NIGERIANS MISSING AS 2026 BALLON D’OR WINNER EMERGES TODAY

prestigious individual honour is set to be announced at a ceremony in London on Monday, October 26, 2026.

The absence marks a setback for Nigeria, which has had representatives among the nominees in recent years. Neither Super Eagles forwards Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman nor any other Nigerian player, coach or football figure has been nominated in the 2026 award categories.

Osimhen and Lookman were among the players Nigerian fans expected to feature on the shortlist following their contributions for club and country. The two forwards scored seven of Nigeria’s 14 goals at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, while Osimhen recorded 30 goal contributions across all competitions during the 2025/2026 season.

Lookman also delivered an impressive campaign, scoring 12 goals and providing six assists. However, their performances were not enough to secure nominations, with Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup identified as a possible factor in their absence.

The award’s assessment period ran from August 3, 2025, to July 19, 2026, covering the World Cup, a tournament that traditionally carries considerable weight in the evaluation of players’ performances.

England captain Harry Kane, Spain’s Lamine Yamal and France forward Kylian Mbappé are among the leading contenders for this year’s men’s award. Kane is seeking his first Ballon d’Or after a prolific season with Bayern Munich, while Yamal is hoping to build on his previous strong performances. Mbappé is also in contention following his impressive goalscoring record.

Defending champion Ousmane Dembélé is among the nominees, alongside global stars such as Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland and Vinícius Júnior. Senegal’s Sadio Mané is also on the shortlist, ensuring African representation in the men’s category despite Nigeria’s absence.

The ceremony, which marks the 70th edition of the Ballon d’Or, will take place at the London Palladium, making it the first time the prestigious event is being held outside Paris. The programme is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. in London, equivalent to 9 p.m. in Nigeria.

Nigeria’s absence ends a three-year run of representation at the awards. Osimhen finished eighth in 2023 after helping Napoli win the Italian Serie A title, while Lookman placed 14th in 2024 following his outstanding performance for Atalanta in the Europa League final.

In 2025, Super Falcons coach Justine Madugu and goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie were nominated for individual honours after Nigeria won the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, with both finishing fourth in their respective categories.

As the football world awaits the announcement of the latest winner, attention will also turn to Nigeria’s ability to produce players capable of returning to the global awards stage in future editions.