Victor Osimhen Makes History with First Champions League Hat-Trick
UEFA Champions League (UCL) 2025/2026 matchday 4 witnessed a historic moment for Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen as he scored his first hat-trick in the competition. The achievement came during an away fixture against Ajax, where Osimhen’s performance not only secured a victory for his Turkish-based club Galatasaray but also solidified his place among the elite players in European football.
This was Osimhen’s second hat-trick in less than a month, following a remarkable three-goal display in the must-win 2026 World Cup qualification match against Benin Republic. That game ended with a 4-0 win, ensuring Nigeria’s place in the playoffs. The success on the international stage set the tone for his impressive form at the club level.
In Amsterdam, Osimhen proved once again why he is considered one of the most dangerous strikers in Europe. He opened the scoring in the 59th minute with a header and later converted two penalties to complete his treble. This performance elevated him further in the annals of football history and marked a significant milestone in his career.
Osimhen made his debut in the UEFA Champions League in 2019 during a match between Lille and Chelsea. Since then, his goal tally has grown to 15, showcasing his consistent performance on the biggest stage in European football.
Six Records from Osimhen’s Unforgettable Night
- After the treble, Osimhen became the second Nigerian to score a hat-trick in the competition, following Yakubu Aiyegbeni’s feat in 2002 for Maccabi Haifa.
- He ended the drought of hat-tricks for his club, becoming the first Galatasaray player to achieve a Champions League hat-trick since Burak Yilmaz in 2012.
- Additionally, Osimhen became the first Galatasaray player to score a brace in two consecutive European games and to earn the club’s MVP award in three successive Champions League matches.
- On the national scene, Osimhen surpassed Obafemi Martins as the country’s top scorer in European competitions, reaching 25 goals.
- Osimhen scored in his eighth consecutive European game, extending his scoring streak to eight straight UEFA matches. He is closing in on Cristiano Ronaldo’s record of scoring in eleven consecutive European games.
- He is currently leading the goalscorers’ chart of the Champions League with six goals this season ahead of Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, and Kylian Mbappe.
Osimhen’s Race to Lead UCL Goal Scorers with 6 Goals
Osimhen’s journey to the top of the UCL goal scorers’ chart did not start from matchday 1. He missed the match against Frankfurt, and Galatasaray suffered a defeat. However, his presence returned in matchday 2 when he scored the only goal in a home win over Liverpool, setting the path for victories for his club.
Matchday 3 saw Osimhen grab a brace in a 3-1 victory over Bodø/Glimt, continuing his momentum. His performance reached its peak in matchday 4, where he grabbed a treble against Ajax, moving to six goals and overtaking Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, and Kylian Mbappé in the race for the top scorer title.
Mbappé began his scoring streak in this season with a brace helping Real Madrid to victory against Marseille on matchday 1. The France international opened the scoring at Kairat Almaty on matchday 2 before he got a brace from open play in the second half to seal the first hat-trick of the 2025/26 Champions League.
Kane, meanwhile, has scored in three of Bayern’s four wins so far, finding the net twice against both Chelsea and Pafos before also getting in on the act in a 4-0 defeat of Club Brugge. Haaland started the season by becoming the fastest player to reach 50 goals in Champions League history and has not looked back since, scoring in each of Manchester City’s three matches since—his latest a powerful finish against former club Borussia Dortmund.
The joint top goalscorers for 2024/25 were Serhou Guirassy (Borussia Dortmund) and Raphinha (Barcelona) with 13 goals.
It’s Time to Make a Statement in Champions League – Osimhen
Commenting on his performances, Osimhen reaffirmed his commitment to support his club to deliver better performance in the Champions League. In an interview, he stressed that the Turkish-based club is hungry to express dominance in the Champions League.
“I spoke with the president when I arrived here, and we want to really make a statement in the Champions League. We want to show that, in Turkey, we are the team that the whole world will know this year because we actually did something amazing in Europe. We’ve dominated the league for years. We will keep on dominating it, but now it’s time to make a statement in the most prestigious games, Champions League games, because it’s beautiful when you play in the Champions League. So, for us, we want to make a statement,” he said.