Victor Osimhen stands out the moment he steps onto the pitch. The mask is impossible to miss. For some fans, it has become part of his identity. For others, it raises a straightforward question. Why does one of the world’s most feared strikers wear a mask over his face?
The answer lies in a moment that nearly altered the course of his career.
Osimhen’s use of the mask dates back to a serious collision during a Serie A match between Napoli and Inter Milan on November 22, 2021. Challenging for a ball inside the box, he clashed heads with an opponent. The impact fractured his eye socket and cheekbone, leaving him with significant facial injuries.
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Recalling the incident later, Osimhen explained how quickly the situation escalated. “We were playing against Inter Milan. The ball came from the flank, and I went to head it. The defender was also coming in. It was not on purpose, but I hit my jaw on his head. Immediately, the bone in my face cracked.”
He was taken to a hospital in Milan, where scans confirmed the extent of the damage. Doctors recommended immediate surgery, warning that it was the only way he could safely continue playing professional football.
Osimhen initially hesitated. He feared facial scarring and the long-term consequences of invasive surgery. “I rejected it at first because they were going to open my face,” he said. “But the doctor insisted. He told me if I wanted to continue my career, that was the only option.”
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An alternative procedure was discussed, involving stitches through the mouth, but it came with severe limitations. “The second option meant I would not be able to use one side of my face to eat for the rest of my life,” Osimhen explained.
He chose surgery. Metal plates and screws were inserted to rebuild parts of his face, and he was sidelined for nearly three months. It was a defining moment for a striker who was still establishing himself at the highest level.
When he returned to action in January 2022, Osimhen did so wearing a specially designed protective face covering, known as the V09 mask. The mask was created to shield his jaw and facial bones from further impact in a sport where aerial duels, elbows, and accidental collisions are routine.
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Medical staff later confirmed that the fractures had healed. From a clinical standpoint, the mask was no longer mandatory. But Osimhen made a personal choice to keep wearing it.
Napoli’s medical team supported that decision. “Osimhen is perfectly healed,” club doctor Raffaele Canonico said at the time. “He is still wearing the mask because it gives him a sense of security. He has found his own balance and wants to wear it until he feels completely safe.”
For Osimhen, the reasoning is simple. He still has metal screws in his face. He still plays a physical, high-risk style that relies on strength, speed, and aerial dominance. And he understands how one mistimed challenge can have lasting consequences.
“I have to wear the mask for the rest of my football career because I still have two screws in my jaw and face,” he said in an interview. “In a match against Cagliari, the goalkeeper hit my face when I headed the ball. I was bleeding even with the mask. So it is too dangerous for me not to use it.”
The mask gives him freedom. It allows him to attack crosses, challenge defenders, and play without hesitation. At the elite level, that mental assurance is as important as physical fitness.
What began as a medical necessity has become a symbol of resilience. Osimhen’s mask is not about fear or superstition. It reflects experience, self-awareness, and a professional understanding of risk.
