Leão Thanks Osimhen for First Galatasaray Goal
The Nigerian striker sacrificed an opportunity to complete his brace against Konyaspor, allowing the former AC Milan forward to open his Galatasaray scoring account
Galatasaray forward Rafael Leão has praised Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen for allowing him to take a second-half penalty during the Turkish champions’ 4-0 victory over Konyaspor at the MEDAŞ Konya Büyükşehir Stadium in Konya, Türkiye, on Friday, October 30, 2026.
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Leão described Osimhen’s decision as a thoughtful gesture that demonstrated the strong team spirit within the Galatasaray dressing room, after the Nigerian striker gave up the opportunity to score his second goal of the evening so that the Portuguese forward could register his first goal for the club.
Osimhen had opened the scoring in the 12th minute with a header from a Gabriel Sara delivery, setting Galatasaray on course for a comfortable victory.
Yunus Akgün doubled the visitors’ advantage in the 28th minute before Aleksey Batrakov extended the lead to 3-0 shortly after the restart.
The decisive moment for Leão arrived in the 52nd minute when he was fouled inside the penalty area by Konyaspor defender Rayyan Baniya. Following a VAR review, the referee awarded Galatasaray a penalty.
Although Osimhen had already scored and was in a position to complete his brace, the Nigerian stepped aside and handed the responsibility to Leão, who confidently converted the spot-kick in the 55th minute.
The goal marked an important personal milestone for the Portuguese international, who had been waiting to open his account since joining the Turkish champions from AC Milan.
Speaking after the match in an interview published on Galatasaray’s official YouTube channel, Leão expressed gratitude for Osimhen’s generosity.
“I really appreciate that moment. He knew I’ve been working a lot and searching for my first goal,” Leão said.
The 30-year-old forward also revealed that the gesture came after a light-hearted conversation between both players, during which he encouraged Osimhen to score twice following the birth of his second child.
“We were speaking, and today or yesterday was the birth of his second child. I told him to score two goals,” he added.
Leão explained that although Osimhen had the opportunity to complete his brace, the Nigerian chose to prioritise his teammate’s search for a first goal.
“He could have scored the second goal, but he gave me the ball. It’s about the kind of attitude we have, so we have a great group.
“I am really happy to have this kind of teammate in the squad,” the Portuguese forward said.
The exchange offered a glimpse into the relationship developing between the two attacking players, with Leão particularly appreciative of the support he received from the Nigerian international.
Osimhen has continued to establish himself as an important attacking figure for Galatasaray since joining the club, maintaining his scoring form during the current campaign.
His goal against Konyaspor came after he scored twice in Galatasaray’s 2-1 derby victory over Fenerbahçe earlier in the week, further underlining his influence in the team’s attacking performances.
The 4-0 victory also featured contributions from Akgün and Batrakov, while Leão’s penalty completed the scoring.
The result represented Galatasaray’s eighth league victory of the campaign and took the club to 25 points, keeping the Istanbul side at the top of the Turkish Süper Lig table.
For Leão, the goal was more than another contribution to a convincing team victory.
It ended his wait for a first competitive strike in Galatasaray colours and provided an encouraging moment as he continues to settle into his new surroundings.
Osimhen’s decision, meanwhile, demonstrated the value of mutual support within a team, particularly when individual milestones and collective ambitions intersect.
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Galatasaray will hope that the understanding between both forwards continues to develop as the club pursues its domestic ambitions and prepares for its upcoming UEFA Champions League fixture against VfB Stuttgart.
