Victor Osimhen: Nigeria and Napoli star makes top 30 Ballon d’Or nominee

Nigeria international Victor Osimhen has been nominated for the prestigious Ballon d’Or award.

The Serie A Golden Boot winner is set to rival Lionel Messi and other European stars after making the top 30 nomination list.

The 24-year-old becomes the first Nigerian to be nominated for the prestigious prize, 24 years after Nwankwo Kanu was nominated in 1999, a year that saw Papilo take home his second African Footballer of the Year award.

The Super Eagles star scored an impressive 26 league goals last season, in addition to five goals in the UEFA Champions League and seven goals in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers for Nigeria.

The Napoli forward heroically led the Naples-based side to their first league title in 33 years, the first since when Maradona played his football in that part of Italy.

He was also instrumental for the club as his five goals in the Champions League helped the Italian outfit to reach a historic quarter-final.

Along with the Scudetto, the former Royal Charleroi forward also won the award for best forward in Serie A, as well as the Capocannoniere (Italian Golden Boot).

His Osimhen’s nomination places him in competition with football luminaries such as Lionel Messi, Karim Benzema, Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappe, and Kevin De Bruyne, among others.

Osimhen’s partner in attack, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was also nominated after a stellar season in Naples scoring twelve and setting up his teammates ten times.

Josko Gvardiol

Jamal Musiala

Andre Onana

Karim Benzema

Mohamed Salah

Bukayo Saka

Kevin DeBruyne

Jude Bellingham

Randal Kolo Muani

Bernado Silva

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia

Nicolo Barella

Emiliano Martinez

Ruben Dias

Erling Haaland

Martin Odegaard

Ikay Guendogan

Yassine Bounou

Julian Alvarez

Vinicius Jr.

Lionel Messi

Rodri

Lautaro Martinez

Antoine Griezmann

Robert Lewandowski

Kylian Mbappe

Victor Osimhen

Kim Min-Jae

Luka Modric

Harry Kane