Victor Osimhen has been named Footballer of the Year at the 72nd Milliyet Sports Awards in Turkey, a prestigious event often described as the "Oscars of sports" in the country. The Nigerian striker received the honour following a dominant season with Galatasaray, where he helped secure a historic domestic double by winning both the Süper Lig and the Turkish Cup. Osimhen scored 37 goals and recorded seven assists across all competitions, including 26 goals and four assists in 30 league matches.
His performances also included seven goals in the UEFA Europa League and five in the Turkish Cup. At the ceremony, the 27-year-old dedicated the award to his club, teammates, coach, president, and fans, saying, "Thank you for the award. Using this opportunity, I would like to thank my club, Galatasaray, my fans, my teammates, my president, and my coach. I hope to return soon." Osimhen is the first Nigerian to win the award in its 72-year history.
This season, he has maintained his form with 19 goals and seven assists in 29 appearances across competitions, remaining a key figure in Galatasaray's attack.
Osimhen winning Turkey's top football honour as the first Nigerian underscores how far individual excellence can travel when talent meets opportunity. His 37-goal season and central role in Galatasaray's double show what sustained performance at the highest level looks like. For Nigerian fans, it reinforces that homegrown talent can dominate globally — even if the domestic league offers little platform. This award won't fix local football, but it reminds everyone what's possible when players like Osimhen are given the stage.
