Boniface hits milestone on Instagram but faces heartache in love

• The Super Eagles forward ended his four-year relationship with Norwegian influencer Rikke Hermine Jensen, hits new social media milestone
• Boniface’s Instagram following soared following his move to Bayer Leverkusen, where his humorous posts earned him the title “King of Memes”
• Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso hinted at Boniface’s possible return to action next week after being sidelined for two months

Super Eagles forward Victor Boniface is experiencing a bittersweet start to the year, celebrating a significant milestone on Instagram while dealing with the end of his four-year relationship with Norwegian influencer Rikke Hermine Jensen.

Boniface recently broke into the exclusive “1 million followers” club on Instagram, joining an elite list of Nigerian footballers with a massive social media presence. The Bayer Leverkusen striker's engaging posts and sense of humour have endeared him to fans, earning him the nickname “King of Memes” in Nigerian football circles.

Boniface’s Instagram growth has been meteoric since his move to Bayer Leverkusen from Union St. Gilloise last summer. 

The Bundesliga move elevated his football career and enhanced his social media reach, making him very popular among fans. He now ranks alongside prominent Nigerian footballers such as Victor Osimhen and Henry Onyekuru, who lead with 5.7 million followers each.

However, Boniface's personal life has taken a hit as he and Jensen officially ended their relationship. The couple’s breakup became evident after they unfollowed each other on social media, with Jensen removing almost all her Instagram posts.

Their last public appearance together was in May during Bayer Leverkusen’s historic Bundesliga title celebrations. The couple shared a heartfelt moment, posing for photos with their families, a scene that now feels like a poignant farewell.

According to Pulse Sports, a source close to Jensen revealed that the relationship had been on the rocks for months, 

“Yes, they were apart for Christmas, and he seemed to have a lot of fun without her. She also stopped attending his games this season. Now, they are officially done,” the source confirmed.

Despite the personal setback, Boniface’s professional life remains on an upward trajectory. The 24-year-old is on the verge of returning to action after a two-month absence due to a thigh muscle injury. Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso recently confirmed that Boniface might make his comeback as early as next week.

Before his injury in November, Boniface had been in scintillating form, scoring eight goals in 15 matches across all competitions. His return is expected to bolster Bayer Leverkusen’s title chase, as they currently sit second in the Bundesliga, trailing Bayern Munich by four points.

Few days after announcing N2m giveaway for fans, Boniface gets fined N44m

Previously, TheRadar reported that Super Eagles and Bayer Leverkusen striker, Victor Boniface, had been hit with a one-match suspension and a $25,000 fine following an incident of unsportsmanlike conduct during last week’s Super Cup match against VfB Stuttgart. 

The German Football Association (DFB) decided after Boniface was accused of making an obscene gesture toward Stuttgart players in the post-match celebrations. The timing of the suspension comes just four days after Boniface announced plans for a social media giveaway for his fans on X app, formerly Twitter.