Galatasaray midfielder Mario Lemina has made a striking declaration, hailing his current strike partner, Victor Osimhen, as the finest forward he has ever played alongside.
This bold assertion follows a heroic UEFA Champions League display in Istanbul. The dynamic duo combined on Tuesday to secure a crucial 1-0 victory over Liverpool in the first leg of their Round of 16 tie, with Osimhen setting up Lemina’s early winner in the seventh minute.
While the goal was undeniably vital, it is Lemina’s post-match praise that has reverberated across the footballing world. Having shared pitches with some of the most prolific goalscorers of the modern era, the 32-year-old midfielder was unequivocal when asked to compare his current teammate to his former ones.
Lemina revealed that the Nigerian international stands alone at the pinnacle of his personal list, surpassing a host of elite strikers.
“I’ve played with forwards like Aubameyang, Higuain, Gignac, Falcao, but there’s no one like Victor Osimhen,” Lemina stated in an interview with Djibril Drame. “He’s one of a kind.”
This glowing endorsement places Osimhen above the likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Gonzalo Higuain, Andre-Pierre Gignac, and Radamel Falcao—all formidable strikers Lemina has played alongside at various clubs throughout his career.
Since joining Galatasaray, the pair have established themselves as the driving force behind Okan Buruk’s title challenge, and if Tuesday night’s performance is any indication, their partnership could prove pivotal to a deep Champions League run.
