Mikel praises Osimhen's Ballon d'Or achievement
via Punch Nigeria9 min read
Former Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel has commended Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen for finishing eighth in the 2025 Ballon d'Or rankings. Mikel, speaking on the Obi One Podcast, described Osimhen's achievement as a milestone that he and other Nigerian football legends like Austin Okocha and Nwankwo Kanu never reached. He congratulated Osimhen, stating that the feat has raised the bar for Nigerian football. Osimhen, in response, thanked Mikel for his inspiration to aspiring players. Osimhen's eighth-place finish followed a prolific 2023 season where he was also crowned African Player of the Year. Separately, Osimhen was involved in a tax issue in Turkey, where he received a legal warning over unpaid income tax. Galatasaray, his club, settled the outstanding amount, clarifying that the club is responsible for handling income tax payments for some of its highest-paid players. The club denied reports of financial concerns, stating the tax matter was an administrative delay.
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