Ballon d'Or: Osimhen, Lookman snubbed as Nigeria's streak ends
Nigeria’s hopes of having a representative in the 2026 Men’s Ballon d’Or have been dashed after Super Eagles forwards Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman were omitted from the 30-man shortlist released by France Football.
The omission brings an end to Nigeria’s recent run of representation among the nominees for football’s most prestigious individual award.
Osimhen and Lookman had both established themselves among Africa’s leading footballers in recent years, making their absence from this year’s shortlist a notable development for Nigerian football.
France Football unveiled the 30-man list on Tuesday, with some of the biggest names in world football making the cut.
Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal, Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham, Rodri and defending champion Ousmane Dembélé are among the leading nominees.
Kane enters the race as one of the strongest contenders after a remarkable campaign with Bayern Munich and England, while Mbappé and Yamal also feature prominently following impressive seasons for club and country.
Messi’s inclusion is another major talking point, with the Argentine returning to the shortlist after missing out in the previous two editions. The eight-time winner is seeking another historic chapter in his remarkable Ballon d’Or career.
For Nigeria, however, the announcement represents disappointment after both Osimhen and Lookman had enjoyed considerable individual success at club level.
Osimhen previously finished eighth in the 2025 Ballon d’Or voting after a prolific campaign, while Lookman rose to prominence on the global awards stage following his outstanding performances for Atalanta and Nigeria.
Lookman was particularly influential during Atalanta’s European campaign and had previously earned a place among the leading nominees, while Osimhen has remained one of Africa’s most recognisable elite strikers.
Their exclusion means Nigeria will not have a player competing for the men’s prize this year, despite the country having enjoyed significant individual and collective success on the international and club stages.
The 2026 shortlist also contains several notable omissions beyond the two Nigerians.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Mohamed Salah, Raphinha, Pedri and Julián Álvarez are among the prominent names who failed to make the final 30.
Paris Saint-Germain dominate the shortlist after their outstanding season, with the French club providing several candidates for the individual prize.
The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony is scheduled for October 26 in London, marking the 70th anniversary of the award and honouring its inaugural winner, Sir Stanley Matthews.
While Osimhen and Lookman will watch the final contest from outside the shortlist, Nigeria’s recent presence on the Ballon d’Or stage has demonstrated the growing international profile of the country’s footballers.
The challenge now will be for the next generation of Nigerian stars to break back into the world’s most prestigious individual award race.
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