Osimhen ninth as ESPN ranks Arsenal’s Havertz above striker

Victor Osimhen has been placed ninth in ESPN’s ranking of the world’s top 100 footballers, with Arsenal forward Kai Havertz rated above the Super Eagles striker. Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane led the list, followed by Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and Ousmane Dembele.

Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez and Chelsea’s Joao Pedro were also ranked ahead of Osimhen. The order has raised questions because the Nigerian produced stronger figures than Havertz and Pedro in both domestic competition and Europe during the previous season.

Osimhen scored 15 goals in 22 league appearances for Galatasaray as they retained the Turkish title. He also recorded seven goals and three assists in 10 Champions League matches. Havertz scored four Champions League goals for Arsenal, while Pedro had three in eight appearances for Chelsea.

Alvarez was the only one of the three players ahead of Osimhen to score more than the Nigerian in the Champions League, with 10 goals. Atletico Madrid reached the semi-finals, while Arsenal progressed to the final. Osimhen’s European output came despite playing in the Turkish Super Lig.

The broader comparison also favours Osimhen’s consistency. Before joining Galatasaray, he won the Serie A title with Napoli and finished as the division’s leading scorer. Havertz, by contrast, has not exceeded 13 league goals in a Premier League season since moving to England.

Havertz is a 27-year-old German centre-forward at Arsenal, having joined from Chelsea in the 2023-24 season for €75 million. His ranking above Osimhen contrasts with the Nigerian’s record over the last four seasons, which includes a league title in Italy and prolific Champions League campaigns.