Osimhen’s numbers: 7 stats show why Galatasaray rely heavily on Nigeria star

Victor Osimhen already made a huge impact for Galatasaray before injury interrupted his start to the 2026/27 season, Afrik-Foot reports.

The Super Eagles striker scored six goals and supplied two assists in his first four Süper Lig appearances, producing eight goal contributions in only 303 minutes.

His latest goal came in Galatasaray’s 3-2 victory at Başakşehir on September 4, but he was forced off after 33 minutes with a muscle problem in his right thigh.

Osimhen subsequently missed Galatasaray’s Champions League meeting with Sporting CP, the league game against Kocaelispor and the crushing 4-0 defeat at Trabzonspor. He is also set to miss Nigeria’s first two games – against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau – in the qualifying campaign for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

The numbers from his first four league games explain why his absence has become such an important issue for Okan Buruk’s side.

Osimhen’s brilliance in numbers

Six goals in four league games

Osimhen has scored six goals in four Süper Lig appearances, putting him among the leading scorers in Turkey despite playing the equivalent of three-and-a third matches.

He scored twice against Çorum FK on the opening day, added two more goals against Erzurumspor and scored once against Göztepe before finding the net again at Başakşehir.

His six goals put him level with Fenerbahçe’s Vedat Muriqi and behind only Mohamed Salah, who had seven goals after the latest league round.

The Galatasaray striker is producing 1.78 goals per 90 minutes from those four appearances, an extraordinary rate even with a small sample.

His six goals also account for a large share of Galatasaray’s early league scoring, with the champions scoring 13 times in their opening five matches.

INTERNATIONAL DUTY MODE: ON!
Victor Osimhen & Olaitan Junior on the move…

Osimhen of Galatasaray misses out of AFCON QF through injury, with Conventy city’s Taiwo Awoniyi stepping in for the Super Eagles.

Olaitan Junior of Beskitas gets set to represent Benin Republic in… pic.twitter.com/yC0PhbyFXW

— Ojora Babatunde (@ojbsports) September 22, 2026

Thirty-five shots

Osimhen’s numbers show that his influence starts long before the ball crosses the goal line. He has attempted 35 shots in the league, the most of any player in the Super Lig, with 16 finding the target.

That works out at roughly 10.4 shots per 90 minutes and 4.75 shots on target per 90. The volume shows Osimhen is not simply converting a small number of chances created by teammates. He is constantly getting himself into positions where he can shoot.

Sixteen of his 35 attempts have been on target, giving him a 46 per cent shot accuracy rate.

Eight goal contributions

Osimhen has needed just over three hundred league minutes to produce six goals and two assists. His eight goal contributions work out at about 2.38 per 90 minutes.

Only Mo Salah and Gift Orban, with nine goal contributions each, have a better output than Osimhen in the Turkish top flight.

That means Galatasaray have been getting a direct goal contribution from him roughly every 38 minutes during his league appearances.

The efficiency becomes even clearer when the minutes are separated from the raw totals. Osimhen has played less than three and a half full matches but has already produced eight goals or assists.

Two assists and four key passes

Osimhen’s contribution does not stop when he fails to score. The former Napoli striker has registered two assists and four key passes in his four league appearances.

He created four chances for teammates, including two classified as big chances. His four key passes translate to about 1.19 per 90 minutes.

The numbers give Galatasaray another attacking route because defenders cannot focus only on blocking his shots. Osimhen can also bring teammates into play, attack space and create openings around the penalty area.

Twenty-four duels won

Osimhen’s physical influence is another important part of his game. He has won 24 of his 46 recorded duels this season, giving him a 52.2 per cent success rate.

He has also won 18 aerial duels, with a 60 per cent success rate. Those figures help explain why Galatasaray can use him as a target when opponents defend deep.

At 1.85 metres, Osimhen combines height with speed and strength, allowing him to compete with centre-backs for high balls while also making runs behind defensive lines.

Five fouls won

Opponents have also had to stop Osimhen illegally on several occasions. He has won five fouls in the Süper Lig this season.

That gives him about 1.5 fouls won per 90 minutes. The number is relatively small compared with his shooting figures, but it shows another way his movement affects defenders.

A striker who can run behind a defensive line, protect the ball and attack crosses forces defenders into difficult decisions.

Osimhen’s ability to draw contact also gives Galatasaray opportunities to move the ball higher up the pitch when opponents try to contain him physically.

An 8.55 statistical rating

The wider numbers also point to a player contributing in several different areas.

A current 2026/27 statistical profile gives Osimhen an 8.55 rating after his opening four league appearances, alongside six goals, two assists, 29 shots, four key passes and 24 duels won.

His 44 touches inside the opposition box also show how frequently Galatasaray get him into dangerous attacking positions.

His profile includes 17 headed shots, 32 shots from inside the box and 100 recorded touches, further illustrating the variety of ways he threatens opponents.

The combination of finishing, movement, aerial ability and physical play is what makes his role difficult to replace with a simple like-for-like change.

The numbers suggest Galatasaray’s reliance on Osimhen is not built around goals alone. His absence removes several different attacking qualities from Buruk’s side at the same time.

Injury puts the numbers into context

Osimhen’s injury arrived just as he was producing one of the strongest starts of his Galatasaray career.

He scored against Başakşehir in the 16th minute before being forced off in the 33rd minute after suffering the right-thigh muscle problem.

His initial recovery period was expected to last at least two weeks, but he was still unavailable for Galatasaray’s trip to Trabzonspor on September 19.

Galatasaray then suffered a 4-0 defeat to Trabzonspor, with Osimhen absent from the squad.

The injury has also affected Nigeria, with the NFF confirming on September 20 that Osimhen would miss the opening AFCON 2027 qualifiers against Madagascar on September 25 and Guinea-Bissau on September 29.

Nigeria will therefore start the qualifying campaign without a striker who has scored 35 goals in 52 appearances for the Super Eagles.