Osimhen vs Salah: 5 Turkish football records waiting to be rewritten in 2026-27

Victor Osimhen and Mohamed Salah will begin the 2026-27 season carrying huge expectations in Turkish football, Afrik-Foot reports.

Osimhen enters the campaign as Galatasaray’s star striker after winning the Süper Lig title last season and the Golden Boot during his earlier loan spell. Meanwhile, Salah has arrived at Trabzonspor on a two-year deal after ending his hugely-successful time at Liverpool.

Both forwards are among the most feared attackers in world football. Their battle for goals, trophies and records could become one of the stories of the Turkish season.

Here are five major milestones they can target.

Osimhen vs Salah: Tanju Çolak’s 39-goal league record

One of the oldest records in Turkish football still belongs to former Galatasaray striker Tanju Çolak.

He scored 39 league goals during the 1987-88 Süper Lig season, a figure that no player has managed to beat in nearly four decades. Metin Oktay and Hakan Şükür both came close with 38 goals, but neither passed the mark.

Osimhen already proved over the last two seasons that he can dominate Turkish defences. Salah, meanwhile, arrives with a reputation built on years of scoring in the Premier League and Champions League. A 40-goal league season would put either man into Turkish football history.

Hakan Şükür’s 38-goal European record

Turkish football legend Hakan Şükür holds the national record for goals scored in European club competitions with 38.

Galatasaray are expected to compete in Europe again, while Trabzonspor have also secured continental football after finishing third in the league.

Still, neither Osimhen nor Salah can break this record in a single season, but both can begin a serious chase by producing another strong European campaign. Every goal in the Champions League, Europa League or qualifying rounds will count.

Becoming the first foreign player with multiple Süper Lig Golden Boots

Brazilian playmaker Alex de Souza remains the only foreign player to win the Süper Lig Golden Boot more than once. He finished as the league’s top scorer in 2006-07 and 2010-11.

Osimhen already has one Golden Boot after finishing the 2024-25 campaign as the leading scorer. Another triumph would see him join Alex in a very exclusive group. Salah could also enter the race if he enjoys a prolific first year at Trabzonspor.

Metin Oktay’s six Golden Boot crowns

Metin Oktay is still the king of Turkish goalscoring honours. The Galatasaray icon won the Süper Lig Golden Boot six times, more than any player in league history.

Neither Osimhen nor Salah is close to that figure today, but every Golden Boot campaign moves them one step nearer to one of the most respected records in Turkish football.

Osimhen, in particular, could quickly build momentum if he continues scoring at the rate he managed in his first year in Turkey.

A title-winning Golden Boot season

Only a small number of foreign stars have managed to finish as league top scorer and win the Süper Lig title in the same season. Alex de Souza achieved that feat twice with Fenerbahçe.

Victor Osimhen is one of four other foreign stars to have managed it once. That elite list only has Bafétimbi Gomis, Mbaye Diagne, and Mauro Icardi. Galatasaray are expected to challenge strongly again, giving Osimhen a chance to repeat the feat and climb higher to share top spot with Alex de Souza.

Trabzonspor hope Salah’s arrival can push them into a genuine title race after their third-place finish last season.

If either forward leads his club to the title while also finishing as the league’s top scorer, it would rank among the standout individual achievements of the season.

The race starts this month, and Turkish football may be about to witness one of its most exciting scoring duels in years.