Victor Osimhen Ranked Among World’s Top International Scorers with Ronaldo, Messi
Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has been listed among the most prolific international goalscorers of the current decade by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS), joining global icons Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé in elite company.
The ranking, which covers goals scored for national teams between 2021 and 2030, places Osimhen joint 14th with Serbia’s Aleksandar Mitrović, both players having netted 27 international goals since 2021.
Osimhen’s inclusion highlights his consistency for Nigeria over the past five years. He scored five goals each in 2021, 2022 and 2023, added three in 2024, and enjoyed a prolific 2025 campaign with nine goals — his most productive year yet in national colours.
At the top of the IFFHS list is Norway’s Erling Haaland with 49 goals, followed by England captain Harry Kane on 46 and Argentina legend Lionel Messi on 44. Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 41 for Portugal, while France’s Kylian Mbappé sits on 39. Other notable names include Memphis Depay and Mehdi Taremi (34 each), Romelu Lukaku and Sadio Mané (32), and Son Heung-min (28).
Beyond the decade statistics, Osimhen’s overall record for Nigeria continues to rise. Since making his debut in 2017, the 27-year-old forward has scored 35 goals in 51 appearances, making him Nigeria’s second-highest goalscorer of all time. He has surpassed notable former internationals such as Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Segun Odegbami, Obafemi Martins and Ikechukwu Uche, and now trails only the legendary Rashidi Yekini by two goals.
In 2025, Osimhen was joint-fifth among the world’s top scorers across all competitions with 46 goals for club and country — the highest tally by an African player in a single year since 2019. The 2023 African Footballer of the Year has claimed two Africa Cup of Nations bronze medals and one silver, but is still chasing his first continental title.
With the 2027 AFCON set to be hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, Osimhen will be aiming to convert personal milestones into major silverware for Nigeria.
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