In the Ballon d’Or rankings, Super Eagles and Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen holds the record for the highest finish by a Nigerian male footballer.
Ballon d’Or, one of football’s most prestigious individual awards, has also celebrated other Super Eagles icons including Nwankwo Kanu, Ademola Lookman and Finidi George.
It became an award Nigeria’s elite talents could aspire for since France Football opened the competition to non-European players at European clubs in 1995.
Osimhen reached new heights on the podium in 2023 after finishing in eighth-place, the best result by a Nigerian man at the Ballon d’Or.
Ballon d’Or’s greatest Nigerian nominees
1. Victor Osimhen: Eighth in 2023
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Osimhen holds the Nigerian record after finishing eighth in the 2023 Ballon d’Or rankings.
The Super Eagles striker enjoyed a sensational campaign with Napoli, scoring 31 goals in all competitions as the Italian club won their first Serie A title in 33 years.
He became the first African player to claim the Italian top flight’s top goalscorer award and was named the league’s Best Striker, among other top awards.
The Ballon d’Or rewarded Osimhen’s exploits with a placing that made him the first Nigerian male footballer to finish inside the top 10.
Interestingly, Osimhen has not been nominated for this year’s Ballon d’Or despite his top displays for Galatasaray. Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane and Lamine Yamal are leading that race.
2. Nwankwo Kanu: 11th in 1996, 23rd in 1999
Arsenal great Nwankwo Kanu earned two Ballon d’Or nominations during his illustrious career.
The former Ajax and Inter Milan forward finished 11th in 1996 after he captained Nigeria’s to a historic Olympic football gold medal. He also enjoyed league and continental success with Ajax.
The Super Eagles icon returned to the rankings in 1999 while on the books of Arsenal and finished 23rd. That same year, he also won the African Footballer of the Year award, as he did in 1996.
3. Ademola Lookman: 14th in 2024
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Lookman, getting set to face Man United, finished 14th in the 2024 Ballon d’Or rankings after an outstanding season with Atalanta.
A year after Osimhen dominated Italy, Lookman took his vibes and brilliance continental.
The Nigerian forward scored a memorable hat-trick in the Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen to secure the Italian club’s first major European trophy.
It was a performance that rewrote the record books, elevated Lookman’s reputation and earned him recognition as a world-class footballer.
4. Finidi George: 21st in 1995
One of the first Nigerian players to attract global accolades, Finidi finished 21st in the 1995 Ballon d’Or rankings.
The former Super Eagles winger was part of the Ajax side that won the 1995 UEFA Champions League.
A trailblazer, Finidi’s talents helped open doors for Nigerian footballers on Europe’s biggest stages.
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5. Victor Ikpeba: 32nd in 1997
Ikpeba finished 32nd in 1997 after impressive performances for Monaco.
Nicknamed the Prince of Monaco, the forward won the 1997 African Footballer of the Year award after smashing goals for fun in France.
The former Borussia Dortmund star remains one of Nigeria’s most prolific forwards in the French Lig 1 and the German Bundesliga.
6. Austin Okocha: Nominated in 1995 and 1996
Okocha received nominations in 1995 and 1996 during his spells with Eintracht Frankfurt and Fenerbahçe.
With Nigeria, Okocha won the Africa Cup of Nations in 1994, the Afro-Asian Cup of Nations in 1995 and the gold medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
Despite his success during this period, his exceptional dribbling and creativity, the former Super Eagles captain did not register a ranked finish in the two editions he was nominated.
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7. Daniel Amokachi: Nominated in 1995
A key member of Nigeria’s golden generation in the 90s, Daniel Amokachi was also a Ballon d’Or darling once in his career.
The former powerful forward earned a nomination in 1995 following his performances for Everton and, in particular, Nigeria’s Super Eagles. However, he did not receive enough votes to secure a recorded ranking.
8. Sunday Oliseh: Nominated in 1998
Oliseh joined the prestigious Ballon d’Or shortlist in 1998 after an impressive year in midfield for Ajax and the Super Eagles.
One unforgettable moment was his memorable long-range goal against Spain at the World Cup in France as Nigeria reached the knockout rounds for the second consecutive edition.
With Ajax, he won the Eredivisie title and lifted the KNVB Cup that year. However, he didn’t pick up enough votes to make the final rankings.
9. Asisat Oshoala: Nominated in 2022 and 2023
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Arguably the greatest female Nigerian footballer ever, Oshoala is the only woman on this elite list.
During her peak years at FC Barcelona Femení, Asisat Oshoala posted world-class numbers that caught the eyes of the Ballon d’Or voters.
The first African woman to win the UEFA Women’s Champions League and the first African to score in a Champions League final, Oshoala finished in 16th Place in 2022.
She returned the following year to sit in 20th position after more exploits with Barcelona and Nigeria, leading the Super Falcons to an undefeated group stage run at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
