The Nigeria international has been crowned the best footballer in Turkey at the 72nd Milliyet Sports Awards, capping off a record-breaking campaign that brought Galatasaray a domestic double.
Victor Osimhen has been named Footballer of the Year at Turkey’s 72nd Annual Milliyet Sports Awards, one of the most prestigious sporting honours in the country. The recognition caps a season in which the Nigerian striker was virtually unstoppable, finishing with 26 goals and four assists in 30 Super Lig appearances as Galatasaray swept to a domestic double.
The Milliyet awards have a history stretching back more than seven decades, and Osimhen joins a distinguished list of players to have taken the top individual prize. Nigerian fans keen to follow his campaign ahead of the June friendlies can check out the Bet9ja’s YOHAIG welcome bonus before the next round of Super Lig fixtures.
Beyond the league, Osimhen made a big impact in Europe and the cup. He scored seven times in the UEFA Europa League and added five more in the Turkish Cup, taking his tally across all competitions to a remarkable 38 goal contributions in a single season.
A Season That Demanded Recognition
Galatasaray’s double was built largely on Osimhen’s output. When the team needed a goal, the Super Eagles striker delivered with consistency that no Turkish side could contain. His combination of raw pace, aerial threat, and intelligent movement made him a nightmare for defenders across the Super Lig all season long.
This season has started in similar fashion. Before picking up an arm injury, Osimhen had recorded 19 goals and seven assists in 29 appearances across all competitions for Galatasaray. The numbers tell the story of a player whose form transcends leagues and continents. New Bet9ja users can find details of the Bet9ja bonus code to get started before Galatasaray’s next big match.
He is currently recuperating from that arm injury, but the expectation is that he will return before the season ends. Galatasaray, who are fighting for more silverware this term, will be hoping that return comes sooner rather than later.
What the Award Means for Nigerian Football
There was a time when Victor Osimhen’s name was mentioned alongside a potential Ballon d’Or campaign. His move to Galatasaray on loan from Napoli last year shifted the conversation, but nights like this remind Nigerian football fans that the 27-year-old is still operating at the very top end of global striking talent.
The Milliyet award isn’t a consolation prize. It’s a serious honour in one of the world’s most watched leagues, voted on by respected Turkish sports journalists. Winning it, and doing so by the dominant margin Osimhen’s numbers suggest, is a statement. As Nigeria prepares for June friendlies against Poland and Portugal, getting this version of Osimhen fully fit and firing again is exactly what the Super Eagles need. Supporters planning to bet on the friendlies can grab the Bet9ja sign-up offer before kick-off in June.
The Permanent Transfer Question Lingers
Osimhen remains on loan from Napoli, and the question of a permanent transfer to Galatasaray or a move to another top European club will dominate transfer discussions this summer. His performances in Turkey have done nothing to reduce the interest from clubs across Europe. Whatever happens with his club future, his legacy in Istanbul is already cemented by this award and by what he helped the Yellow and Reds achieve.
📌 Did You Know?
- The Milliyet newspaper, which organises these annual sports awards, is one of Turkey’s oldest and most widely read publications, founded in 1950, giving the awards genuine institutional prestige in Turkish sporting culture.
- Osimhen’s 26 league goals last season made him Galatasaray’s single-season top scorer in the Super Lig era, surpassing records set by celebrated strikers who played for the club in previous decades.
- Before joining Napoli, Osimhen played for Wolfsburg, Charleroi (on loan), and Lille, where his performances earned him the move to Serie A. His career path from Nigerian youth football to European top leagues has been remarkably linear for a striker of his age.
- Victor Osimhen grew up in Lagos and was scouted after performing at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in 2015, where Nigeria won the tournament and Osimhen finished as the competition’s top scorer with ten goals in six games.
- Galatasaray have a storied history with high-profile African footballers, but no player has matched Osimhen’s goal return in a single season, placing him in truly exclusive company in the club’s history.
- The UEFA Europa League goals Osimhen scored last season came against some of Europe’s established second-tier teams, proving his quality is not limited to domestic competition and reinforcing his reputation as a big-game player.
- Osimhen’s ongoing arm injury is separate from the facial fractures he suffered at Napoli in 2021, which required a protective mask during his recovery. His career has shown repeated ability to return from setbacks stronger than before.
