Super Eagles and Galatasaray forward Victor Osimhen has opened up about the lasting impact of a serious facial injury he sustained in November 2021, explaining why he still wears a protective mask four years later.

Speaking to Turkish outlet Fanatik in a video shared on X, the 26-year-old revealed that nerve damage from the injury affects his ability to eat.

“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,” Osimhen said.

The injury occurred during a Serie A match between Napoli and Inter Milan following a collision with Milan Škriniar. He suffered multiple facial fractures, including a broken cheekbone and eye socket, and required 18 screws and a titanium plate in reconstructive surgery. Doctors initially feared he could lose vision in his left eye.

Osimhen recalled the moment:

“A cross came in from the wing. I went up for the header, and he pulled his head back. It wasn’t intentional, but I hit his skull with my chin and the bone shattered everywhere. They took me to a hospital in Milan. The doctor said, ‘You need surgery.’ I refused at first — ‘There’s no way I’m having surgery.’ But it was the only way to continue playing football. I had no choice.”

Even after recovery, Osimhen continues to experience numbness and limited movement on the left side of his face.

“I still feel numbness and sometimes pain. When I smile, only one side of my mouth moves fully. Eating is the biggest daily reminder; food falls out if I try to use the left side,” he added.

Currently on loan at Galatasaray from Napoli, Osimhen has scored 12 goals and provided five assists in 15 appearances across competitions this season. His protective mask, originally prescribed after surgery, remains part of his kit due to the long-term effects of the injury.