Nigerian international Victor Osimhen rocked the No.9 shirt of Brazilian football legend Ronaldo Nazario de Lima in a heartfelt tribute.
Nicknamed O'fenomeno (The Phenomenon), Ronaldo's influence has continued to resonate with a new generation of players around the globe.
Ronaldo, a two-time World Cup winner and two-time Ballon d’Or recipient, is celebrated for his clinical finishing and ability to dominate defenders.
His ability to combine power, agility, and technical skill made him a nightmare for defenders during his playing days.
Ronaldo’s signature stepovers, quick bursts, and lethal goal-scoring instincts redefined the modern striker role, per Britannica.
He started his career at Cruzeiro (1993–94), where he scored 44 goals in 47 games.
He moved to Europe with PSV Eindhoven (1994–96), then Barcelona (1996–97), where he won the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup and scored 47 goals in 49 games.
At Inter Milan (1997–2002), injuries hampered him, but he still won the UEFA Cup.
His peak came at Real Madrid (2002–07), scoring 104 goals in 177 matches and winning two La Liga titles.
He later played for AC Milan and Corinthians, where he retired following a nagging injury.
Having worn the iconic shirt, as seen on Instagram, Osimhen expressed his admiration for Ronaldo’s legacy, connecting his own rising career to the Brazilian’s iconic flair and goal-scoring prowess.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian international set a huge milestone following his recent record fee transfer from Italian club Napoli to Turkish outfit Galatasaray.
The 26-year-old signed a €75 million deal, with €40 million paid upfront and €35 million to be paid in instalments.
Reports have it that Napoli included a 10 per cent sell-on clause in the deal, with a restriction preventing the striker’s transfer to another Serie A club for two years.
DE-CIX Istanbul noted that Osimhen’s arrival in Istanbul on July 30 sparked a record-breaking spike in internet data traffic, peaking at 505.26 Gbit/s shortly after 10:00 pm, the highest ever documented.
Having led the Super Lig scoring charts last season on loan at Galatasaray, Osimhen enthralled fans and generated significant online buzz.
DE-CIX Turkey regional director Bulent Sen disclosed that 500 Gbit/s equates to roughly 300,000 simultaneous TikTok video views, marking a 295% increase since early 2020 and a 34% rise since early 2025.
