The shortlist for world football’s most prestigious individual award, Ballon d’Or, has been revealed.
Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen, who played a pivotal role for Napoli and also helped win the Scudetto for the first time in 33 years, made the 30-man shortlist alongside Lionel Messi and 28 others.
Seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi, who led Argentina to a World Cup title in 2022, is favourite to win the award.
The Ballon d’Or 2023 ceremony will be held at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris on October 30.
See full list of the nominees below.
- Josko Gvardiol (Manchester City)
- Andre Onana (Manchester United)
- Karim Benzema (Al Ittihad)
- Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich)
- Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
- Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid)
- Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
- Randal Kolo Muani (Paris Saint Germain)
- Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City)
- Bernardo Silva (Manchester City)
- Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Napoli)
- Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa)
- Ruben Dias (Manchester City)
- Nicola Barella (Inter Milan)
- Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
- Yassine Bounou (Al Hilal)
- Martin Odegaard (Arsenal)
- Julian Alvarez (Manchester City)
- Ilkay Gundogan (Barcelona)
- Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid)
- Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona)
- Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid)
- Lautaro Martinez (Inter MIlan)
- Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)
- Rodri (Barcelona)
- Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint German)
- Kim Min-Jae (Bayern Munich)
- Victor Osimhen (Napoli)
- Luka Modric (Real Madrid)
- Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)
Super Falcons striker, Asisat Oshoala nominated for 2023 Ballon d’Or award
Super Falcons star, Asisat Oshoala has been nominated for the 2023 Women’s Ballon d’Or after a successful campaign with Barcelona Femeni.
French Football, organisers of the award, listed the nominees in a tweet on their handle Wednesday evening, September 6, and included the Nigerian among the 30-member shortlist.
Oshoala will hope to beat off competition from 29 players including Women’s World Cup winner Aitana Bonmati to land the award.
Oshoala won the Champions League with her side and was also part of the Nigerian team that crashed out in the round of 16 at the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia/New Zealand last month.
The Nigerian, 28, was instrumental in her team’s Primera Division triumph last term and featured as they clinched the Supercopa de Espana Femenina to complete a historic treble. She scored 21 league goals in 28 games last term.
