Victor Osimhen delivered a masterclass performance as Galatasaray eased to a 3–0 victory over Ajax at the Johan Cruyff Arena on Wednesday, with the Nigerian striker netting a brilliant hat-trick, including two penalties.
The Turkish champions dominated proceedings from start to finish, overwhelming their Dutch hosts with clinical precision and relentless attacking play.
After a goalless first half, Osimhen broke the deadlock in the 59th minute, rising to meet Leroy Sané’s cross with a powerful header that left the Ajax goalkeeper rooted. He doubled the advantage seven minutes later from the penalty spot after Youri Baas handled inside the box.
Galatasaray’s sustained pressure was rewarded again in the 78th minute when another handball, this time by Gerald Alders, gave Osimhen the chance to complete his hat-trick — which he did with composure and authority.
Ajax created a few openings through Oscar Gloukh and Mika Godts, but they failed to capitalize as Galatasaray’s defense held firm to secure a clean sheet and a commanding away victory.
Osimhen’s treble etched his name into the history books, making him only the second Nigerian ever to score a hat-trick in the UEFA Champions League, following Yakubu Ayegbeni, who achieved the feat for Maccabi Haifa in a 3–0 win over Olympiacos on September 24, 2002.
With this performance, Osimhen also surpassed Obafemi Martins’ European goal record, bringing his tally to 25 goals across all European competitions — 12 in the Champions League and 10 in the Europa League — eclipsing Martins’ 23-goal mark.
Ahead of the match, Ajax head coach John Heitinga had described Osimhen as “one of the best forwards in Europe,” comparing him to legends Didier Drogba and Zlatan Ibrahimović. The Nigerian striker duly lived up to that billing, producing a display of strength, precision, and poise that silenced the Amsterdam crowd.
The emphatic result reaffirmed Galatasaray’s dominance in Group C and cemented Osimhen’s reputation as one of Europe’s most formidable strikers.
