Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman have been left out of the 30-man shortlist for the 2026 Men’s Ballon d’Or, despite their performances at club and international level.
France Football released the nominees on Tuesday, September 8, with several of the world’s biggest football stars making the list. The omissions of the two Nigerian forwards mean the country will have no representative in the men’s category this year.
Osimhen, who joined Galatasaray permanently after his loan spell, enjoyed another productive campaign and represented Nigeria at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. However, his performances were not enough to secure a place among the final 30 nominees.
Lookman also misses out after another season at the highest level. The Nigerian forward had previously made history by becoming the first Nigerian player to finish among the top 15 in the Ballon d’Or voting after his impressive 2023/24 campaign with Atalanta.
The 2026 shortlist features defending champion Ousmane Dembélé, who is nominated again, alongside Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi, Lamine Yamal, Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham and several other leading stars.
Kane enters the race as one of the leading contenders after a prolific season with Bayern Munich and England, while Haaland and Messi also earned places following impressive campaigns.
Messi’s inclusion is particularly notable as the eight-time winner returns to the shortlist after missing out in the previous two editions. Cristiano Ronaldo, meanwhile, was again excluded from the 30-man list.
The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony will take place on October 26 in London. The award recognises individual performances during the relevant season, with players judged on their performances, achievements and overall contribution to football.
Osimhen and Lookman’s omission will come as a disappointment to Nigerian football supporters, particularly after the country had continued to see its leading players gain recognition on the global stage in recent Ballon d’Or editions.
