Mikel praises Osimhen's historic Ballon d'Or achievement

Former Nigerian captain John Obi Mikel has commended Victor Osimhen's achievement of securing eighth place in the 2025 Ballon d’Or rankings, a feat that surpasses the accomplishments of Mikel and other Nigerian football legends, as reported by Sunday PUNCH.

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Mikel expressed his admiration for Osimhen during an episode of the Obi One Podcast, which he co-hosts with British sports broadcaster Chris McHardy, congratulating the striker on his recognition among the world's top footballers.

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The former Chelsea midfielder, who has won numerous major trophies, including the UEFA Champions League and Premier League titles, noted that Osimhen's ranking marks a new level for Nigerian football, one that even celebrated players like himself, Austin Okocha, and Nwankwo Kanu never attained.

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Mikel stated, "I am still the most successful, decorated football player in the gym, but he has obviously achieved something I never did, ranking eighth in the world, which is absolutely amazing, and I must offer my congratulations."

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He added, "The season you had was fantastic, and I never reached that stage, but you have raised the level and set the bar extremely high," while reflecting on Osimhen's ranking behind players like Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland, and Kylian Mbappe.

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Mikel asked Osimhen how it felt to be ranked alongside such prominent players, and in response, Osimhen thanked Mikel for his contribution to Nigerian football, describing him as a major inspiration for aspiring players.

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Osimhen said, "Thank you, first of all, I have to tell you something, Chris, the man sitting next to you has been a big inspiration for me and aspiring football players, he has been a household name, and I have to give him his flowers."

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He continued, "He has been an amazing legend for us, an amazing example on and off the pitch, his life, his character, I am not just saying this because I am live with you guys and he is here, I used to say this to every aspiring footballer."

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Osimhen's eighth-place finish in the 2023 Ballon d’Or rankings followed a prolific 2023, during which he was crowned African Player of the Year, an honour that Mikel never won during his own decorated career.

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Meanwhile, Osimhen was briefly involved in an unexpected tax issue in Turkey after receiving a formal legal warning over unpaid income tax, with Galatasaray stepping in to settle the outstanding bill.

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According to Turkish newspaper Milliyet, a local bank issued an ihtarname, a formal legal warning, to the Super Eagles striker after taxes linked to his earnings had not been paid.

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However, Osimhen was reportedly not personally responsible for settling the tax under the terms of his contract, and after receiving the notice, he informed Galatasaray's management, with the Turkish champions immediately paying the outstanding amount and resolving the matter.

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The incident highlighted a clause in Galatasaray's contracts with some of their highest-paid players, with the club responsible for handling income tax payments on behalf of stars such as Osimhen.

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The tax issue arose amid recent reports of financial concerns at the Turkish champions, including claims that some players had experienced delays in receiving their salaries, which Galatasaray have strongly denied, insisting that no player had received a bounced cheque and that the tax matter was the result of an administrative delay rather than a failure to honour its contractual obligations.