Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen etched his name into the record books on Wednesday night, November 5, 2025, after leading Galatasaray to a dominant 3-0 victory over Ajax in Amsterdam.

The Super Eagles forward became the first Nigerian player to score 25 goals in European competitions and the second Nigerian ever to net a hat-trick in the UEFA Champions League, joining Yakubu Ayegbeni, who achieved the feat for Maccabi Haifa in 2002.

Osimhen, 26, delivered a breathtaking performance at the Johan Cruijff Arena, scoring twice from the penalty spot and once from open play to seal an unforgettable night for the Turkish giants.

After a closely contested first half, Osimhen opened the scoring in the 59th minute with a towering header past goalkeeper Remko Pasveer. He doubled the lead seven minutes later from the spot after a VAR review confirmed a handball, before completing his hat-trick in the 78th minute with another confidently taken penalty.

The hat-trick marked Galatasaray’s first in the Champions League since Burak Yilmaz’s treble against Cluj in 2012, and cemented Osimhen’s status as Nigeria’s all-time top scorer in UEFA competitions, surpassing Obafemi Martins.

With 25 European goals—including 15 in the Champions League, the most ever by a Nigerian—Osimhen continues to rewrite records. His latest feat also earned him his third consecutive UEFA Champions League Man of the Match award this season.

Currently boasting 12 goals in eight European appearances, Osimhen is now just three games away from matching Cristiano Ronaldo’s record for scoring in consecutive European fixtures.

His prolific form has made him the driving force behind Galatasaray’s resurgence, as the club closes in on its first Champions League knockout stage appearance in over a decade.