Volkan Demirel calls Victor Osimhen best striker in Turkish Super Lig history

Sports commentator Volkan Demirel has rated Galatasaray’s Victor Osimhen as the best striker in the history of the Turkish Super Lig. Demirel made the comment following Galatasaray’s 4-1 Champions League loss to Barcelona on October 15, 2026. He said Osimhen is on a whole different level, ahead of former Turkish Super Lig stars such as Nicolas Anelka (Fenerbahçe, 2005‑06), Niang, Gomis, Sørloth and Mario Gomez.

Demirel told Sami Yen Gündem: "After this, a man of this caliber won’t come along either. Of course, many huge stars have passed through these parts before; names like Anelka, Niang, Gomis, Sørloth, and Mario Gomez set foot in this country, but Osimhen is definitely on a whole different level, a very separate tier." He added that Osimhen has been doing brilliantly for Galatasaray since joining the club from Napoli in the past.

For Nigerian fans, the praise affirms Osimhen’s elite status and highlights the growing impact of African players in top European leagues. It also raises questions about whether such recognition will inspire more young talents to aim for overseas clubs or encourage greater investment in domestic football development.

Will Osimhen’s benchmark motivate more Nigerians to pursue careers in Europe’s top leagues, or should focus shift to strengthening local talent pipelines and leagues?

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/10/15/osimhen-rated-best-striker-in-history-of-turkish-super-lig/