Nigeria international Victor Osimhen has passed over every Super Eagles teammate — past and present — to name Khvicha Kvaratskhelia as the best player he has ever shared a dressing room with, going further to predict that the Georgian will one day claim football’s most prestigious individual award.
When asked directly to identify the standout teammate of his career, the Galatasaray striker did not deliberate. “Kvaratskhelia,” Osimhen said without hesitation. “He’s such an amazing player, he’s a top guy. In the dressing room and on the pitch, he’s that guy.”
Osimhen and Kvaratskhelia were central figures in one of Serie A’s most celebrated title-winning campaigns. The pair spearheaded Napoli to the 2022/23 Serie A championship, ending the club’s 33-year wait for league glory. That season, Osimhen claimed the Serie A Golden Boot, while Kvaratskhelia finished as the division’s top assist provider and was named the competition’s Most Valuable Player — a dual achievement that underlined the effectiveness of their attacking partnership and made them one of the most feared forward combinations in European football at the time.
Beyond identifying Kvaratskhelia as his favourite teammate, Osimhen expressed firm belief that the winger’s trajectory points toward the summit of world football. “When he came to Naples, I used to say, ‘Inshallah, in the near future, he can win the Ballon d’Or.’ He can really do that,” the Nigerian said. He also acknowledged the 23-year-old’s continued growth since departing Napoli, adding: “He’s one of the best wingers in the world right now, no one can argue that.”
Kvaratskhelia joined Paris Saint-Germain in January 2025, linking up with a squad that also includes Ousmane Dembélé and Bradley Barcola in wide areas. His move to the French capital represented one of the more high-profile transfers of the winter window and has maintained his visibility among Europe’s elite. Despite the two players now representing different clubs in different leagues, Osimhen confirmed their personal bond has remained intact, with the pair continuing to follow and support each other’s careers.
For Osimhen himself, the current campaign at Galatasaray has sustained his standing as one of African football’s most prominent strikers. Reports have linked him with a potential move to FC Barcelona, with sources suggesting he turned down an approach from Manchester United, though no transfer has been confirmed. His future club destination is expected to be a significant storyline heading into the summer window.
The Ballon d’Or prediction carries weight given the source. Osimhen finished fifth in the 2023 Ballon d’Or rankings — the highest placement by an African player that year — and his endorsement of Kvaratskhelia reflects a perspective shaped by direct experience at the elite level. Whether the Georgian can build on his performances at PSG to mount a genuine challenge for the award in the coming seasons remains to be seen, but Osimhen’s assessment will add to the growing conversation around his former teammate’s long-term potential.
