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By Oscar Okhifo
Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen has secured the Footballer of the Year prize at the 72nd Milliyet Sports Awards held on April 5, 2026, at Istabul Turkey, becoming the first Nigerian to claim the prestigious honour.
The Galatasaray striker did not attend the ceremony, with teammate Uğurcan Çakır stepping in to receive the award on his behalf.
In a recorded message, Osimhen said: “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 while receiving the award, Çakır praised Osimhen’s impact, describing him as both an exceptional player and a good person, while adding that he hopes to win the prize himself in the future.
With the achievement, Osimhen becomes the first Nigerian and only the fifth foreign player to win the award, joining past winners such as Alex de Souza and Mauro Icardi.
The award caps a brilliant 2025 campaign for Victor Osimhen, who was instrumental in Galatasaray’s domestic double triumph, lifting both the league and cup titles while registering 37 goals and eight assists across all competitions to underline his elite form.