Victor Osimhen has cemented his status as the dominant striker in Turkish football, drawing lavish praise from former Besiktas director of football Onder Ozen, who called him the best in the region following Galatasaray’s 1-0 Istanbul derby victory over their fierce rivals on Saturday.

Osimhen was the difference-maker once again, rising to head home the only goal just after the half-hour mark — a moment that encapsulated everything that makes him so difficult to contain. It was not just the finish that impressed. Throughout the match, he relentlessly pressed, disrupted Besiktas’ build-up play, and severed the defensive-to-midfield connections that the home side had carefully constructed.

Speaking on the Neo Spor YouTube channel, Ozen was unequivocal. Starting his assessment from European football’s epicentre, he declared: “Let us begin from Bavaria and move to our region — Osimhen is the greatest striker in this area.” He credited the Nigerian with threatening the Besiktas goal while simultaneously choking their rhythm out of possession, a dual contribution that underlined why Galatasaray regard him as irreplaceable.

The derby goal was no isolated moment of brilliance. Osimhen has now registered either a goal or an assist in each of his last eight Super Lig matches — a run that equals the best goal involvement streak of his career, first achieved during his Napoli days in 2023. The former African Footballer of the Year has been a relentless presence, combining physical menace with intelligent movement to dismantle opposition defences week after week.

His influence extends beyond the domestic stage. Osimhen had netted seven Champions League goals heading into Galatasaray’s Round of 16 tie with Liverpool — a tally that placed him in elite company, albeit behind Kylian Mbappé (13), and level with Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon and Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane (both on 8), all competing in Europe’s wealthiest leagues.