“Lewandowski is getting older” – Belgium great reveals what Osimhen must do to reach next level

Former Belgium star Dries Mertens has hailed Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen as one of the top three strikers in the world, suggesting that the Galatasaray frontman has already stepped into the space left by veterans like Robert Lewandowski and Karim Benzema, Footynaija.com reports.

Mertens, who spent nearly a decade at Napoli, played alongside Osimhen in Italy before leaving the club in 2022. The Belgian midfielder moved to Galatasaray and was instrumental in helping the Turkish giants secure back-to-back Super Lig titles in 2023 and 2024.

The two are now reunited in Istanbul where Osimhen has wasted no time adapting, netting 28 goals across all competitions and propelling Galatasaray to the brink of another domestic title as well as a Turkish Cup semi-final.

Appearing on the Mikel Obi Podcast, Mertens — Napoli’s all-time leading goalscorer — spoke glowingly about his Galatasaray teammate.

“Osimhen’s a fantastic player,” Mertens said. “He’s a top striker. And I think in this moment you have not many strikers like him around because Lewandowski is getting older and Benzema is not in Europe anymore. Victor is one of the top three strikers in the world in this moment. And we are lucky that he’s playing with us.”

“Victor Osimhen is one of the top 3 strikers in the world in this moment…”

– Dries Mertens pic.twitter.com/QOUlW7SqMp

— @ (@OneJoblessBoy) April 10, 2025

Now neighbours in Istanbul, Mertens and Osimhen have formed a close bond off the pitch, with their families sharing a tight-knit friendship.

“The guy’s just a fantastic person. I really like him. We have good contact and that’s why I was so glad that he’s come here (Galatasaray). I know what he can do for a team and I know what he can achieve so I’m lucky that he’s playing with us,” Mertens added.

The former Belgium international, who earned 109 caps and scored 21 goals before retiring in 2022, was a key figure for his country at three FIFA World Cups (2014, 2018, 2022) and two European Championships (2016, 2020), helping Belgium finish third in Russia in 2018. He was also named Belgian Footballer of the Year in 2016.

Asked where Osimhen can still improve, Mertens pointed to the need for a more relentless goalscoring instinct, while also highlighting the Nigerian’s tactical contribution to the team.

“He needs the hunger to score every minute, not every game, but every ten minutes like after one (goal), you have to go for two,” Mertens noted.

“I think he needs to take more of the balls home. He needs to push himself even more. But you know what he does also, he makes a lot of space for other players because the run that he makes, it opens a lot of space for other players. So he makes it more easy for me and for players around him. So that’s also something.”

Osimhen, Mertens and Galatasaray will return to league action on Friday, April 11, as they take on Samsunspor inside the Samsun Yeni 19 Mayıs Stadyumu in Samsun.