Victor Osimhen Opens Up On Horrific Face Injury: “It Was A Near-Death Experience”

Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has reflected on the life-threatening facial injury he suffered during a 2021 Serie A match between Napoli and Inter Milan, describing it as one of the scariest moments of his career.

In a candid interview with Nigerian media personality Daddy Freeze, Osimhen recalled the painful incident at the San Siro where a brutal clash with Inter defender Milan Škriniar left him unconscious and with multiple facial fractures.

“It happened during a game against Inter Milan,” he said. “My teammate crossed the ball, and as I jumped to head it, the other player came in with his head and smashed my face. All the bones in my face were shattered.”

Osimhen said he briefly blacked out on impact.
“I couldn’t see anything. Everything went blank. I didn’t even know I was alive until their goalkeeper touched me. That’s when I realized I was still breathing. It was a near-death injury.”

He was stretchered off and taken to the hospital immediately.
“I stayed on the pitch for about ten minutes before getting up. They rushed me straight to the hospital,” he recalled.

At first, Osimhen didn’t understand the seriousness of the damage and was reluctant to go under the knife.
“I asked the team doctor when I could return to play. I didn’t realize how bad it was. Then they did an X-ray. The doctor told me I needed immediate surgery. I refused. I said, ‘I’m not doing surgery, you can’t cut my face.’ But he explained they’d go through my jaw, and that I wouldn’t be able to eat with it again.”

After undergoing surgery, doctors advised him to wear a protective mask — something the Napoli striker still wears during matches to this day.

“The doctor said, if it were up to him, I should wear the mask until I stop playing football,” Osimhen added.