Napoli and Super Eagles star Victor Osimhen has opened up about the terrifying head injury he suffered in November 2021 during a Serie A clash with Inter Milan, admitting he โcould have lost his sight.โ
The horror occurred at San Siro when Osimhen collided with Interโs Milan ล kriniar, resulting in multiple facial fractures. Surgeons performed emergency maxillofacial surgery, inserting six titanium plates and 18 screws into his face and jaw. A Naples-based specialist, Dr Gianpaolo Tartaro, revealed that the orbital bone fractured โjust in time,โ possibly saving the strikerโs eye.
Osimhen described enduring grueling pain, sleepless nights and being unable to eat or sleep. โThat injuryโฆ was like a near-death injuryโฆ I have like 18 screws under my jaw,โ he told Wazobia FM. Despite forecasts of a two-week sidelining, scans determined he needed three months away from the pitch.
Upon his return, the 24 year old striker donned a protective mask still worn today to safeguard his healing face. Osimhen believes it enhances his confidence, explaining it feels โreally dangerousโ to play without it.
Editorial
We are moved by Osimhenโs harrowing journey from a near-catastrophic injury to a triumphant return. Facing the possibility of losing sight is not merely a scare; it was a brush with permanent life-altering consequences. His fortitude through intense pain and long nights of recovery reveals an inner steel that defines true champions.
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We feel that the titanium plates and protective mask symbolise more than just medical measuresโthey signal a mindset shift. The mask has become part of his identity, allowing him to play boldly without fear, even under physical threat. Itโs an example of adaptation through adversity.
It also shows that great athletes arenโt just built in seasons of success, but in the crucible of recovery. When Osimhen walked back onto the pitch post-surgery, he did so not just with a physical shield but with renewed emotional resolve. This period transformed him, readying him for bigger challenges and cementing his status among world-class strikers.
We support his continued use of protective gear and applaud the support network around himโNapoli’s medical team, Osimhenโs own resilience, and the trust of his club and fans. His story reaffirms our belief in courage as the essential trait that turns injury into inspiration.
Did You Know?
- Dr Gianpaolo Tartaro reported that Osimhenโs fractured orbital bone โstopped just in time,โ likely saving his eye.
- The six titanium plates and 18 screws from 2021 remain in his face and jaw and are intended to stay unless complications arise.
- The injury forced Osimhen to miss the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.
- He returned from injury to score 14 goals in Serie A, helping Napoli secure a Champions League spot.
- Osimhen has worn a protective mask consistently since his return, calling it โreally dangerousโ to play without it due to the ongoing risk.
