According to a report by Daily Post on Thursday October 22, 2026, Victor Osimhen has hit back at his critics after ending his goalscoring drought with a decisive strike in Galatasaray’s 4-2 Champions League victory over former club Lille.

The Nigerian striker faced criticism from Turkish media and pundits following a difficult spell after returning from a groin injury. However, he responded with a strong performance in France before reaffirming his confidence in his ability.

Speaking after the match, Osimhen insisted that difficult periods are part of football and do not mean a player has lost confidence.

“I mean, I just try to do my best. Most of the time the game doesn't go how I want, not just for me but for the team. But this doesn't mean I'm nervous,” he said.

The 27-year-old also made it clear that he would not allow outside criticism to dictate how he plays.

“I came from a place where I'm not scared of challenges. I face any team as I want to face them,” Osimhen stated. “Nobody can tell me how to make these runs, how to play my ball, how to score my goals.”

The Super Eagles forward went on to defend his standing among the world's leading strikers, insisting that his quality and playing style had brought him to where he is today.

“It's the reason why I'm here, it's the reason why I'm one of the very best strikers in the world,” he added.

Osimhen’s comments came after he scored in the 61st minute against Lille, helping Galatasaray complete an impressive comeback victory. His goal ended a three-match barren run and proved crucial in securing all three points.

Despite defending himself against the criticism, the striker stressed that Galatasaray’s success remains more important than his individual achievements.

“The club is bigger than any player. This is about a team, the collective effort of the team,” he explained.