Ballon d’Or: How Nigeria representative voted Argentina’s Messi over Victor Osimhen

France Football has released the details of how journalists voted in this year’s Ballon d’Or awards, which Lionel Messi won, and no African country representatives (including Nigeria) voted for Victor Osimhen to win.

The 24-year-old clinched the 8th spot, making history as the first Nigerian in the top ten, breaking Nwankwo Kanu’s 11th position record in 1997.

The winner of the award is usually decided by votes from media representatives from the top hundred countries from the FIFA men’s world ranking, with each nation barring a representative.

Despite spearheading Napoli’s first Serie A success in 33 years last season scoring 26 league goals, Italian voting representative and African representatives did not deem him worthy enough to be number one.

Osimhen garnered 24 points, but the Nigerian journalist who voted put him in fourth place behind Messi, Haaland, and Mbappe.

The Napoli striker has been nominated for the CAF Footballer of the Year award, and the eventual winner will be awarded on the 11th of December, 2023 in Marrakech, Morrocco.