Osimhen Ranks With Messi, Ronaldo Among IFFHS Top Scorers

Nigeria’s standout striker, Victor Osimhen, has been officially recognized as one of the top international goalscorers of this decade by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS). He joins legends like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in this elite group.

The IFFHS recently published its rankings. The list tracks the goals scored by international players during this time. Osimhen ranks 14th, having scored 27 goals for the Super Eagles since 2021. He was tied with Serbia’s Aleksandar Mitrović.

At just 27 years old, the Galatasaray forward has proven to be one of Nigeria’s most reliable scorers in recent years. His decade scoring record displays consistent performance. He scored five goals in each of 2021, 2022, and 2023.

Erling Haaland of Norway leads the IFFHS decade rankings with 49 goals. Followed by England’s captain, Harry Kane, with 46 and Messi with 44. Ronaldo, the all-time leading international goalscorer, follows with 41 goals, while France’s Kylian Mbappé has 39.

As for his record, Osimhen’s goals for Nigeria are steadily increasing. Since his senior debut in 2017, he has scored 35 goals in 51 matches. This makes him the second-highest goalscorer in Super Eagles history.

According to reports, he surpassed notable strikers like Yakubu Aiyegbeni and Obafemi Martins. Only the legendary Rashidi Yekini, with 37 goals, is ahead of him, putting Osimhen within reach of the record.

Osimhen’s goal-scoring ability extends beyond international matches. In 2025, he ranked as one of the top five goalscorers worldwide across all competitions, with 46 goals for club and country.

This achievement makes him the leading African scorer of the year. Additionally, the highest single-year total by an African player in recent times.

Despite these personal achievements, Osimhen remains focused on team success. Nigeria has long sought a return to continental glory. With the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations approaching, Osimhen is set to lead the effort.

For now, his position among the century’s top scorers solidifies his reputation as one of the most dynamic and feared forwards in modern football.