Former Senegal international Mbaye Diagne has declared that only Nigerian star Victor Osimhen has the potential to break his record as the highest-scoring foreign player in a single Turkish Süper Lig season. Diagne achieved the feat during the 2018-2019 campaign, netting 30 goals while playing for both Kasımpaşa and Galatasaray. He scored 20 goals in just 17 appearances for Kasımpaşa before moving to Galatasaray, where he added another 10 goals in 12 matches. This remarkable performance remains unmatched by any other foreign player in the league’s history.
Despite strong performances by other foreign strikers in recent years, none have surpassed Diagne’s 30-goal benchmark. Players like Alexander Sørloth (24 goals), Aaron Boupendza (22), Enner Valencia (29), Mauro Icardi (25), and Osimhen (26) have all claimed the Süper Lig Goal King title, but none have broken the record set by the Senegalese forward. Diagne, who still holds the record, expressed pride in his achievement and admitted he would only feel comfortable seeing Osimhen surpass it. “I’m happy, very happy. I’ve scored a lot of goals. I’m also happy to be the top scorer here,” he said in an interview with Turkish newspaper Vatan.
He continued, “Nobody has broken my goal record in the Super League. They probably won’t be able to. I could only accept it if my friend Osimhen broke it, but it’s impossible for anyone else to break it.” The statement highlights both his confidence in his own legacy and his respect for Osimhen’s talent and consistency. Osimhen, who currently plays for Napoli in Italy, has been one of Nigeria’s most prolific scorers in recent seasons, and his reputation as a top-tier striker makes him the only player Diagne believes could challenge his record.
Meanwhile, Paul Onuachu, who has scored 22 league goals this season, remains a contender but faces a slim chance of matching or breaking Diagne’s record as the Süper Lig season nears its conclusion. With only one round of fixtures left, Onuachu would need to score eight goals in a single match to reach 30, a feat that is statistically improbable. Diagne’s record continues to stand as a towering benchmark in the history of the Turkish top flight, symbolizing excellence and consistency from a foreign player.
As the Süper Lig season winds down, fans and pundits alike will watch closely to see if anyone can come close to Diagne’s 30-goal milestone. His words, especially his praise for Osimhen, underscore the growing influence of Nigerian talent in European football. The legacy of Mbaye Diagne’s record remains a significant chapter in the story of African players in Turkey, and it may take a player of Osimhen’s calibre to finally rewrite it.
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