Ahmed Musa Biography: Early Life, Career, Stats, Awards, Wife, Children & Net Worth
Ahmed Musa OON MON (born 14 October 1992) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays striker or winger for Kano Pillars in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) and the Nigeria national team.
Musa became the first Nigerian to score twice in a FIFA World Cup tournament, doing so against Argentina in 2014. Musa is also the first Nigerian to score in two FIFA World Cup games, having scored twice against Iceland in the group stage of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
He is Nigeria’s most capped player, having made 111 games since November 2021. Musa was a member of the Saudi club Al Nassr’s side that won the Saudi Premier League and the Saudi Super Cup in 2019. On Wednesday, 17th December 2025, he announced his retirement from the Nigerian national team (Super Eagles)
Ahmed Musa Biography
Ahmed Musa, now 31 years old, was born on October 14, 1992, in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria. He grew up in a middle-class home that instilled strong values of hard work and perseverance. Musa’s parents supported his passion for football from a young age, and he spent the majority of his childhood playing it with his friends and siblings.
Musa attended high school in Jos, where he was spotted by the local football team, GBS Football Academy.
He joined the club’s youth team and soon advanced, dazzling coaches and scouts with his excellent talents and quickness. Musa’s early upbringing and schooling influenced his future football career.
Career
Musa was loaned to JUTH F.C. in 2008, where he appeared in 18 games and scored four goals throughout his first two professional seasons. He was then loaned to Kano Pillars F.C. for the 2009-10 season, when he set a league record with many vital goals as Pillars finished second.
Musa held the record for the most goals scored in a single season in Nigeria Premier League history until November 2011, when Jude Aneke of Kaduna United F.C. broke the mark with 20 goals. Musa was transferred to Dutch club VVV-Venlo in the summer of 2010, but the move was delayed because he was only 17 years old and so ineligible for an ITC under current FIFA criteria. He was officially eligible to play for VVV-Venlo on October 14, 2010, when he became 18 years old.
Musa made his VVV-Venlo debut against FC Groningen on October 30, less than a week after joining the club. He started the game for VVV-Venlo, was fouled in the 50th minute, and was awarded a penalty kick.
Goal.com ranked him among the Hot 100 young football stars to watch in 2011, and Lolade Adewuyi of Goal.com named him one of the Top Ten Nigerian International Players of 2010, as well as one of the finest 140 players in the world.
On March 8, 2011, Ahmed Musa received the AIT footballer of the year award (national). The ceremony was place at the Presidential Hotel in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Ghanaian Asamoah Gyan, the BBC African Footballer of the Year, attended the occasion, as did key officials from the Nigerian Football Federation, including president Aminu Maigari.
In April, Venlo’s football director, Mario Captien, stated that representatives from Tottenham Hotspur had visited the club to discuss the player, while Ajax scout Tijani Babangida stated that Ajax was interested in Musa but that the decision would be made at the end of the season.
On May 1, 2011, Musa scored twice to defeat Feyenoord 3-2 and put an end to any lingering fears of automatic relegation from the Eredivisie.
Musa scored two goals in his first game of the 2011-12 season at home against AFC Ajax in August 2011, following his return from the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Colombia.
In September, VVV-Venlo chairman Hai Berden revealed on Eredivisie Live that the club turned down a last-minute approach of €10 million for Musa from the Bundesliga. The Bundesliga club’s identity was not released.
Musa joined with Russian club CSKA Moscow on January 7, 2012, for an unknown amount. On September 17, 2014, he scored an 82nd-minute consolation goal in a 5-1 UEFA Champions League defeat to A.S. Roma. Musa signed a new four-year contract with CSKA on June 1, 2015, which will last until the end of the 2018-19 season.
He concluded the 2015-16 Russian Premier League season as the fifth-highest scorer, becoming one of only seven players aged 23 or younger to score double figures in each of Europe’s top seven leagues over the previous two seasons.
Musa joined Leicester City on July 8, 2016, for a club record £16.6 million. He scored his first goals for the club in a friendly against Barcelona in the 2016 International Champions Cup, which ended in a 4-2 defeat. He made his Premier League debut on August 13, 2016, in the club’s 2-1 defeat to Hull City.
On October 22, 2016, he scored his first Premier League goal, the opener in a 3-1 victory over Crystal Palace. By January 2017, Musa had failed to record an assist for the club, with an average of 0.5 critical passes, 0.3 crosses, and 1.2 successful dribbles per game.
Musa returned on loan to CSKA Moscow on January 30, 2018, for the remainder of the 2017-18 season. Musa signed a permanent contract with Saudi club Al Nassr on August 4, 2018. Al Nassr announced Musa’s departure in October 2020. It was believed that Premier League team West Bromwich Albion were set to sign Musa in the January transfer window for the 2020-21 season; however, the deal fell through.
