Why Is Victor Osimhen Scoring Fewer Goals This Season for Napoli Than Last Season?

Victor Osimhen’s level has dropped this season compared to the lofty levels of the 2022/23 season. His output, alongside that of outgoing Scudetto champions Napoli, has dropped significantly.

The drop has been a cause of debate in Serie A and world football, especially given how lethal the Nigerian striker was in leading Napoli to the title last season. So why is Victor Osimhen scoring fewer goals than last season? We take a deep dive to discover the possible reasons for Osimhen’s dip in form.

Osimhen Last Season’s Success

Victor Osimhen scored 26 goals in 32 appearances for Napoli in the 2022/2024 season, leading Napoli to a stunning title win.

The Nigerian striker was in red-hot form throughout the season. He converted a wide range of chances to put Napoli over the line in tight matches and drove their dominance in the matches where they racked up the scores. 

Osimhen outscored his nearest challenger for top scorer, Lautaro Martinez of Inter Milan, by 5 goals. However, the Argentinian made six more appearances last season.

The Super Eagles forward also added five goals in six matches in Napoli’s Champions League run. Additionally, he added another goal in the Italy Cup, bringing his tally to 31 goals and 5 assists for Napoli’s title-winning season.

Current Season’s Dip

Napoli and Victor Osimhen are not as prolific as last season. Napoli is marooned in 8th position on the table with 49 points, a whopping 34 points behind leaders Inter Milan and 10 points behind the top four.

Victor Osimhen has scored 13 goals in 20 appearances for Napoli while delivering 3 assists this season.

Osimhen is trailing the Serie A top scorer, Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez, by 10 goals, which shows how far the Nigerian has fallen this season.

Possible Reasons

Victor Osimhen has suffered five separate injury incidents since the beginning of the 2023/24 season. 

Between August 2 and August 7, 2023, the striker missed 5 days with muscle fatigue but did not miss any matches.

Between October 13 and November 24, 2023, Osimhen was sidelined for Napoli with a hamstring muscle injury. Therefore, he was sidelined for 42 days and missed six matches.

The Nigerian striker had abdominal problems on February 6, 2024, but endured the discomfort. He also had fitness issues between February 15, 2024, and February 18, 2024, which forced him to miss one match.

Recently, between March 13, 2024, and March 17, 2024, Osimhen missed 4 days with muscular problems and missed a match for Napoli.

The evidence shows that Victor Osimhen’s season has been interrupted by injury and fitness issues, which have robbed him of any of the momentum, form, and consistency he displayed last season.

Last season was Osimhen’s best one, and it was under the consistency and clarity of Luciano Spalletti. After Spalletti’s departure, Napoli fired Rudi Garcia and Walter Mazzarri in an inconsistent season. The uncertainty in tactics, changes in playing styles, and tactical upheaval have all contributed to a below-par season for Osimhen.

Victor Osimhen’s season has also been affected by his falling out with Rudi Garcia at the beginning of the season when he was taken off when Napoli were chasing a winner against Bologna. A TikTok video by Napoli that appeared to mock the Nigerian marksman did not help things either.

The season’s upheaval has created a perfect storm, hampering both the club and player. This turmoil is evident in the team’s stuttering title defense, marked by Osimhen’s reduced potency in front of goal.

Current Performance

Osimhen’s 13 goals and 3 assists is not a poor season by any stretch. However, given that Napoli is way off the pace of Serie A and could not put up any defense of the first title they won after 33 years, standards have dropped at the club.

Osimhen, whether he stays in Naples or moves at the end of the season, will look to recapture the red-hot form that flew him to the top of the scoring charts in Italy last season.