Napoli star Victor Osimhen has never hidden his admiration for football legends. In a recent interview, the Nigerian forward recalled a touching experience from 2021, when he waited an entire hour after a match against Juventus just to take a selfie with Cristiano Ronaldo.

A true fan of football greats

“I used to tell my friends: the day I play against Ronaldo, Messi, or Neymar these are legends, people I love so much I’m going to take a picture with them. I don’t care, even if we lose 10–0!” Osimhen said during an interview with Daddy Freeze.

And he meant it. After facing Ronaldo during a Serie A clash between Napoli and Juventus, Osimhen approached the Portuguese icon. “I said, ‘Cris, I’d love to take a picture with you.’ He replied, ‘Yes, come to the dressing room,’” he recalled.

A long wait for a lifelong memory

It wasn’t that easy, though. Osimhen shared that legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon came over to ask what he needed. Upon learning his request, Buffon told him that Ronaldo was still working out in the gym. “He told me to sit with him. We chatted for a while, maybe 30 minutes… and Ronaldo was still exercising. In the end, I waited an hour,” Osimhen said.

When the moment finally arrived, Osimhen was in awe. “Just look at his physique, the muscles, the veins… you’d think he was 25 years old,” he exclaimed. “He shook my hand and said, ‘Great game, keep going.’ He truly has an incredible personality.”

Mutual admiration among football elite

At 40 years old, Cristiano Ronaldo continues to perform at a top level with Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League and recently captained Portugal to a UEFA Nations League title. Osimhen, meanwhile, has turned down offers from the Middle East and is hoping for a move to a European giant with Manchester United reportedly among the frontrunners.

Osimhen story is a powerful reminder that admiration exists even among the game stars. Ronaldo remains a global icon not just to fans, but to fellow players on the pitch.