Paul Onuachu says ‘friendly’ Victor Osimhen battle driving Super Lig scoring feats

Paul Onuachu has described his tussle with Victor Osimhen for the Turkish Super Lig Golden Boot as a “healthy” rivalry that is pushing both Nigeria forwards to new levels, after the pair finished as the division’s top scorers in consecutive seasons.

Onuachu, leading the line for Trabzonspor, finished the 2025-26 campaign as the league’s top marksman with 22 goals and two assists in 30 matches, edging out Talisca, Osimhen and Mohamed Bayo to claim the Golden Boot.

His individual success followed Osimhen’s spectacular first year in Turkey with Galatasaray, when the Super Eagles striker hit 26 goals and supplied five assists in 30 league appearances in 2024-25, firing the Istanbul club known as the Lions to the Super Lig title and finishing as the division’s leading scorer.

‘No personal rivalry’

Despite back-to-back seasons in which they have effectively set the standard for Super Lig strikers, Onuachu insists their head-to-head battle has strengthened, rather than strained, their relationship.

Speaking to Turkish outlet 61Saat, the 32-year-old dismissed any notion of tension between the two Nigeria internationals and underlined the respect that underpins their competition.

Onuachu made clear that facing another Super Eagles striker at the top end of the scoring charts has been a positive experience for both players, rather than a source of animosity.

According to the former Southampton forward, that sense of mutual regard has endured even as they have gone toe-to-toe for one of the league’s most coveted individual honours.

Osimhen sets the bar, Onuachu responds

Osimhen’s debut campaign with Galatasaray in 2024-25 effectively established him as the benchmark for centre-forwards in Turkey’s top flight.

His 26 league goals and five assists in just 30 matches not only secured the Golden Boot but were central to Galatasaray’s charge to the Super Lig crown, underlining his status as one of the most decisive attacking players in the division.

Onuachu answered that challenge the following season, spearheading Trabzonspor’s attack and overtaking a field that included Osimhen, Talisca and Bayo to clinch the 2025-26 Golden Boot with his 22-goal haul.

The Nigerian’s form ensured Trabzonspor had one of the league’s most reliable finishers, while simultaneously ending Osimhen’s reign as the competition’s top scorer.

Super Lig, clubs and country all stand to gain

With both strikers expected to stay at their respective clubs for the coming campaign, their duel for goals in Turkey appears set to continue.

Any renewed race for the Golden Boot is likely to be closely watched not only by supporters of Trabzonspor and Galatasaray, but also by followers of the Super Lig more broadly, given the profile and productivity of both forwards.

For the Super Eagles, the prospect of two in-form strikers excelling in the same league could prove especially valuable, offering Nigeria a pair of prolific options who are sharpening each other through their club rivalry.

As Onuachu and Osimhen prepare for another season on opposite sides of Turkey’s title and scoring battles, their friendly competition has the potential to deliver further rewards for Trabzonspor, Galatasaray and the Nigeria national team alike.