Osimhen Reveals Lingering Facial Damage: “I Still Can’t Eat on One Side”

Super Eagles and Galatasaray striker, Victor Osimhen, has opened up about the deep, long-term impact of the horrific facial injury he suffered in 2021 — an ordeal that still affects his daily life and forces him to wear his now-famous protective mask.

In a video shared on X on Tuesday by user 𝐀𝐬𝐚𝐤𝐲𝐆𝐑𝐍, the 26-year-old told Turkish outlet Fanatik that nerve damage from the incident has permanently altered his facial function.

“I only eat on the right side of my face now,” Osimhen revealed. “I can’t use the other side. The left doesn’t function properly anymore.”

The injury occurred in November 2021 during a Serie A clash between Napoli and Inter Milan, when Osimhen collided with defender Milan Škriniar. The impact left him with multiple facial fractures, including a broken cheekbone and eye socket. His reconstructive surgery required 18 screws and a titanium plate.

Doctors initially feared he might lose vision in his left eye. Although he returned to play, Osimhen said the aftermath has never fully healed.

“I still feel numbness and sometimes pain,” he said. “When I smile, only one side moves properly. Eating is the biggest reminder — food slips out if I try to use the left side.”

Recounting the moment of impact, he said:
“A cross came in, I jumped 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. They took me to a hospital in Milan. After scans, the doctor said I needed surgery. I refused at first, but it was the only way to continue playing.”

Osimhen, currently on loan at Galatasaray from Napoli, has been in top form this season with 12 goals and five assists in 15 appearances. Yet despite his performances, the striker says the protective mask — initially a temporary medical aid — has become essential equipment because of the lasting nerve damage.

The mask, he noted, remains his daily reminder of an injury that changed both his career and his life.