Victor Osimhen has cemented his status as Nigeria’s all-time leading scorer in the UEFA Champions League following a prolific 2025/26 campaign with Galatasaray. The striker has pulled clear of several legendary names who previously held the record.
However, he still has ground to cover in terms of appearances and silverware, with icons like Nwankwo Kanu, John Obi Mikel and Finidi George setting enduring benchmarks. Emerging stars such as Ademola Lookman could also challenge his record in the coming years.
Read Also: Osimhen tops Champions League scoring chart ahead of Haaland, Kane, Mbappe
According to a UEFA report, here are the top-scoring Nigerians in Champions League history (excluding qualifying rounds):
Victor Osimhen – 16 goals
Clubs: Lille, Napoli, Galatasaray
Osimhen surpassed the long-standing record during the 2025/26 season. His seven goals for Galatasaray mark the highest by a Nigerian in a single Champions League campaign.
Obafemi Martins – 9 goals
Clubs: Inter Milan, VfL Wolfsburg, Rubin Kazan
“Obagoal” held the record for over a decade, with most of his goals coming during his early years at Inter.
Ademola Lookman – 8 goals
Clubs: RB Leipzig, Atalanta, Atlético Madrid
Read Also: Ademola Lookman sets Champions League record in Atletico thriller
A consistent performer in Europe, Lookman continues to climb the rankings with strong recent form with Atletico Madrid in the Spanish league.
Victor Ikpeba – 7 goals
Club: AS Monaco
Ikpeba’s goals came during Monaco’s impressive run in the late 1990s, including a semi-final appearance.
Nwankwo Kanu – 5 goals
Clubs: Ajax, Arsenal
Despite a modest goal tally, Kanu remains one of the few Nigerians to have won the competition (1995).
Yakubu Aiyegbeni – 5 goals
Club: Maccabi Haifa
Famously scored a hat-trick against Olympiacos in 2002, the first by a Nigerian in the competition.
Samuel Chukwueze – 4 goals
Clubs: Villarreal, Milan
Shola Ameobi – 3 goals
Club: Newcastle United
Tijani Babangida – 3 goals
Club: Ajax
Emmanuel Dennis – 3 goals
Club: Club Brugge
George Ilenikhena – 3 goals
Clubs: Antwerp, Monaco
Ahmed Musa – 3 goals
Clubs: CSKA Moscow, Leicester City
Raphael Onyedika – 3 goals
Clubs: Midtjylland, Club Brugge
Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date
Open In Whatsapp
