Super Eagles striker and 2023 CAF Player of the Year, Victor Osimhen, has revealed how a chance to take a picture with Portuguese football legend Cristiano Ronaldo served as a defining moment and major inspiration in his career.
Osimhen, who currently plies his trade in Serie A with Napoli, recalled the unforgettable experience after his team edged Juventus 1-0 in a home fixture when Ronaldo was still playing for the Turin giants.
Speaking during an interview with media personality Daddy Freeze, the 26-year-old shared how he had long dreamed of meeting his football idols.
“I used to tell my friends, the day I play against Ronaldo, Messi, or Neymar—these are legends I admire so much—I must take a picture with them. I don’t care even if we lose 10-0,” Osimhen said.
Following the match, he approached Ronaldo with the bold request.
“After the game, I said to him, ‘Cris, I’d love to take a picture with you.’ He responded, ‘Yeah, come to the dressing room.’”
But when Osimhen arrived at the Juventus dressing room, Ronaldo wasn’t there. Instead, legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon welcomed him.
“Buffon asked what I wanted. When I told him, he said Ronaldo was in the gym and told me to wait. We spoke for a while, almost 30 minutes, and Ronaldo still wasn’t out. I ended up waiting for nearly an hour.”
Eventually, Osimhen got his moment, and more than just a photo; he left with lasting motivation.
“After working out, Ronaldo went to the massage table. I saw his legs—massive, with veins popping out. You’d think he was 25, not 36. He shook my hand and said, ‘Great game; just keep on going.’ That really stayed with me,” Osimhen said.
He added that Ronaldo’s professionalism, humility, and fitness discipline deeply impressed him.
“No one should be surprised he’s still performing at a high level. He’s a great personality and very fluent in English too. That moment pushed me to work even harder.”
Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d’Or winner, joined Juventus in 2018 after a historic spell at Real Madrid. Osimhen moved to Italy two years later and has since risen to become one of Africa’s top footballing talents.
