Victor Osimhen says nerve damage from his 2021 facial fracture has left the left side of his face numb and functioning only partially, forcing him to eat on the right side for life and to wear a protective mask while playing.
Victor Osimhen has described the lasting physical toll of the severe facial injury he suffered in November 2021, saying, "Now, I only eat on the right side of my face. I can't eat through the other side. The left side doesn't function properly anymore." The Super Eagles and Galatasaray striker said nerve damage from the accident has left the left side of his face numb with limited movement, affecting basic tasks such as chewing and smiling.
The injury came during a Serie A match between Napoli and Inter Milan when Osimhen collided with defender Milan Škriniar, causing multiple fractures including a broken cheekbone and damage to the eye socket. Surgeons performed urgent reconstructive surgery that required 18 screws and a titanium plate. Doctors initially feared he might lose vision in the left eye, and Osimhen chose an internal surgical approach through the mouth to avoid external scarring, leaving metal implants in place and accepting ongoing nerve damage as a consequence.
Osimhen continues to wear a protective face mask in matches to shield the implants and reduce the risk of further injury in aerial challenges. He has returned to top level football and is playing regularly for Galatasaray, describing more recent injuries to other parts of his body as minor compared with the facial trauma. As he moves forward in his career, the mask and daily adjustments to eating and facial movement remain part of his routine on and off the pitch.
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