FRESH: Victor Osimhen Annd Ademola Lookman Miss Out on 2026 Ballon d’Or Top 10
Nigerian football stars Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman have been left out of the top 10 favourites for the 2026 Ballon d’Or.
Osimhen, playing for Galatasaray, has maintained an impressive scoring record in the Super Lig and UEFA Champions League.
Lookman has also been a consistent performer for Atletico Madrid.
Despite their strong seasons, the 2026 favourites list is dominated by stars from Europe’s elite clubs.
Leading the list is Kylian Mbappe, followed by Harry Kane, Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal, and Arsenal’s Declan Rice.
Other contenders include Erling Haaland, Pedri, Ousmane Dembele, Vinicius Jr, Lionel Messi, and Luis Diaz.
Osimhen previously reached 8th place in the 2023 Ballon d’Or, becoming the highest-ranked Nigerian player ever, surpassing Nwankwo Kanu.
Lookman achieved 14th in 2024 after a standout season with Atalanta.
The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony is scheduled for October 26, 2026, at the Théâtre du Châtelet.
Despite missing the top 10, both Osimhen and Lookman remain key performers at club level and are expected to contend for future Ballon d’Or recognition.
