Nigerian striker shines despite Galatasaray exit as PSG’s Kvaratskhelia eyes top spot ahead of final

Nigeria international Victor Osimhen and his former Napoli teammate, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, currently top the leaderboard for the most Man of the Match awards in this season’s UEFA Champions League.

Despite Galatasaray’s round of 16 elimination by Liverpool FC, Osimhen remains one of the competition’s standout performers as Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal prepare to face off in the final on May 30 in Budapest.

Osimhen claimed his first Man of the Match award in Galatasaray’s 1-0 victory over Liverpool on September 30, 2025, scoring the decisive penalty at RAMS Park. He followed that up with another award in a 3-1 win over Bodø/Glimt on October 22, boosting Galatasaray’s qualification hopes.

The Nigerian striker earned his third accolade after scoring a hat-trick against AFC Ajax on November 5, before picking up his fourth in a 3-2 defeat to Juventus in the playoff second leg, where his goal helped seal Galatasaray’s progression to the round of 16.

Kvaratskhelia, now at PSG, has also been influential, earning his latest award in a 2-0 win over Liverpool in the quarter-finals. The Georgian forward claimed two more awards in PSG’s double-header against Chelsea in March, while his first came in a 4-0 victory over Atalanta on September 17, 2025.

With the finalists confirmed, Kvaratskhelia still has the opportunity to move ahead of Osimhen, while Arsenal’s Declan Rice, who has three awards, could also draw level.

Rice earned his first Man of the Match honour in Arsenal’s 3-1 win over Bayern Munich on November 26, 2025. He added another in a 2-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen on March 17, before claiming his third in the semi-final second leg against Atlético Madrid.

Meanwhile, Osimhen enjoyed an outstanding European campaign, registering seven goals and three assists in 10 Champions League appearances.

Both Osimhen and Kvaratskhelia were instrumental in Napoli’s 2022/23 Serie A title-winning campaign, helping the club secure their first league crown in 33 years. Osimhen finished as top scorer with 26 goals, while Kvaratskhelia was named Serie A Player of the Year after recording 12 goals and 10 assists.

The duo have since moved on, with Kvaratskhelia completing a €70 million transfer to PSG in January 2025, while Osimhen joined Galatasaray in a €75 million deal in 2025 following an initial loan spell.