Super Eagles and Super Falcons of Nigeria players, Victor Osimhen and Asisat Oshoala have both been nominated for the 2023 Ballon d’Or awards in the men and women categories respectively.
Both players made the list announced by France Football Magazine, alongside 29 players in the men and women categories respectively.
On his feat, Osimhen played a vital role, leading Napoli to the Serie A title last season, which is the club’s first in 33 years.
The Super Eagles striker also set the record as the first African footballer to score 25 league goals to becoming the league’s highest goalscorer.
Osimhen, 24, also repeated the feat, becoming the leading goalscorer in the to AFCON 2024 qualification.
Nigerian female football star Oshoala is the first African player to score at three Women’s World Cups and has also emerged as five-time African footballer of the year winner.
In her club where she plies her trade she was also part of a Barcelona feminine side that clinched a treble of trophies including League title, Spanish Supercopa and Champions League.
Oshoala has also scored 21 league goals in 28 games last season.
So far, The 28-year-old is the only female representative from Africa for the second consecutive year.
The winners of the award will be announced at a ceremony on October 30.
Men’s list of nominees:
- Victor Osimhen (Napoli, Nigeria)
- Andre Onana (Manchester United, Cameroon)
- Karim Benzema (Al-Ittihad, France)
- Mohamed Salah (Liverpool, Egypt)
- Bukayo Saka (Arsenal, England)
- Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City, Belgium)
- Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid, England)
Randal Kolo Muani (Paris St-Germain, France) - Bernardo Silva (Manchester City, Portugal)
- Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Napoli, Georgia)
- Nicolo Barella (Inter Milan, Italy)
- Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa, Argentina)
- Ruben Dias (Manchester City, Portugal)
- Erling Haaland (Manchester City, Norway)
- Martin Odegaard (Arsenal, Norway)
- Ilkay Gundogan (Barcelona, Germany)
- Yassine Bounou (Sevilla, Morocco)
- Julian Alvarez (Manchester City, Argentina)
- Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid, Brazil)
- Rodri (Manchester City, Spain)
- Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid, France)
- Lionel Messi (Inter Miami, Argentina)
- Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan, Argentina)
- Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona, Poland)
- Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich, South Korea)
- Luka Modric (Real Madrid, Croatia)
- Kylian Mbappe (Paris St-Germain, France)
- Harry Kane (Bayern Munich, England)
- Josko Gvardiol (Manchester City, Croatia)
- Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich, Germany)
Full list of women nominees:
- Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria and Barcelona)
- Aitana Bonmati (Spain and Barcelona)
- Millie Bright (England and Chelsea)
- Linda Caicedo (Colombia and Real Madrid)
- Olga Carmona (Spain and Real Madrid)
- Rachel Daly (England and Aston Villa)
- Debinha (Brazil and North Carolina Courage/Kansas City)
- Kadidiatou Diani (France and Lyon)
- Mary Earps (England and Manchester United)
- Patricia Guijarro (Spain and Barcelona)
- Yui Hasegawa (Japan and Manchester City)
- Amanda Ilestedt (Sweden and Paris St-Germain/Arsenal)
- Sam Kerr (Australia and Chelsea)
- Mapi Leon (Spain and Barcelona)
- Katie McCabe (Republic of Ireland and Arsenal)
- Hinata Miyazawa (Japan and MyNavi Sendai/Manchester United)
- Lena Oberdorf (Germany and Wolfsburg)
- Ewa Pajor (Poland and Wolfsburg)
- Salma Paralluelo (Spain and Barcelona)
- Alexandra Popp (Germany and Wolsburg)
- Hayley Raso (Australia and Man City/Real Madrid)
- Alba Redondo (Spain and Levante)
- Guro Reiten (Norway and Chelsea)
- Wendie Renard (France and Lyon)
- Fridolina Rolfo (Sweden and Barcelona)
- Jill Roord (Netherlands and Wolfsburg/Manchester City)
- Khadija Shaw (Jamaica and Manchester City)
- Sophia Smith (United States and Portland Thorns)
- Georgia Stanway (England and Bayern Munich)
- Daphne van Domselaar (Netherlands and Twente/Aston Villa)