Musa returned to Nigerian side Kano Pillars on April 13, 2021, to play till the end of the 2020–21 season. On July 23, 2021, Musa signed a two-year contract with Turkish club Fatih Karagümrük. Musa mutually agreed to cancel his contract after one season.
Musa signed a two-year free transfer contract with Turkish club Sivasspor on September 2, 2022. His contract was ended by mutual agreement. Musa made his third appearance for Kano Pillars in October 2024.
International Career
He was called up to the Nigeria national football team camp in April 2010 by Coach Lars Lagerbäck ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, after helping the Nigerian squad win the 2010 WAFU Nations Cup, where he scored a goal against Benin. Musa’s goal deep into extra time against Burkina Faso propelled Nigeria to the tournament’s finals in Abeokuta. He was forced to withdraw from the Super Eagles’ 30-man World Cup team due to an ankle ailment.
Musa made his Nigeria senior team debut on September 5, 2010, at the age of 17, in a qualification match for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations against Madagascar, replacing Mikel John Obi in a 2-0 victory. Musa scored his first goal for the Super Eagles during a March 2011 friendly against Kenya.
Musa was named to the Nigeria national under-20 football team roster to compete in the 2011 African Youth Championship qualifiers, despite VVV Venlo declaring him unable due to club obligations. Following long talks between the Nigerian Federation, VVV Venlo, and Musa’s representatives, it was decided that Musa would travel between the Netherlands and South Africa to compete in the tournament with the national side.
Musa was named the most valuable player after the opening game against defending champions Ghana, and he caught the following flight back to the Netherlands. Musa played for Nigeria U20 at the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Colombia, scoring three goals in five matches. Musa was named to FIFA’s shortlist of ten finalists for the Adidas Golden Ball, which is presented to the most outstanding player of the FIFA U-20 World Cup.
Ahmed Musa was one of four nominees for the Confederation of African Football’s Most Promising Talent Award on December 7, 2011, but Souleymane Coulibaly of the Ivory Coast won.
Musa was selected to Nigeria’s 23-man team for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations. He scored in the Super Eagles’ 4-1 semi-final rout over Mali and came on as a substitute against Burkina Faso in the final, as they won their third continental title. Overall, he played in five of the team’s six matches. He started all three of his team’s matches at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, where they were eliminated in the group stage.
Musa was nominated to Stephen Keshi’s 2014 FIFA World Cup team after playing in all of Nigeria’s qualification matches. He scored two goals in the team’s final Group F encounter, a 3-2 loss to Argentina. After Vincent Enyeama retired from international football in October 2015, Nigerian coach Sunday Oliseh chose Musa as the team’s captain. This decision was reversed in 2016, when Mikel John Obi was chosen captain of the Nigerian squad, and Musa was promoted to vice captain.
In May 2018, he was included in Nigeria’s preliminary 30-man team for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. Despite his outstanding effort against Iceland, he was unable to keep the West Africans in the competition, as they were eliminated by Argentina. Musa scored twice in a 2-0 victory over Iceland in their second World Cup group game on June 22, 2018.
He became Nigeria’s third most capped player in June 2019, surpassing Nwankwo Kanu, after playing in a friendly against Zimbabwe. He was picked for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations roster by head coach Gernot Rohr. He also played for Nigeria in the 2021 and 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournaments, which were hosted in Cameroon and the Ivory Coast, respectively. Musa was an unused replacement during the 2023 AFCON, but both the coach and the players recognized his leadership position and great influence on the team. Musa gained his 101st international cap on November 13, 2021, breaking Joseph Yobo’s previous record.
On December 17, 2025, the Nigerian National Team captain announced his retirement from international football. After his retirement, Ahmed Musa holds the record for the most capped Nigerian footballer with 111 matches for the national team.
Personal Life.
Musa married Juliet Ejue on May 23 in Abuja. Musa reported his mother, Sarah Musa,’s death via Twitter on January 24, 2019. She’d previously been unwell. Musa also called on Nigerians to “join hands for peace, goals, and a brighter future.”
Musa expanded his energy investment portfolio by purchasing a second petrol station in Nigeria in October 2017. Musa opened the Ahmed Musa Neighborhood Center on February 1, 2021, at Kamazo, a Kaduna suburb in the Chikun Local Government Area.
The building, which includes a gym, football pitch, and event area, acts as a center for youth development and community participation.
Ahmed Musa Net Worth
Ahmed Musa’s net worth is estimated to be around £14.96 million, which he earned through his great football career and sponsorship deals. Musa has played for renowned clubs such as CSKA Moscow and Leicester City, as well as representing Nigeria in a number of international events.
Social Media
Instagram: @ahmedmusa718
