Nigerian striker, Victor Osimhen on Monday, October 30, 2023, made history as the first Nigerian and Napoli player to make the top ten of the Ballon d’Or rankings.

The Napoli forward had a fantastic 2022/2023 season leading Napoli to win their first Serie A title in 33 years.

Osimhen was also instrumental as Napoli reached the Champions League quarter-finals in the 2022/2023 season.

Osimhen netted five times in six Champions League games last season and individual achievements, combined with Napoli’s results have allowed the 24-year-old to earn a spot in the top 10 of this year’s Ballon d’Or.

Victor Osimhen was ranked 8th in the race which is the highest by any African player in the award.

The next African player after Osimhen is Egyptian and Liverpool star, Mohammed Salah who was crucial for Liverpool.

Salah was ranked 11th in the rankings.

For his heroics that engineered Morocco’s finish at the last 8th of the 2022 World Cup, Yassine Bounou finished 13th. He was behind Robert Lewandowski.

The last African player to have finished in the top thirty of the 2023 Ballon d’Or is Cameroonian goalkeeper, Andre Onana.

Onana was rewarded for his crucial role in Napoli’s run to the Champions League final which they lost to Manchester City.



1. Lionel Messi

2. Erling Haaland

3. Kylian Mbappé

4. Kevin De Bruyne

5. Rodri

6. Vinicius Jr.

7. Julián Álvarez

8. Victor Osimhen

9. Bernardo Silva

10. Luka Modric

11. Mohamed Salah

12. Robert Lewandowski

13. Yassine Bounou

14. Ilkay Gündogan

15. Emiliano Martinez

6. Karim Benzema

17. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia

18. Jude Bellingham

19. Harry Kane

20. Lautaro Martínez

21. Antoine Griezmann

22. Kim Min-Jae

23. André Onana

24. Bukayo Saka

25. Josko Gvardiol

26. Jamal Musiala

27. Nicolo Barella

28. Martin Odeggard

29. Randal Kolo Muani

30. Ruben Dias