Nigerian footballers have left an indelible mark on European football, delivering memorable goals, record-breaking performances, and key contributions to their clubs in UEFA competitions. From the Champions League to the Europa League and now-defunct tournaments, Nigeria’s stars have consistently proven their quality on some of the sport’s biggest stages.

Over the years, Nigerian players have been instrumental in helping clubs win trophies, score decisive goals, and earn personal accolades, creating a lasting legacy in European football.

Here’s a ranking of the 10 highest-scoring Nigerian players in UEFA club competitions, from most to least goals:

1) Victor Osimhen – 25 goals in 35 appearances
A top striker in modern football, Osimhen has excelled with Napoli in the Champions League and Lille in the Europa League. Now with Galatasaray in the Europa League, the 2023 CAF Player of the Year has scored against clubs such as Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea, and Ajax.

2) Obafemi Martins – 23 goals in 64 appearances
Known for his speed and iconic somersault celebration, Martins played across Europe for Inter Milan, Newcastle United, Wolfsburg, Rubin Kazan, and Levante, featuring in the Champions League, Europa League, and qualifiers.

3) Victor Boniface – 19 goals in 35 appearances
Boniface is one of Europe’s most promising young forwards. He won the Europa League Golden Boot in 2022/23 with Union Saint-Gilloise and scored on his Champions League debut for Bayer Leverkusen. The Conference League remains the only UEFA competition where he has yet to score.

4) Cyriel Dessers – 19 goals in 52 appearances
Dessers earned fame after winning the first Europa Conference League Golden Boot in 2021/22. He has played for Rangers, Feyenoord, Genk, and Utrecht, appearing in Champions League qualifiers but not the group stage.

5) Shola Ameobi – 15 goals in 51 appearances
Ameobi was a consistent European presence with Newcastle United, featuring in Champions League qualifiers, the UEFA Cup, and the now-defunct Intertoto Cup. His reliability secured him a notable spot in Nigerian football history.

6) Victor Ikpeba – 15 goals in 40 appearances
Nicknamed the “Prince of Monaco,” Ikpeba shone in the 1990s, scoring in the Champions League, Cup Winners’ Cup, and UEFA Cup for RFC Liège, AS Monaco, and Borussia Dortmund.

7) Jay-Jay Okocha – 13 goals in 52 appearances
Known for his flair, Okocha scored in the Intertoto Cup, Cup Winners’ Cup, and Champions League while starring for Eintracht Frankfurt, Fenerbahçe, PSG, and Bolton, delivering goals and countless memorable assists.

8) Yakubu Aiyegbeni – 13 goals in 42 appearances
Despite his famous 2010 World Cup miss, Yakubu was prolific in Europe, scoring for 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 this list. Representing Feyenoord, APOEL, and Anorthosis Famagusta, he scored in the Cup Winners’ Cup, UEFA Cup, and Champions League qualifiers.

10) Paul Onuachu – 12 goals in 42 appearances
Before joining Southampton, Onuachu impressed with Midtjylland and Genk, scoring in Champions League and Europa League matches. His height and aerial ability make him a constant threat in European competitions.

Nigerian players continue to leave their mark on Europe’s top stages, showcasing the country’s footballing talent to the world.