Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen has been named Footballer of the Year in Turkey, capping off an outstanding season with Galatasaray.
The 27-year-old forward received the prestigious honour at the 72nd Milliyet Sports Awards, widely regarded as one of the country’s biggest sporting events.
Osimhen earned the award following his key role in Galatasaray’s domestic double last season, where his remarkable 37 goals and seven assists powered the club to both the Süper Lig title and the Turkish Cup.
His achievement also made history, as he became the first Nigerian to win the award and only the fifth foreign player to be recognised, joining notable names like Alex de Souza, Fernando Muslera, Enner Valencia and Mauro Icardi.
Since completing his move from Napoli, Osimhen has been in sensational form, quickly becoming a fan favourite in Istanbul. Across all competitions, he has scored 56 goals and provided 12 assists in 70 appearances, numbers that underline his impact on the team.
Although he is currently sidelined with an arm injury, the award was received on his behalf by teammate Uğurcan Çakır, who praised his influence both on and off the pitch.
“Osimhen is a valuable player and a great person,” Çakır said, while also joking about his own ambition to win the award in the future.
In a video message played during the ceremony, Osimhen expressed appreciation to everyone who contributed to his success.
“I want to thank my club, my teammates, the fans, the president, and my coach. I look forward to returning soon,” he said.
The award adds to an already impressive list of accolades for the striker. Last season, he was also named Süper Lig Player of the Season and Galatasaray’s Player of the Season. His stunning bicycle kick against Antalyaspor was voted Goal of the Season.
Osimhen also set a new record as the fastest player in Galatasaray’s history to reach 50 goals, achieving the milestone in just 59 matches. Additionally, he became the first Nigerian to score 10 career goals in the UEFA Champions League.
With performances like these, Osimhen continues to cement his place among Europe’s elite forwards.
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