Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen has been crowned Footballer of the Year at the 72nd Annual Milliyet Sports Awards, one of Turkey’s most prestigious sporting honours.
The award highlights Osimhen’s outstanding contribution to Galatasaray’s remarkable domestic double last season. The 27-year-old forward delivered an impressive performance, scoring 37 goals and providing seven assists as the club dominated both the Süper Lig and the Turkish Cup.
The ceremony, held on Thursday night and widely regarded as the “Oscars of sports” in Turkey, saw Osimhen make history as the first Nigerian to win the award. He also became just the fifth foreign player to receive the honour, joining notable names like Alex de Souza, Fernando Muslera, Enner Valencia, and Mauro Icardi.
Since completing his move from Napoli to Galatasaray, Osimhen has significantly strengthened the team’s attack, quickly winning over fans in Istanbul. Across all competitions, he has recorded 56 goals and 12 assists in 70 appearances.
His brilliance last season also earned him the Süper Lig Player of the Season award and Galatasaray’s Player of the Season. Additionally, his stunning bicycle kick against Antalyaspor was voted Goal of the Season.
Osimhen further etched his name in the club’s history books by becoming the fastest player to reach 50 goals for Galatasaray, achieving the feat in just 59 matches. He also made history as the first Nigerian to score 10 career goals in the UEFA Champions League.
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