In 2023, Victor Osimhen, the Nigerian football star, achieved the 8th position in the prestigious 2023 Ballon d’Or awards held in Paris, France. This remarkable achievement makes him the first Nigerian to ever enter the top ten of the Ballon d’Or rankings.
Osimhen’s success is attributed to his outstanding performance for Napoli, where they secured the Serie A title after 33 years. He also claimed the Pichichi award for being the highest goalscorer last season, helping Naples secure their league victory.
During the season, the 24-year-old Osimhen scored an impressive 26 goals, making him the first African player to win this accolade. His achievement made him the highest-ranked player from the African continent in this year’s Ballon d’Or, with Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah coming in at the 11th position.