Finidi to Lookman: Nigerian footballers with Ballon d’Or nominations

Nigerian footballers with Ballon d'Or nominations

The Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris will host the 2024 Ballon d’Or awards ceremony on October 28, with nominations spanning various continents.

This is not unusual, as one must go back to 1995 to find the last player from outside Europe or South America crowned the world’s best player.

Despite the presence of several outstanding African players over the years, the list of African Ballon d’Or winners remains short, limited to one—Liberia’s George Weah—who later became the country’s president.

Ballon d’Or in History

The Ballon d’Or is a prestigious individual award in football, given annually by France Football magazine. It recognises the best male footballer in the world, as voted on by a panel of international journalists.

First introduced in 1956, the award has become one of the most coveted honours in the sport. In later years, categories for women, goalkeepers, and youth players were added.

According to PUNCH Online, several Nigerian footballers have been nominated for this esteemed award over the years.

This article takes a closer look at Nigerians who have been recognised as nominees, highlighting their notable achievements and contributions to the sport.

Nigerian Footballers Who Have Been Ballon d’Or Nominees:

Finidi George (1995): The Ajax star was placed 21st among the 32-man shortlist, tied with Milan’s Franco Baresi with six points. Daniel Amokachi (1995): The Everton forward was one of the 16 players who did not receive any votes. Austin Jay-Jay Okocha (1995): Representing Frankfurt, Okocha was also among the 16 players without a vote. Nwankwo Kanu (1996, 1999): In 1996, Kanu, then with Inter Milan, secured 14 votes, placing him just ahead of AC Milan’s George Weah, who finished 12th. In 1999, Kanu was 23rd, alongside Hernan Crespo and Ronaldo, while Barcelona’s Rivaldo claimed the award. Victor Ikpeba (1997): Known as the “Prince of Monaco,” Ikpeba finished 32nd with 2 votes, as Ronaldo de Lima of Barcelona/Inter won the award. Sunday Oliseh (1998): The Ajax midfielder was among the 19 players who did not receive any votes. Asisat Oshoala (2022, 2023): In 2023, Oshoala’s Barcelona teammate Aitana Bonmatí won the award. In 2022, Alexia Putellas of Barcelona won, making history as the first woman to secure back-to-back Ballon d’Or Féminin titles. Victor Osimhen (2023): The Napoli striker was ranked 8th with 23 points, with Lionel Messi winning the award that year. Ademola Lookman (2024): Lookman has been recognised as a nominee for the 2024 Ballon d’Or.

Lookman at AFCON, Europa

Meanwhile, Lookman has become a key figure at Atalanta, showcasing his talent with 13 Serie A goals in the 2022-23 season and continuing his strong form in the following campaign.

His Europa League hat-trick against Bayer Leverkusen further elevated his status, leading to his 2024 Ballon d’Or nomination.

On the international stage, Lookman has also impressed with Nigeria, playing a vital role in their Africa Cup of Nations campaign in Ivory Coast, where they were runners-up to the hosts in a 2-1 loss.

His creativity and attacking prowess have been instrumental in Nigeria’s success, further solidifying his reputation as one of Africa’s top footballers.