emotional toll of the ordeal, Osimhen’s return to top-level football following the injury has been nothing short of inspirational. His resilience and courage continue to be a source of admiration for fans and fellow players alike.
What You Should Know
- Injury Details: Victor Osimhen suffered multiple facial fractures (cheekbone and eye socket) during a 2021 Serie A match against Inter Milan after colliding with Milan Škriniar.
- Near-Death Experience: Osimhen briefly lost consciousness and described the incident as a “near-death injury,” requiring immediate hospital treatment.
- Surgical Resistance: Initially reluctant, Osimhen underwent surgery through his jaw to repair the damage, as advised by Napoli’s medical team.
- Protective Mask: Doctors mandated a permanent mask to protect his face, warning that another similar hit could end his career or cause blindness.
- Career Impact: Despite the injury, Osimhen continues to excel for his club and country.
