Nigeria and SSC Napoli striker Victor Osimhen has been shortlisted for the 2023 FIFA The Best Men’s Player of the Year award after a stellar season for club and country. The 24-year-old was named in the 12-man shortlist for the award alongside other European stars.

Osimhen had a campaign to remember as he led Napoli to the Scudetto and emulated Zlatan Ibrahimovic in winning the Capocannoniere in the same season for the first time since 2009. The striker was also the first African Capocannoniere and became Africa’s leading scorer in Serie A.

In addition to his performance at club level, the former Lille man was on fire for the Super Eagles despite not making it to the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. He scored 10 goals for Nigeria as they sealed their ticket to the 2024 AFCON in style, including a hat-trick against Sao Tome and Principe last time out.

Osimhen is the only African who was deemed worthy of being included on the shortlist and is joined by Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe, Rodri, Julian Alvarez, Marcelo Brozovic, Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Declan Rice and Bernardo Silva.

This comes after Osimhen was nominated for the 2023 Ballon d’Or, and is another feather in the cap of the striker, who aims even higher. Voting is on for the award, and fans can vote for Victor Osimhen through this link.