Sport Analyst
Emmanuel Afonja
Victor Osimhen made history on Wednesday night by scoring twice to break the Turkish league’s single-season goal record for foreign players, guiding Galatasaray to a commanding 3-0 victory over Trabzonspor and lifting the Turkish Cup.
Entering the final with 33 goals, Osimhen needed just two strikes to surpass the 34-goal record set by Mario Jardel during the 2000/01 season. The Nigerian striker delivered spectacularly, netting in the 46th and 63rd minutes to finish the season with 35 goals across all competitions, cementing his name in Turkish football history.
Galatasaray started strong with Baris Yilmaz opening the scoring in the 5th minute, assisted by a clever pass from Yunus Akgun. But it was Osimhen’s night to shine. His first goal came shortly after the halftime whistle—a powerful, low shot from the edge of the box that found the bottom right corner. His second was even more impressive, featuring a sharp turn inside the box followed by a curling effort into the top corner, leaving the opposition goalkeeper with no chance.
With this achievement, Osimhen has not only broken the single-season foreign goal record but also climbed Galatasaray’s all-time foreign goal scorers list, surpassing Mario Jardel’s total of 34 goals. The Nigerian striker now boasts 35 goals in just 38 appearances for the club. Only seven foreign players have scored more goals for Galatasaray, with the legendary Romanian Gheorghe Hagi still leading the charts with 72 goals.
Looking ahead, Galatasaray have the opportunity to complete a remarkable domestic double. A win over Kayserispor on Sunday would secure their 25th league title and their fourth league-and-cup double in club history—the last one being in the 1998–99 season.
Osimhen’s record-breaking season has firmly established him as one of Galatasaray’s greatest foreign players and a key figure in their resurgence as Turkey’s football powerhouse.
