Egyptian star Mohamed Salah delivered a hat-trick and an assist to lead Trabzonspor to a 4-0 victory over Galatasaray on September 19, 2026, at Papara Park, capturing the top of the Turkish Süper Lig scoring charts.
Turkish football witnessed a memorable night on September 19, 2026, as Trabzonspor hosted table leaders Galatasaray for the sixth round of the Süper Lig season. Entering the fixture under pressure after a stuttering start to the domestic campaign, the home side turned the tables entirely. The night belonged firmly to the forward, who dismantled the opposition defense and sent shockwaves through the league standings.
Papara Park Masterclass: How Salah and Trabzonspor Dismantled Galatasaray
The onslaught began almost immediately. Just four minutes into the match, Mohamed Salah broke the deadlock by latching onto a clean through ball, breaking away on a complete solo run before slotting his shot past the Galatasaray goalkeeper's right side. Galatasaray arrived at the venue holding the top spot in the league table with 13 points, but their defense had no answers for Trabzonspor's attacking movement.
Before the first half concluded, Salah turned provider. In the 39th minute, he delivered a precise pass to teammate Saviolo-allowing him to fire a brilliant shot past the keeper for the team's second goal. Not content with an assist, Salah struck again right before halftime in the 44th minute, and later capped off his performance with a third goal in the 80th minute to secure a 4-0 victory.
Record-Breaking Achievement and Political Figures in the Stands
The stellar display yielded historic milestones for the Egyptian forward. At 34 years and 96 days old, Salah became the oldest player in Trabzonspor history to score a hat-trick in a Süper Lig match. Statistical networks also confirmed that he stands as the first player in club history to net three goals against Galatasaray on his team’s home turf. With this treble, he vaulted to the top of the league's scoring charts with a total of seven goals.
The match drew prominent political and public figures to the stands at Papara Park. Among those turning heads in the stadium was Esra Erdoğan, the daughter of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who attended alongside her husband, Berat Albayrak. Media coverage highlighted Albayrak's return to public view in Trabzon after a period away from cameras, noting his historical ties to the club and his reputation in some circles as the architect behind Salah's transfer. Television and social media channels captured Esra Erdoğan joining fans in the stands, enthusiastically chanting and celebrating the forward's goals as part of a raucous home crowd.
Global Reaction and the Battle for Süper Lig Supremacy
The football world responded swiftly to the Egyptian star's masterclass. Social media channels lit up with praise.
"They said he couldn't run.. They said he came to sleep.. They said he came to make money.. The Anfield Edition, via social media reporting“
The victory shifts the landscape of the domestic table, lifting Trabzonspor to 10 points in fifth place while halting Galatasaray at 13 points at the summit, setting the stage for an intensely contested championship race as the season progresses.