Super Eagles star reflects on his humble Lagos beginnings—earning N30 for washing gutters—before rising to global football stardom.

Before becoming one of the world’s most celebrated footballers, Victor Osimhen was just a determined boy in Lagos, hustling to support his family. In a candid chat with media personality Daddy Freeze, the 26-year-old Super Eagles striker shared details of his early struggles—stories that inspire hope and resilience.

“I used to fetch water for N80 and wash gutters filled with spirogyra for N30,” Osimhen said. “There was a ‘face me I face you’ building near my house—I’d do odd jobs for neighbors just to earn something.”

Born on December 29, 1998, and the youngest of six children, Osimhen also previously revealed that he sold sachet water and sports newspapers at Ojota bus stop—a Lagos hotspot known for its high foot traffic—to help feed his family.

Fast forward, and Osimhen is now widely regarded as one of the best strikers in the world, known for his pace, power, and fierce determination. After a standout season with SSC Napoli, he finished 8th at the 2023 Ballon d’Or, making history as the first Nigerian to ever make the top 10 of the prestigious global award.

That same year, he was named CAF African Footballer of the Year—a title no Nigerian had claimed since Nwankwo Kanu in 1999.

Osimhen’s story is more than a sports highlight; it’s a powerful reminder that with grit, faith, and relentless drive, one can rise from the gutters—literally—to global greatness.