Nigeria and Napoli superb striker, Victor Osimhen broke Cristiano Ronaldo’s four years record to become Serie A’s jump-king.
This feat was achieved after the 24-year-old Super Eagles’ forward leaped 2.58 meters during Napoli’s stunning 3-0 away victory against Spezia on Sunday, February 5.
The in-form Napoli striker attained this height when scoring his first goal; the second goal of the day against the host club at the Stadio Alberto Picco.
The Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen has scored many incredible headers during his career, but his dramatic goal against Spezia evolved as the most extraordinary, setting Ronaldo’s record aside.
Presumably, Osimhen’s high nodding could go down as a contender for the greatest headed goal in football history.
The 24-year-old striker netted a brace against Spezia at the weekend to lead the Neapolitans to their 18th Serie A League victory.
The rival teams brawled for the first 45 minutes goallessly before Khvicha Kvaratskhelia gave the Neapolitans the lead after converting from the penalty spot in the 47th minute of the second half.
The Nigeria International Osimhen then added the game’s second goal for Luciano Spalletti’s side in the 68th minute with a remarkable effort.
A loose ball flung into space inside a dangerous spot with the Spezia goalkeeper Bartłomiej Drągowski in the appropriate position to parry it off the air.
But the swift Osimhen somehow managed to lift himself above the Spezia goalkeeper and headed the ball into an empty net.
In the leap, the 24-year-old produced a massive 71cm jump and reached a height of 8.47ft (2.58m); a margin higher than the crossbar (8ft), before heading past Spezia goalkeeper Bartłomiej Drągowski.
Corriere dello Sport described Victor Osimhen’s high jump as a mark typical of elite NBA stars as the Super Eagles’ striker climbed to a height of 2.58 meters.
And following the leap, Osimhen has set a new Italian Serie A record, wiping off the previous 2.56-meter mark previously laid by the Portuguese star Ronaldo for Juventus against Sampdoria in 2019.
It also serves as a new personal career growth for the Super Eagles’ striker Osimhen whose previous mark was at 2.52m set against Torino at the Diego Maradona Stadium last season.
Meanwhile, the world record of 2.62m that was set by Ugandan defender Bevis Mugabi in the Scottish Championship in January 2021 remains unscathed.
The 26-year-old Ugandan defender jumped an inch higher at 8ft 6in off the ground to score in the Scottish Premiership match at Ross County in 2021 to break Cristiano Ronaldo’s record of 8ft 5in set while playing for Juventus against Sampdoria in the 2019 season.
Victor Osimhen has now scored 16 Serie A goals so far since this season began, being the most he has ever managed in a single season in his career.
