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Harambee Stars captain Michael Olunga ended the year with more goals than Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi and African Player of the Year Victor Osimhen
Harambee Stars captain Michael Olunga outscored both Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi and African Player of the Year Victor Osimhen in the year 2023.
While Cristiano Ronaldo has hogged the limelight for ending the year as the most prolific scorer with 54 goals, the 2023 statics show that the Kenyan international also had a good year in front of goal, having bagged 35 for club and country.
Olunga, who ended the season as the Golden Boot winner in the Qatar Stars League after leading Al Duhail to the title, managed 20 goals for his club in the second part of 2022-23 campaign before closing the year with 12 more in the new season.
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12:00 - 29.12.2023
STARS ABROAD Al Duhail's struggles persist in Michael Olunga’s absence with embarrassing cup exit
Al Duhail’s woes continued in the absence of injured Michael Olunga as they were bundled out of the Qatari Stars Cup in embarrassing manner on Thursday.
Three more goals arrived in Harambee Stars colours, being his strike in their 2-1 loss to Iran in March and his brace as Kenya thrashed Seychelles 5-0 in their 2026 World Cup qualifier in November.
His 35 goals saw him finish the year ahead of Nigeria’s Osimhen, who managed 34, in a year when he led Serie A side Napoli to the title.
Meanwhile, Argentina captain Messi, who claimed a record-extending eight Ballon d’Or, could not even make it to the top 50 top scorers in 2023, having managed 28 goals in 44 appearances for club and country.
Messi, who started the year with French giants Paris Saint-Germain, ended it at MSL side Inter Miami in what was one of his lowest scoring calendar years since his incredible tally of 91 goals in 69 games in 2012.
Olunga, meanwhile, would have scored more were it not for some poor finishing and injury.
The former Gor Mahia striker wasted several opportunities in the national team especially in games against Qatar, Russia and Seychelles which would have pushed his tally closer to or beyond 40.
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He also missed five games in December, having suffered a hamstring injury early that month, which would have given him an opportunity to increase his tally.
Just to show how badly he has been missed, Al Duhail have failed to win all their five matches since his injury, losing the last four, with the other one ending in a draw.
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