Nigeria Misses Out on 2026 Ballon d’Or Shortlists for First Time in Three Years

Nigeria will have no representative among the nominees for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, ending a three-year run of Nigerian involvement in the prestigious football awards. The 70th edition of the ceremony is scheduled for Monday at the London Palladium, with Harry Kane, Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappé among the leading contenders for the men’s award. No Nigerian was shortlisted in the men’s, women’s or other award categories.

Osimhen and Lookman Miss Out

Super Eagles forwards Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman are among the notable absentees despite their contributions for club and country. The pair scored seven of Nigeria’s 14 goals at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. Osimhen also recorded 30 goal contributions across all competitions during the 2025/26 season, while Lookman registered 12 goals and six assists. However, Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup meant the players missed the opportunity to showcase their performances on football’s biggest international stage. Osimhen finished eighth in the 2023 Ballon d’Or rankings after helping Napoli win the Serie A title, while Lookman placed 14th in 2024 following his hat-trick in Atalanta’s Europa League final victory.

Africa and Women’s Football Representation

Last year, Nigeria featured in the women’s categories through Super Falcons coach Justine Madugu and goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie. Both finished fourth in their respective categories after Nigeria won the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. This year, Senegalese forward Sadio Mané is Africa’s sole representative on the men’s shortlist, according to the report. Paris Saint-Germain leads the nominations with 10 players, including defending champion Ousmane Dembélé, Achraf Hakimi and Vitinha.

Who Will Win the Award?

Kane, Yamal and Mbappé are among the leading contenders, with their individual performances and team achievements forming part of the debate. The winner is determined by journalists from the top 100 countries in the FIFA men’s rankings. Voting considers individual performances, team achievements, and players’ class and fair play. For Nigeria, the absence of nominees marks a setback after recent appearances in the rankings and highlights the challenge of maintaining international recognition in the absence of a World Cup campaign.