Super Eagles’ forward, Victor Osimhen, has emerged as the frontrunner to clinch the FIFA Men’s Player of The Year award as fan voting concluded on Friday.
The eligibility period for the award spans from December 19, 2022, to August 10, 2023, with prominent nominees including Argentina’s Lionel Messi, France’s Kylian Mbappe, and Norwegian Manchester City striker Erling Haaland.
Osimhen has become one of the favorites for the award due to his impressive performance during this period, scoring 29 goals and contributing significantly to Napoli’s first Serie A title win in over three decades. He was also the top scorer in Serie A last season and earned a spot in the league’s Team of The Season.
Other players on the shortlist include Kevin De Bruyne, Julian Alvarez, Marcelo Brozovic, Ilkay Gundogan, Rodrigo Cascante, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Declan Rice, and Bernardo Silva.
Super Eagles coach, Jose Peseiro, expressed his support for the 24-year-old, stating, “He (Osimhen) can surely win it in the future. He’s not lacking anything to do it. He has different characteristics than other players at the top right now, but he scores a lot as well.”
Africa’s only Ballon d’Or winner, George Weah, also believes in Osimhen’s potential to secure the FIFA Best Award and even the Golden Ball. He said, “I went on to win the Ballon d’Or. So why not two or more for you, Victor? The sky is your limit. With your dedication, commitment, humility, (and) hard work, you can conquer the world. Africa needs another world best. Africa needs another European best. You, Victor, can deliver that for us.”
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) also congratulated Osimhen on his nomination for this prestigious award. CAF expressed its support on social media, stating, “The man of the hour. Congratulations to Victor Osimhen on this precious nomination!”
In addition to the Best FIFA Men’s Player award, Osimhen has been shortlisted for the 2023 Ballon d’Or. FIFA acknowledged Osimhen’s nomination on their website, highlighting his exceptional form during Napoli’s triumphant Serie A campaign, where he showcased a diverse range of goals, including headers, finesse finishes, and close-range efforts.
With fan voting concluding on Friday, Osimhen’s chances of winning the coveted award will receive a significant boost if he garners the highest number of votes in this category. This could make him the first African player since George Weah in 1995 to secure the FIFA Best Men’s Player award.
Unlike many other sports awards, the FIFA Best award relies on three distinct categories of voting, including fan voting, player and manager voting, and journalist voting. While fans have no influence over the latter two categories, their support through fan voting can substantially enhance Osimhen’s prospects of winning the prestigious accolade.