Obafemi Martins was an explosive, acrobatic striker famous for his pace, a ferocious left foot and trademark somersault celebrations. From breaking through at Inter Milan to starring for Newcastle and winning trophies across Europe, Asia and America, ‘Oba’ enjoyed a globe-trotting career while scoring regularly for Nigeria’s Super Eagles.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Obafemi Martins |
| Nationality | Nigeria |
| Date of Birth | 28 October 1984 |
| Status | Retired |
| Position | Forward |
Playing style: Pace, power and acrobatics
Martins was a thrilling, athletic forward whose blistering pace and powerful shooting made him a constant threat.
- ⚡ Pace: Lightning quick, able to run in behind any defence.
- 🦵 Powerful shot: A thunderous left foot that produced spectacular goals.
- 🤸 Acrobatics: Famous for his trademark backflip and somersault celebrations.
- 💪 Strength: Muscular and difficult to dispossess despite his speed.
- 🌍 Adaptability: Scored goals across Italy, England, Russia, the USA and China.
Career: A globe-trotting goalscorer
Martins burst onto the scene at Inter Milan before a career that spanned some of the biggest leagues in world football.
Breakthrough at Inter Milan
Martins came through in Italy and became a prolific young striker at Inter Milan, scoring regularly in Serie A and the Champions League. He won trophies with the Nerazzurri and established himself as one of Europe’s most exciting young forwards before a big-money move to England.
In 2006 he joined Newcastle United, where his pace and finishing made him a fan favourite, scoring 28 goals in three seasons in the Premier League despite the club’s struggles.
Trophies across three continents
After Newcastle, Martins played for Wolfsburg and Rubin Kazan and enjoyed a memorable loan at Birmingham City, scoring the winning goal in the 2011 League Cup final against Arsenal. He later starred in MLS for the Seattle Sounders and in China for Shanghai Shenhua.
Wherever he went, Martins scored goals and won over supporters with his explosive style and celebrations, remaining a productive forward well into the later stages of his career.
| Team (Appea.) | Goals |
|---|---|
| Inter Milan (117) | 44 |
| Newcastle United (105) | 35 |
| VfL Wolfsburg (28) | 10 |
| Seattle Sounders (72) | 40 |
International tournaments: A regular Super Eagles scorer
Martins scored 18 goals in over 40 caps for Nigeria and was a regular in attack for much of the 2000s. He featured at several Africa Cup of Nations, helping the Super Eagles to podium finishes and contributing important goals.
He represented Nigeria at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and remained a threat off the bench and in the starting line-up across a busy international career alongside strike partners such as Yakubu Aiyegbeni.
| Competition (Stage) | MP (Goal) |
|---|---|
| AFCON 2006 (Third place) | 5 (2) |
| AFCON 2008 (Fourth place) | 3 (1) |
| AFCON 2010 (Third place) | 4 (1) |
| World Cup 2010 (Group stage) | 3 (0) |
Clubs journey: Italy, England, Russia, USA and China
Martins enjoyed a truly global career across Italy, England, Germany, Russia, the USA and China, with his Inter Milan and Newcastle years the most prominent.
A trophy winner on three continents and a fan favourite everywhere he played, ‘Oba’ remains one of the most entertaining strikers Nigeria has produced.
| Years | Club |
|---|---|
| 2001–2006 | Inter Milan |
| 2006–2009 | Newcastle United |
| 2009–2010 | VfL Wolfsburg |
| 2010–2012 | Rubin Kazan |
| 2013–2015 | Seattle Sounders |
| 2016–2019 | Shanghai Shenhua |