Nigeria’s finest scorers have made a lasting impact in UEFA competitions, carving their names into European football history through unforgettable goals, record-breaking performances and club triumphs.
From the UEFA Champions League to the Europa League and now-defunct tournaments, stars from Africa’s most populous nation have consistently shown their quality on some of the world’s biggest stages.
Across decades, Nigerian players have become key figures for clubs across Europe, scoring decisive goals, lifting trophies and building loyal fan followings. Their legacy includes unforgettable strikes, personal accolades and records that continue to highlight the country’s influence on elite football.
Below is a ranking of the 10 highest-scoring Nigerians in UEFA club competitions, listed from highest to lowest.
1) Victor Osimhen – 25 goals in 35 appearances
Often regarded among the best strikers in modern football, Osimhen has excelled in the UEFA Champions League with Napoli and Lille, as well as the Europa League with the French side. Now featuring for Galatasaray in the Europa League, the 2023 CAF Player of the Year has scored against top clubs including Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Ajax.
2) Obafemi Martins – 23 goals in 64 appearances
Known for his blistering pace and trademark somersault celebration, Martins represents Nigeria’s most traveled European forward. He found the net for Inter Milan, Newcastle United, Wolfsburg, Rubin Kazan and Levante across the Champions League, Europa League and qualifiers.
3) Victor Boniface – 19 goals in 35 appearances
Boniface has quickly emerged as one of the continent’s deadliest young forwards. He won the UEFA Europa League Golden Boot in the 2022/23 season with Union Saint-Gilloise and later marked his Champions League debut with Bayer Leverkusen with a goal. The Conference League remains the only UEFA competition where he has yet to score.
4) Cyriel Dessers – 19 goals in 52 appearances
Dessers rose to prominence after winning the first-ever UEFA Europa Conference League Golden Boot in 2021/22. He has featured for Rangers, Feyenoord, Genk and Utrecht, and while he is yet to debut in the Champions League proper, he has made appearances in qualifying rounds.
5) Shola Ameobi – 15 goals in 51 appearances
Ameobi was a European mainstay with Newcastle United, appearing in the Champions League qualifiers, the UEFA Cup (later Europa League) and the now-defunct Intertoto Cup. Though not the most prolific, his consistency earned him a notable place in Nigerian history.
6) Victor Ikpeba – 15 goals in 40 appearances
Nicknamed the “Prince of Monaco,” Ikpeba was a prominent figure throughout the 1990s. The 1997 African Footballer of the Year scored in the Champions League, the now-retired Cup Winners’ Cup and the UEFA Cup during spells with RFC Liège, AS Monaco and Borussia Dortmund.
7) Jay-Jay Okocha – 13 goals in 52 appearances
Celebrated for his flair and showmanship, Okocha scored in multiple European competitions including the Intertoto Cup, Cup Winners’ Cup and Champions League. He starred for Frankfurt, Fenerbahçe, PSG and Bolton, contributing goals alongside countless memorable assists.
8) Yakubu Aiyegbeni – 13 goals in 42 appearances
Despite his infamous 2010 World Cup miss, Yakubu remains one of Nigeria’s most productive European goal scorers. He delivered for clubs such as Maccabi Haifa, Middlesbrough and Everton in the Champions League and Europa League.
9) Michael Obiku – 12 goals in 26 appearances
Obiku boasts the best goals-per-game ratio on the list. Representing Feyenoord, APOEL and Anorthosis Famagusta, he scored in the Cup Winners’ Cup, UEFA Cup and Champions League qualifiers, cementing his status as a lethal finisher.
10) Paul Onuachu – 12 goals in 42 appearances
Before joining Southampton, Onuachu impressed with Midtjylland and Genk, scoring in Champions League and Europa League qualifiers and main tournaments. His height and aerial dominance made him a persistent threat in European football.
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