By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu
Victor Osimhen, star forward for the Super Eagles, has been excluded from the 2025 Ballon d’Or nominees despite his exceptional performances for Napoli and Galatasaray over the past year.
The official nominees were revealed on August 7, 2025, but Osimhen’s name was notably missing. His exclusion has sparked considerable debate, especially given his contributions both domestically and internationally.
In 2025, Osimhen made a permanent move to Galatasaray, where he enjoyed a brilliant first season, helping the club clinch the Turkish Super Lig and Cup titles. With both his individual form and his team’s success, many had expected him to be named among the nominees.
However, the Ballon d’Or selection committee appeared to focus heavily on players from Europe’s top leagues, such as the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, and Ligue 1.
Despite his vital role in Galatasaray’s successes, Osimhen was not included in the list. Only three African players made the cut: Achraf Hakimi, Mohamed Salah, and Serhou Guirassy.
The list also features big names like Jude Bellingham, Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappé, and Robert Lewandowski. Paris Saint-Germain, fresh off their Champions League victory, leads the nominations with eight players, while Barcelona and Liverpool each have four representatives.
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