Victor Osimhen is the only African player to appear on Sports Pro’s 2024 list of the Top 50 Most Marketable Athletes, securing the 44th spot, ahead of Manchester City’s Erling Haaland.
The US-based publication used three key factors — brand strength, total addressable market, and economics — to compile the rankings, with Osimhen outperforming Haaland. The Nigerian striker achieved scores of 24.18 for brand strength, 26.94 for total addressable market, and 13.03 for economics, totaling 64.15 points. In comparison, Haaland earned 22.8, 17.73, and 23.49, respectively, for a total of 64.02.
American gymnast Simone Biles topped the list, while Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr. ranked second overall, with 91.52 points, making him the highest-ranked footballer.
Lionel Messi, an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, rounds out the top five with 89.67 points.
Other footballers featured in the rankings include PSG’s Neymar, Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham, Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford, and Barcelona’s rising star Lamine Yamal. Notably, Portuguese legend Cristiano Ronaldo did not make the list.
Osimhen’s impressive ranking comes despite a €35m drop in his market value in 2024, with Napoli also reducing his release clause from £113m to £63m after he was unable to secure a permanent transfer away from the club in the summer.
The 25-year-old is currently in outstanding form at Turkish powerhouse Galatasaray, where he is spending the season on loan. He recently set a new club record, registering six goal contributions in his first five league matches—a feat last accomplished by Bafetimbi Gomis in 2014.
His strong performances in Istanbul have caught the attention of several clubs, with Turkish outlet Sozcu reporting that Galatasaray are preparing a €50m offer to make his move permanent in January, though this is below his €75m release clause.
Before joining Galatasaray, the striker was linked with a move to Chelsea in August. Since arriving in Turkey, he has scored four goals and provided four assists in seven appearances.
Saudi Pro League side Al Ahly are also keeping an eye on his situation, though Osimhen has publicly affirmed his intention to stay with Galatasaray for the remainder of the season.
