Galatasaray forward Victor Osimhen has revisited the traumatic moment that forced him to adopt the protective mask that has since become an unmistakable part of his identity on the pitch.
Speaking in an interview with MMA fighter Kerim Engizek, the Nigerian international detailed the violent collision with Milan Skriniar during a 2021-22 Serie A match between Napoli and Inter Milan that left him with severe facial fractures and put his football career at risk.
Osimhen recalled the challenge with clear emotion, stressing the seriousness of the impact.
"A ball came from the wing. I was trying to head the ball, and he snapped his head back. It wasn't intentional, but I hit my jaw on his head, and the bone fractured all over,” he said, as quoted by hurriyet, describing the moment that changed his career trajectory.
The clash left him in immediate pain and required urgent medical attention, prompting a trip to a hospital in Milan where specialists assessed the extent of the damage.
He explained that the medical team wasted no time in evaluating the situation.
"Then I went to the hospital in Milan. The doctor first took an X-ray and then ordered an MRI. He said, ‘You need surgery,’” Osimhen continued.
The recommendation came as a shock to the striker, who initially resisted the idea of undergoing a major operation.
"At first, I objected, saying, ‘It's impossible, I won't have surgery.’ But it was the only way I could continue playing football. I had to have the surgery."
The fractures required complex reconstructive work, and the recovery process included the creation of a custom protective mask—one that Osimhen continues to wear today.
The mask allowed him to return to the pitch safely, protecting the repaired bones while enabling him to perform at the highest level.
Wale Adejumo
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