Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen has been named the winner of the 72nd edition of the Milliyet Sports Awards, claiming the Footballer of the Year honor, one of the most respected accolades in Turkish football.
Osimhen was not present at the ceremony, and the award was received on his behalf by Galatasaray teammate, Uğurcan Çakır.
In a recorded acceptance message, Osimhen expressed his gratitude:
“Hi everyone, this is Victor Osimhen. I just want to say thank you to the jury and public that voted me for the award. I really appreciate you guys. Thank you so much for the recognition. I also want to use the opportunity to say a big thank you to my club Galatasaray, the fans, most especially my teammates, the President and the coach. Thank you so much for your support and hopefully I come back soon and continue to go forward. Thank you very much.”
Speaking on the podium, Çakır praised his teammate:
“Osimhen is a valuable footballer, a good person. Next year, I’ll try to win this award myself.”
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With this achievement, Osimhen becomes the first Nigerian and only the fifth foreign player to win the award, joining the ranks of notable winners such as Alex de Souza and Mauro Icardi.
Osimhen won the award after playing a key role for Galatasaray in the 2025 season leading the club to a domestic double winning both the league and cup.
Victor Osimhen delivered an outstanding individual performance, scoring 37 goals and providing 8 assists across all competitions.
