Ballon d’Or: Ranking the Top 10 Nigerian Footballers in History
Since the Ballon d’Or began, nine Nigerian players have been nominated. We explore how high these footballers ranked during their respective years of nomination.
1. Victor Osimhen (2023) - 8th place, 24 votes
Victor Osimhen reached a new peak for Nigerians by finishing 8th in 2023. He led Napoli to their first Serie A title in 33 years and secured the league’s golden boot with 26 goals. Osimhen also netted five goals during Napoli’s journey to the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals.
2. Nwankwo Kanu (1996) - 11th place, 14 votes
Kanu made history as the first Nigerian nominated twice for the Ballon d’Or. His 1996 nomination came after inspiring Nigeria to Olympic gold, scoring crucial late goals against Brazil in the semifinals. That year, he was also key in Ajax Amsterdam’s run to the UEFA Champions League final.
3. Asisat Oshoala (2022) - 16th place, 4 votes
Asisat Oshoala became the second Nigerian to be nominated twice, starting with 2022. Her performance for Barcelona included leading the team to the Primera División title as the top scorer, while helping secure both the Supercopa de España Femenina and Copa de la Reina.
4. Asisat Oshoala (2023) - 20th place, 7 votes
Oshoala followed up with a 2023 nomination, becoming the first Nigerian woman with consecutive Ballon d’Or nods. She achieved a treble with Barcelona and led Nigeria to the round of 16 at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, scoring a vital goal against Australia.
5. Finidi George (1995) - 21st place, 6 votes
Finidi broke ground in 1995 as the first Nigerian in the Ballon d’Or top 30. He was integral to Ajax Amsterdam’s multiple trophies including the UEFA Champions League, Eredivisie, Johan Cruijff Shield, UEFA Super Cup, and Intercontinental Cup.
6. Nwankwo Kanu (1999) - 23rd place, 2 votes
Kanu earned his second Ballon d’Or nod in 1999 after moving to Arsenal. That year, he also won the CAF African Footballer of the Year and BBC African Footballer of the Year awards thanks to his impressive displays.
7. Victor Ikpeba (1997) - 32nd place, 2 votes
Nicknamed the Prince of Monaco, Ikpeba’s 1997 nomination came after helping AS Monaco win Ligue 1 and the Trophée des Champions. He scored 13 league goals and finished as the second-top scorer in the UEFA Cup that season.
8. Sunday Oliseh (1998) - No top 30 finish, no votes
Oliseh was nominated in 1998 following strong performances for Ajax Amsterdam, winning the Eredivisie and KNVB Cup. He also scored a memorable goal for Nigeria at the 1998 World Cup in a 3-2 victory over Spain.
9. Daniel Amokachi (1995) - No top 30 finish, no votes
Amokachi joined Finidi and Austin Okocha as nominees in 1995. His nomination was driven by key goals in Everton’s FA Cup success, notably scoring twice in the semifinal versus Tottenham Hotspur, even deciding to substitute himself into the game.
10. Austin Jay-Jay Okocha (1995) - No top 30 finish, no votes
Okocha caught attention with his flair at Eintracht Frankfurt in 1995, earning a Ballon d’Or nomination. His skillful play captivated fans worldwide though he did not reach the top 30 in voting.
The Ballon d’Or often spotlights European players, yet these 10 Nigerians have made notable marks on the global football scene through their nominations and achievements.
