Victor Osimhen added a prestigious personal accolade to his collection, securing the GQ Turkey Sportsman of the Year award at a black-tie gala in Istanbul on Wednesday. The 26-year-old Nigerian striker, now a talismanic figure for Galatasaray, was honored for a breathtaking debut season that propelled the club to a domestic double.
GQ Turkey, the local edition of the global style and culture authority, presents these awards annually to luminaries across sports, entertainment, and business. Osimhen’s selection was fueled by a phenomenal 2024/25 loan campaign from Napoli, where his 37 goals and seven assists in 41 appearances were instrumental in clinching both the Süper Lig title and the Turkish Cup. His immediate impact prompted Galatasaray to shatter their transfer record, securing him permanently for €75 million.
Despite navigating injuries in the current 2025/26 season, Osimhen’s potency remains undimmed, with 11 goals in his first 14 matches. His influence extends to the international stage, where he shouldered Nigeria’s World Cup qualifying hopes. Returning from an initial absence to score six times in five games, he dragged the Super Eagles to the inter-confederation play-offs. There, he netted a semi-final brace against Gabon before an injury forced him off in a heartbreaking penalty shootout loss to DR Congo, which ended Nigeria’s hopes of reaching the 2026 finals.
All attention now turns to Osimhen’s leadership at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, commencing December 21, as Nigeria pursues a fourth continental crown.
At the awards ceremony, Osimhen delivered a gracious acceptance speech. “I want to say a big thank you to GQ. I can’t forget my Galatasaray family. This means so much to my family and me,” he stated. “I appreciate everyone who has supported me up to this hour. I will continue to do my best for my family, for Galatasaray, and for the fans all over the world.”
The evening also celebrated other notable figures, including actor Aras Aydın (International Achiever of the Year), actress Sinem Ünsal (Woman of the Year), singer Edis (Music Person of the Year), and chef Bahtiyar Büyükduman (Chef of the Year), alongside eleven other awards honoring Turkey’s creative and entrepreneurial leaders.
Osimhen’s path from the streets of Lagos to Turkish iconography has been marked by determination. After early moves to Wolfsburg and formative spells at Charleroi and Lille, he exploded onto the world stage at Napoli, winning the Serie A title and the Capocannoniere award as top scorer in 2022/23. His move to Galatasaray, following a period of tension in Naples, has blossomed into a perfect fit, with the striker breaking records and cementing his legacy.
The GQ Turkey Sportsman of the Year award encapsulates a year of stark contrasts for Osimhen—marked by World Cup qualifying despair, club triumph, and now individual recognition. As Nigeria’s proud standard-bearer on the global stage, he stands ready to lead the Super Eagles’ charge in Morocco, aiming to transform personal glory into national celebration.
