Elite company — only four players in UCL history have scored more goals than Victor Osimhen in their first 20 matches

Nigerian superstar Victor Osimhen has cemented his status among Europe's striking elite, joining an exclusive list that includes Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, and Manchester United icon Ruud van Nistelrooy, for the most goals scored in the first 20 appearances in the UEFA Champions League proper.

The 26-year-old was in sensational form this week, netting his first-ever UCL hat-trick in a dominant 3-0 win for Galatasaray against Ajax.

In the process, Osimhen also achieved a historic club feat, becoming the first Galatasaray player to score consecutive back-to-back braces in the Champions League, following his brace against Bodo/Glimt in the previous matchday.

The scoring started with a brilliant header, which Ajax boss John Heitinga described as a "real centre-forward goal."

The strike was followed by two successful VAR-assisted penalties, which took his overall tally for the season to six goals in just three matches, moving him to the top of the season’s scoring chart.

His latest heroics in Amsterdam bring his total career goals in the competition to 15 in 20 appearances, placing him firmly among the competition's all-time most prolific starters.

Here is the exclusive list of players with the most goals scored in their first 20 UCL appearances, with Manchester City’s Erling Haaland at the top.

• 25: Erling Haaland

• 16: Roberto Soldado

• 16: Ruud van Nistelrooy

• 16: Serhou Guirassy

• 15: Harry Kane

• 15: Victor Osimhen

The prolific striker's remarkable run not only makes him a contender for the season’s Golden Boot but also cements his position as one of the most feared number centre forwards in European football history.