Victor Osimhen scored a hat-trick as Galatasaray handed Ajax their fourth straight defeat in the Champions League this season.
The Nigeria striker took his European tally to six goals this term as he opened the scoring in the 59th minute before firing home two from the penalty spot.
With his hat-trick, Osimhen reached 25 goals in European competition and overtook former Inter Milan and Newcastle forward Obafemi Martins to become Nigeria’s all-time top scorer in Europe.
Osimhen is the leading scorer in the UEFA Champions League after he fired a hat-trick tonight for Galatasaray to dismantle hosts Ajax 3-0.
Osimhen has now scored six goals in three Champions League matches to give Galatasaray their best-ever start in the competition.
He is a goal ahead of an elite trio of Earling Haaland, Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe.
The 26-year-old striker has now netted 12 goals in his last eight games in Europe.
Ajax had entered half-time on level terms thanks to goalkeeper Remko Pasveer, who made two brilliant saves to stop Osimhen.
But Pasveer could do little to hold him back after the restart, with Osimhen racing in front of defender Josip Sutalo to head home Leroy Sane’s cross.
Ajax’s evening went from bad to worse when the referee awarded the Turkish side two penalties – both for handball offences.
Osimhen effortlessly slotted in the first, which had been given after a video assistant referee (VAR) review showed the ball ricocheting off the leg of Youri Baas and on to the Dutchman’s arm.
And he made no mistake with the second spot-kick, conceded by Anton Gaaei, as he blasted his strike into the top-right corner.
The result leaves Ajax rooted to the bottom of the table, with the Dutch side having lost all four of their Champions League games by an aggregate score of 14-1.
Galatasary, meanwhile, move up to ninth and close in on a place in the top eight, where teams seal automatic progress to the knockout rounds.