Osimhen Reveals Permanent Eating Restriction After Life-Altering Facial Injury

Victor Osimhen has opened up about the lasting physical toll of the facial injury that changed his life and nearly ended his career.

The Super Eagles and Galatasaray striker explained that he is now permanently restricted to chewing only on the right side of his mouth, as metal implants support the damaged left side of his jaw.

The injury was sustained during a Serie A match in 2021, when Osimhen — then playing for Napoli — collided violently with Inter Milan defender Milan Škriniar while contesting a high ball.

The impact left him briefly unconscious and resulted in multiple fractures to the left side of his face, including his jawbone and areas surrounding his eye socket.

Following the match, detailed scans revealed the full extent of the trauma.

Specialists determined that reconstructive surgery was necessary not only to save his playing career but also to restore basic functional stability to his face.

The procedure involved installing several metal plates and a network of screws — reportedly close to twenty — to reinforce and align the fractured bones.

Recovery was grueling. For weeks, Osimhen experienced severe discomfort, difficulty sleeping, and an inability to properly chew due to the structural fragility of his face. Even after the healing period, doctors warned that the implants and reconstructed bone areas would likely never fully regain their previous resilience.

As a result, Osimhen was advised to avoid using the left side of his mouth for eating to prevent stress, irritation, or potential damage to the hardware supporting his jaw.

The striker’s trademark protective mask — which fans around the world have come to associate with him — is not just a symbolic relic of the incident, but a necessary safeguard.

He continues to wear it during competitive fixtures to protect the vulnerable area from further impact.

Yet despite the physical limitations and permanent adjustments to his daily life, Osimhen’s fearless style on the pitch has remained undiminished.

He continues to challenge defenders aggressively in aerial duels, maintains his role as an incisive goal-scorer, and has become a global emblem of resilience in professional athletics.

His candid revelations not only highlight the silent sacrifices athletes make but also reveal the magnitude of unseen hardships carried beneath the spotlight of fame and performance.

Osimhen may have surrendered a part of his normal physical function — but in doing so, he preserved the career and passion that define him.