Super Eagles and Galatasaray forward Victor Osimhen has been crowned the Gentlemen Quarterly (GQ) Sportsman of the Year in Turkey.
The 26-year-old striker received the honour at a black-tie ceremony in Istanbul on Wednesday. The annual awards, organised by the Turkish edition of GQ Magazine, recognise outstanding achievers in sports, music, film, fashion, and other creative industries.
Since arriving in Turkey, Osimhen has quickly become a fan favourite among Galatasaray supporters, playing a key role in the club’s recent domestic dominance. In his debut campaign, he scored an astonishing 37 goals and registered seven assists in 41 appearances—numbers that helped Galatasaray clinch both the Super Lig and the Turkish Cup.
His brilliance last season also prompted Galatasaray to break the Turkish transfer record, paying €75 million to sign him permanently from Napoli.
Despite battling injuries this season, Osimhen has maintained his scoring touch, netting 11 goals in 14 matches across all competitions. His form carried into international duty as well; he scored twice against Gabon during the World Cup play-off semi-final before an untimely injury sidelined him ahead of the decisive clash with DR Congo, a match that ended Nigeria’s World Cup hopes in a penalty shootout.
Osimhen is now expected to lead the Super Eagles’ frontline as they chase a fourth continental title at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, scheduled from December 21 to January 18, 2026.
In his acceptance speech, Osimhen expressed heartfelt appreciation:
“I want to say a big thank you to GQ. Can’t forget my Galatasaray family. This means so much to my family and me. 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 ceremony also honoured leading figures across Turkey’s entertainment and creative sectors. Actor Aras Aydın was named International Achiever of the Year, actress Sinem Ünsal won Woman of the Year, British-Turkish singer Edis received the Music Person of the Year award, and Bahtiyar Büyükduman was recognised as Chef of the Year.
In total, 11 awards were presented, celebrating excellence across multiple industries in Turkey.