Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen has distinguished himself in the global sports marketing scene as the only African player featured in SportsPro’s 2024 Top 50 Most Marketable Athletes list, securing the 44th position. His high-ranking position places him above Manchester City star Erling Haaland, who ranks 45th.
SportsPro’s analysis evaluated athletes on brand strength, total addressable market, and economic impact. Osimhen scored an impressive 64.15 overall, with breakdowns of 24.18 in brand strength, 26.94 in market reach, and 13.03 in economic value. In comparison, Haaland scored just slightly lower, totaling 64.02.
At the top of the list, American gymnast Simone Biles claims the first spot, with Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr. ranking second among footballers with an impressive score of 91.52. Other footballers in the top tier include Neymar, Jude Bellingham, Marcus Rashford, and Lamine Yamal. Notably absent from this year’s list is Cristiano Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d’Or winner.
Osimhen’s ranking is remarkable, especially given the challenges in his market value in 2024. Napoli recently lowered his release clause to £63 million after his market value dropped by €35 million, following an unsuccessful transfer attempt last summer. The 25-year-old is currently thriving on loan at Galatasaray, where he has broken a club record by contributing six goals in his first five league games, a feat last seen in 2014.
Galatasaray is reportedly planning a €50 million bid to make Osimhen’s transfer permanent in January, although his release clause remains €75 million. This season, Osimhen has already delivered with four goals and four assists in just seven games, attracting interest from other major clubs following earlier links with Chelsea.
