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

The 2024 Ballon d'Or awards ceremony will be place on October 28 at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris. Nominees from across the globe have been submitted.

This is not out of the ordinary; the last player to be named the world's best player who was not from Europe or South America was in 1995.

Although there have been many great African athletes over the years, there is only one African Ballon d'Or winner—George Weah of Liberia—who went on to become the nation's president.

History of the Ballon d'Or
Every year, France Football magazine presents the Ballon d'Or, one of football's most coveted individual honours. A group of foreign journalists cast their votes to determine which male football player is the finest in the world.

Since its introduction in 1956, the prize has grown to one of the most coveted honours in the sport. In later years, categories for women, goalkeepers, and youth players were added.
Over the years, numerous football players from Nigeria have been nominated for this prestigious award.

With an emphasis on their noteworthy accomplishments and services to the sport, this article examines Nigerians who have been honoured as nominees in further detail.


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.