Nigerian footballer Victor Osimhen has been crowned the Italian Footballers’ Association (IFA) Footballer of the Year, recognizing his outstanding contributions to Napoli’s triumphant season.
The prestigious award was announced by IFA via its official social media channels, accompanied by a video capturing the presentation ceremony.
Osimhen’s exceptional performance played a pivotal role in guiding Napoli to their first league title in 33 years, and he also emerged as the league’s top scorer during the previous season.
With 26 goals in 32 Serie A appearances, Osimhen’s goal-scoring prowess proved to be an unstoppable force, earning him the coveted ‘Footballer of the Year’ award. This recognition places him among the ranks of footballing legends like Rafael Leao, Gianluigi Buffon, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who have all received this prestigious accolade in the past, as reported by Football Italia.
However, despite this recent triumph, speculation surrounding Osimhen’s potential departure from Italy continues to swirl.
Rumours suggest that the Nigerian striker is increasingly distancing himself from the possibility of signing a new contract with Napoli, following an incident in September that caused friction between the player and the club.
A video released by Napoli on TikTok, trolling Osimhen over a missed late penalty in a league match against Bologna, sparked widespread criticism and backlash, particularly on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. Osimhen’s agent responded by threatening legal action against Napoli for the objectionable video.
The controversy intensified after Osimhen engaged in a verbal altercation with Napoli’s then-manager Rudi Garcia during his substitution in the Bologna match.
Despite these tensions, Osimhen’s recent award as IFA Footballer of the Year serves as a testament to his undeniable talent and unwavering commitment to excellence on the field. His future with Napoli may remain uncertain, but his legacy as a formidable striker continues to shine brightly.