Victor Osimhen carved his name deeper into Nigerian football history on Tuesday night, becoming the first Nigerian to hit double figures in the UEFA Champions League.
The Super Eagles striker struck the decisive goal in Galatasaray’s 1-0 victory over Liverpool in Istanbul, calmly converting a first-half penalty to take his tally in the competition to 10 goals.
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The spot-kick came after Barış Alper Yılmaz was brought down in the box, with Osimhen sending Alisson Becker the wrong way to ignite celebrations at the Türk Telekom Stadium.
The landmark strike not only secured Galatasaray’s first three points of the 2025/26 campaign but also saw Osimhen overtake Obafemi Martins to become Nigeria’s all-time leading scorer in Europe’s premier club competition.
Martins had scored nine goals across stints with Inter Milan, Wolfsburg, and Rubin Kazan.
Although Osimhen’s evening was cut short in the 66th minute after overstretching a knee muscle, his impact had already been sealed. Remarkably, the 25-year-old was only just returning from a knee injury sustained on international duty, yet he rose to the occasion in trademark fashion.
The goal also underlined Osimhen’s unique place in Nigerian football folklore.
He is now the first Nigerian to score for three different clubs in the Champions League, having previously found the net with Lille and Napoli before opening his account with Galatasaray.
For Nigerian fans, the night carried a sense of pride, as few of the country’s players have left such a consistent mark on Europe’s biggest stage.
Osimhen’s exploits reaffirm his reputation as one of Africa’s deadliest modern strikers.
Liverpool, who dominated possession but struggled with defensive lapses, saw their best chance fall to Cody Gakpo in the first half.
Ultimately, Osimhen’s decisive strike and Galatasaray’s relentless energy proved enough to topple the Premier League giants.
It was a night where history, ambition, and national pride came together under the bright lights of Istanbul.
