Super Eagles striker and Galatasaray forward, Victor Osimhen, has opened up about the lingering consequences of the severe facial injury he suffered four years ago, revealing that the damage still affects basic daily functions.
In a video shared on X on Tuesday by user 𝐀𝐬𝐚𝐤𝐲𝐆𝐑𝐍, the 26-year-old told Turkish outlet Fanatik that nerve damage from the 2021 incident continues to limit his ability to chew normally.
“Now, I only eat on the right side of my face,” he said. “I can’t eat through the other side. The left side doesn’t function properly anymore.”
Osimhen sustained the injury in November 2021 during a Serie A encounter between Napoli and Inter Milan after a head-to-head collision with Milan Škriniar.
The impact left him with multiple fractures, including a broken cheekbone and eye socket, requiring reconstructive surgery in which doctors inserted 18 screws and a titanium plate.
He disclosed that medical personnel initially feared he could lose vision in his left eye, and although he returned to action, numbness and restricted movement on the left side have persisted.
Recalling the moment of impact, he said, “A cross came in from the wing. I went up for the header, and he pulled his head back. It wasn’t intentional, but I hit his skull with my chin and the bone shattered everywhere.”
His reluctance to undergo surgery was eventually overridden by medical advice. “They took me to a hospital in Milan. First, they checked with X-ray, then they ordered an MRI. The doctor said, ‘You need surgery.’ I refused at first — ‘There’s no way I’m having surgery.’ But it was the only way to continue playing football. I had no choice.”
The discomfort remains a part of his daily life. “I still feel numbness and sometimes pain. When I smile, only one side of my mouth moves fully. Eating is the biggest daily reminder; food falls out if I try to use the left side,” he added.
Osimhen, now at Galatasaray on loan from Napoli, has maintained strong form this season, scoring 12 goals and providing five assists in 15 appearances across competitions.
The protective mask he has worn since his surgery has therefore remained part of his routine equipment, not just for comfort but as a necessity due to the lasting effects of the injury.
