Osimhen named GQ Sportsman of the Year in Turkey

Victor Osimhen (md) named GQ Sportsman of the Year. Photo: GQ

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Super Eagles and Galatasaray forward, Victor Osimhen, has been crowned the Gentlemen Quarterly Sportsman of the Year in Turkey.

The 26-year-old striker received the award at a black-tie ceremony held in Istanbul on Wednesday.

The accolade, organised annually by the Turkish edition of GQ Magazine, a leading international men’s fashion and lifestyle publication, recognises outstanding achievers across various fields, including sports, music, and film.

Since his arrival, the 26-year-old has become a beloved figure among Galatasaray supporters, playing a decisive role in the club’s domestic dominance.

In his debut campaign, Osimhen earned the honour for his remarkable contributions to Galatasaray last season, scoring 37 goals and providing seven assists in 41 appearances to help the club secure both the Super Lig and Turkish Cup titles.

His performances also prompted Galatasaray to break the Turkish transfer record of €75 million to sign him permanently from Napoli.

Despite being slowed by injuries this season, Osimhen has continued his impressive form this season, netting 11 goals in 14 matches across all competitions.

For Nigeria, the striker has remained a standout performer for the Super Eagles, even amid the disappointment of missing out on the 2026 FIFA World Cup. After sitting out the first four matches of the qualifiers, Osimhen returned to contribute six goals in five games, helping steer the team into the play-offs.

He continued to deliver in the knockout phase, scoring twice against Gabon in the semi-final. However, an untimely injury hampered his participation in the decisive final against DR Congo, where Nigeria’s World Cup hopes were dashed following a penalty shootout defeat.

Osimhen is expected to spearhead the Super Eagles’ attack as they chase a fourth continental title at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, scheduled for December 21 to January 18, 2026.

After receiving the award, Osimhen expressed gratitude to the organisers, the club, and the supporters during his speech.

“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, for the fans all over the world,” he said.

The event also celebrated other notable personalities. Turkish actor Aras Aydın was named International Achiever of the Year, while Turkish actress Sinem Ünsal received the Woman of the Year award.

British-Turkish singer-songwriter Edis was honoured as Music Person of the Year, and Bahtiyar Büyükduman was recognised as Chef of the Year.

In total, 11 other awards were presented during the ceremony, highlighting achievements across multiple industries in Turkey.

Olugbenga is a fine-grained journalist with over nine years of experience. He loves the smell of a good lead and has a penchant for finding out interesting good reports.

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