The Pain Behind Victor Osimhen’s Journey

Victor Osimhen is widely admired for his power, discipline, and hunger on the soccer pitch, but his life story goes far beyond goals and trophies. Now playing for Galatasaray, Osimhen carries with him a history of deep personal loss that shaped his character long before he became a global star. His journey is marked not only by success but also by grief, resilience, and emotional strength.

Before the tragic period that led to his father’s death, Osimhen had already suffered a devastating loss. He lost his mother at a young age, a moment that changed his life forever. Growing up in difficult conditions, she was one of his strongest sources of love, encouragement, and belief. Losing her so early left a permanent emotional scar and forced Osimhen to mature quickly. That pain never left him, even as his soccer career began to rise.

Years later, while playing in France, Osimhen faced another cruel test of life. This time, it was his father’s illness and eventual death during the COVID period. Travel restrictions, closed airports, and the business pressures of professional soccer placed him in an impossible situation. While the world was shut down, he was trapped far from home, watching his family suffer from a distance. It was during this time that he came face to face with the harsh reality of loss once again.

In his own words, Osimhen described this painful experience with honesty and raw emotion. His testimony reveals the fear, frustration, and guilt he carried, and it remains one of the most touching personal stories ever shared by a top soccer player.

“When I signed for Lille, my father’s health seriously declined. I was constantly far away from him. Then, at the beginning of COVID, he was hospitalized. I was alone in France. Soccer had stopped. Airports were closed.

I kept calling my agent to arrange a private flight to Nigeria. I had even received permission to land. All that was left was approval from the club and my agent to let me go.

I waited… again and again.
And his condition kept getting worse.

I started to panic. I called every hour. I begged. But that’s when I understood the dark side of soccer, the business side. They wanted to sell me. A transfer was being discussed. My former agent kept telling me, ‘It’s complicated. Wait.’

I was losing my mind. I couldn’t sleep. One morning, coming out of the shower, I looked at a photo of my mother beside my bed. I felt that something was wrong. I started crying.

Downstairs, I had 20 missed calls from my family. I called my brother back on FaceTime. He said, ‘We lost him.’ Then he turned the camera toward my father. ‘You have to say goodbye to him…’

I threw my phone away. I lost control. I destroyed everything in the house. My neighbors came over. In France, they were like family to me. One of them stayed with me for six or seven hours that day. He probably stopped me from making a huge mistake.

What destroyed me the most was the guilt. All of my father’s children and grandchildren were by his side. The only one who wasn’t there was me.

I was angry. I exploded. I told myself, ‘If soccer is like this… what’s the point? I just want to be with my family.’

I called my former agent to ask if I could go bury my father. He replied, ‘Go. But come back on Friday.’

Friday? Soccer could go to hell.

When I returned home, I truly thought I might never play soccer again. I was disgusted with everything.

People often say, ‘I’ve seen it all.’ But they don’t understand what that really means.

I’m not just talking about growing up next to a landfill.
I’m not just talking about growing up without electricity.

I’m talking about loss. Real loss.
And that… is something very deep.”

This testimony carries even more weight when seen in the context of Osimhen’s life. Having already lost his mother years earlier, losing his father reopened old wounds and deepened his understanding of pain and absence. These experiences explain why family means everything to him and why emotional moments affect him so deeply.

This is also why the decision by Galatasaray fans to honor his late mother with a special choreography is so meaningful. It is not a random tribute. It is a gesture that recognizes the pain Osimhen has carried since childhood and the strength it took for him to rise above it. In a sport often dominated by money and pressure, this act shows empathy, respect, and humanity.

Victor Osimhen’s story is not just about becoming a top striker. It is about surviving loss, carrying grief, and still finding the strength to move forward. Behind every sprint and every goal is a man who has lost both parents and continues to honor them through his work, his discipline, and his heart.

Photo Credit: Bein Sports France Facebook page.