Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has been named the 2026 Milliyet Footballer of the Year, capping an outstanding spell in Turkish football.
The prestigious Milliyet Sports Awards, regarded as one of the oldest and most respected sporting honours in Turkey, saw Osimhen emerge as the first Nigerian to claim the prize.
The Galatasaray forward also becomes only the fifth foreign player to win the award, joining the likes of Alex de Souza, Fernando Muslera, Enner Valencia and Mauro Icardi.
Since joining Galatasaray, Osimhen has played a pivotal role in revitalising the club’s attack, quickly establishing himself as a key figure and fan favourite.
His influence was particularly evident during the 2024/25 season, when he led the Istanbul giants to a domestic double, winning both the Turkish Süper Lig title and the Turkish Cup.
The 27-year-old recorded an impressive 37 goals and seven assists in 41 appearances across all competitions that season, underlining his status as one of Europe’s most prolific forwards.
He also finished as the league’s top scorer with 26 goals, becoming the first Nigerian to win the Süper Lig Golden Boot.
In the process, Osimhen surpassed a long-standing record held by Mário Jardel for the highest number of goals scored by a foreign player in a single Turkish season.
His stellar performances have continued to attract widespread recognition. In December 2025, he was named Sportsman of the Year at the GQ Türkiye Men of the Year Awards, another milestone that highlighted his growing influence in Turkish football.
Osimhen also scooped the Süper Lig Player of the Season award and was voted Galatasaray’s Player of the Season, reflecting his consistency and impact at both club and league levels.
One of the defining moments of his campaign was a stunning bicycle-kick goal against Antalyaspor, which was later adjudged Goal of the Season.
