The Ballon D’Or is an annual football award presented by French news magazine France Football since 1956. Between 2010 and 2015, in an agreement with FIFA, the award was temporarily merged with the FIFA World Player of the Year and known as the FIFA Ballon D’or.
Since it’s inception in 1956 only few Nigerian Footballers have been nominated for Ballon D’or Award.
Some of the few Nigerian Footballers that have been nominated Ballon D’or are Finidi George, David Amokachi, Austin Jay Jay Okocha.
Finidi George is the first Nigerian footballers that nominated for Ballon D’or in 1995 after winning 1994-1995 Champions League with Ajax also got Africa Cup of Nation Team of the tournament in 1994.
Also David Amokachi and Austin Jay Jay Okocha was also nominated for 1995 Ballon D’or alongside with Finidi George.
Kanu Nwankwo was first Nigerian footballers that got nominated twice in 1996 and 1999 when he was playing for Arsenal and Inter Milan respectively.
Only Kanu Nwankwo and Asisat Oshoala who was nominated for Ballon D’or twice since 1956. The Barcelona forward, Asisat Oshoala was nominated for Ballon D’or in 2022 and 2023 respectively.
Asisat Oshoala and Victor Osimhen was nominated for this year (2023) Ballon D’or which make Nigeria history as the first Africa to have both male and female footballer nominated for Ballon D’or.
The Napoli Forward, Victor Osimhen got nominated for his impressive performance in 2022/2023 season where he bagged 26 goals in Serie A and Won the Scudeto with his team. Also Asisat Oshoala with some extraordinary performance with Barça Femini team where she won UEFA Women Champions League and Spanish league.
All Nigerian players who have been nominated for the Ballon D’Or are considered to be some of the best footballers to have ever come out of Africa.
They have all played at the highest level and have won numerous trophies. They are an inspiration to young footballers all over Africa.
As of September 2023, Eight (8) Nigerian footballers Who have been nominated for Ballon D’or are:
• Finidi George (1995)
• Austin Jay Jay Okocha (1995)
• David Amokachi (1995)
• Kanu Nwankwo (1996, 1999)
• Victor Ikpeba (1997)
• Sunday Oliseh (1998)
• Asisat Oshoala (2022, 2023)
• Victor Osimhen (2023).
