The 27-year-old striker was handed the armband in the 79th minute after stand-in captain Lucas Torreira was substituted. Club captain Mauro Icardi did not start the match, while vice-captains Abdülkerim Bardakcı and Kaan Ayhan were unavailable, placing the leadership duties on Torreira before his exit.
Galatasaray newcomer Ilkay Gundogan, who previously captained Manchester City, came on to replace Torreira and handed the armband to Osimhen. In a surprising gesture, Osimhen chose to leave the armband on Gundogan’s arm instead of assuming captaincy.
Reflecting on the moment, Osimhen praised Gundogan’s leadership and influence on the team:
“İlkay is someone I deeply respect and value. He’s an incredible person — calm and motivating at the same time. He’s always someone we can talk to. He has great vision. When he brought me the captain’s armband, it felt strange. I gave it back to him because he’s the one who should lead us. Every time he comes on, he helps the team. He truly deserves the love.”
The gesture did not affect Osimhen’s on-field performance. Four minutes after being offered the armband, he scored his 10th league goal of the season. Intercepting a goalkeeper’s pass, the former Napoli star dribbled past the shotstopper and slotted the ball into an empty net, sealing all three points for the league leaders.
Osimhen’s act of humility, combined with his clinical finishing, further cemented his status as a fan favourite and a driving force in Galatasaray’s title campaign.