Nigeria will have no representation among the nominees for the 2026 Ballon d’Or awards, ending the country’s recent run of recognition at the prestigious football ceremony.
The 70th edition of the awards is scheduled to take place at the London Palladium, marking the first time the ceremony will be held outside Paris.
No Nigerian player or coach features on the men’s or women’s shortlists or in any of the supporting award categories.
Super Eagles forwards Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, who have enjoyed impressive performances for club and country, are among the notable absentees.
Osimhen and Lookman contributed significantly to Nigeria’s campaign at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, while Osimhen also recorded an impressive goal contribution tally during the 2025/2026 season.
However, Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup is seen as a setback to the country’s players’ chances of gaining international recognition, given the importance of major tournament performances in the voting process.
Osimhen finished eighth in the 2023 Ballon d’Or rankings after helping Napoli win the Italian Serie A title, while Lookman placed 14th in 2024 following his hat-trick in Atalanta’s Europa League final victory.
Nigeria’s representation in 2025 came through the women’s game, with Super Falcons coach Justine Madugu and goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie receiving nominations after the team won its 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title.
Senegalese forward Sadio Mane is listed as Africa’s sole representative on the men’s shortlist for this year’s award.
The men’s nominees include Paris Saint-Germain players Ousmane Dembele, Achraf Hakimi and Vitinha, alongside leading stars from Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Arsenal.
The Ballon d’Or recognises the world’s outstanding footballers, with international journalists voting based on individual performances, team achievements and sportsmanship.
The absence of Nigerian nominees highlights the challenge of maintaining global recognition amid intense competition at the highest level of football.
