Nigerian Players and Coaches Snubbed in Ballon d'Or Nominees

The nominees for the 2026 Ballon d'Or were revealed, and there were no Nigerian players, coaches, or teams included in the shortlists. In the previous year, Super Falcons goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie was nominated for the Women's Yachine Trophy, and the team's coach, Justine Madugu, was nominated for the Women's Team Coach of the Year after the Falcons secured their 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title in Morocco.

However, in the year under review, both Nigeria's senior men's and women's teams failed to qualify for the FIFA World Cups. Victor Osimhen, a striker for Galatasaray, was the only Nigerian footballer to make the top 10 of the men's Ballon d'Or standings, finishing in eighth place.

Additionally, Ademola Lookman finished 14th in the voting after achieving a historic hat-trick in Atalanta’s Europa League final triumph.