BALLON D'OR

Asisat Oshoala nominated for 2023 Ballon d’Or Award

Published

2 years ago

September 7, 2023

Super Falcons and Barcelona Femeni striker, Asisat Oshoala, has been nominated for the prestigious 2023 Ballon d’Or Award in the Women’s Player of the Year category.

This nomination follows a remarkable season in which she showcased her exceptional talent, scoring 29 goals and providing 7 assists in 46 matches.

Oshoala’s outstanding performances also played a pivotal role in Barcelona’s triumphant campaign, securing titles such as the Champions League, La Liga, and the Spanish Super Cup.

Oshoala finds herself in the esteemed company of fellow Barcelona Femeni stars, Mapi Leon, Aitana Bonmati, and Fridolina Rolfo, along with other standout talents from the women’s football world, including French stalwart Wendie Renard, England’s Mary Earps, prolific 26-year-old Jamaican and Manchester City Forward, Khadija Shaw, VFL Wolfsburg forward Alexandra Popp, Japanese midfielder Yui Hasegawa, Dutch midfielder Jill Roord, and England’s Rachael Daly.

“Our heartfelt congratulations to Asisat Oshoala for her outstanding achievements. It has been an incredible journey watching her grow and excel in the world of football. Plug Sports couldn’t be prouder of her remarkable talent and dedication. Asisat is a true inspiration, and her success is well-deserved,” Lanre Vigo, Head of Plug Sports commented on Oshoala’s nomination.

In addition to her on-field prowess, Asisat Oshoala’s contributions to the community have not gone unnoticed. In July of this year, the 28-year-old Oshoala, also known as the Women’s African Player of the Year, was announced as one of the five nominees for the prestigious Socrates Award. This accolade was introduced in 2022 to recognize players for their outstanding charity work beyond the realm of football. Oshoala was nominated for her commendable efforts through the football academy she established in Nigeria, named after her.

Furthermore, Oshoala’s impact on the global stage was amplified during the 2023 Women’s World Cup, where she made history by becoming the first African player to score in three Women’s World Cup tournaments. Her pivotal goal came during the Super Falcons’ victory against Australia, marking a significant achievement in her illustrious career.

As the football world eagerly anticipates the 2023 Ballon d’Or ceremony, Asisat Oshoala’s nomination is a testament to her exceptional skill, dedication to her community, and her historic achievements in the sport. She continues to inspire football enthusiasts across the globe, and her journey is a source of pride for both her home country, Nigeria, and the global football community.

BALLON D'OR

Amstel Malta Celebrates Nnadozie’s Historic Ballon d’Or Recognition

Published

2 weeks ago

September 23, 2025

Kunle Solaja

Amstel Malta has hailed Nigerian goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie after she made history in Paris by finishing fourth in the Women’s Yashin Trophy category at the 2025 Ballon d’Or Awards.

The 24-year-old shot-stopper became the first African goalkeeper to rank among the top five in the global honour, underlining her growing reputation as one of the world’s best.

Nnadozie, who recently joined Brighton & Hove Albion Women in the English Women’s Super League, has already impressed in Europe with a ‘Player of the Match’ debut and a string of commanding performances since.

Amstel Malta, a long-standing supporter of Nigerian women’s football, described her feat as a proud moment for the country and the continent.

The brand had earlier backed the Super Falcons as they clinched a record 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title in Morocco last year.

“Chiamaka Nnadozie’s rise to global recognition at the Ballon d’Or is a proud moment for Nigeria and Africa,” said Sandra Amachree, Head of Communications – Marketing at Nigerian Breweries Plc. “Her success reflects the resilience, talent, and passion that Amstel Malta has always celebrated in the Super Falcons.

From standing with the team as they won a record 10th WAFCON title, to witnessing this global recognition, we remain committed to refreshing and empowering Nigerian football every step of the way.”

Nnadozie’s Ballon d’Or breakthrough follows recent global recognition for Super Eagles stars Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, further highlighting Nigeria’s growing presence on world football’s biggest stage.

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BALLON D'OR

Dembele Becomes Fourth Player of African Descent to Win Ballon d’Or

Published

2 weeks ago

September 23, 2025

Kunle Solaja

Paris Saint-Germain's French forward Ousmane Dembele won the men's Ballon d'Or

BY KUNLE SOLAJA

French forward Ousmane Dembélé etched his name in football history on Monday night as he was crowned the 2025 Ballon d’Or winner, becoming only the fourth player of African descent to claim the game’s most prestigious individual honour.

Dembélé, whose father is Malian and mother has Mauritanian-Senegalese roots, joins a select group of legends with African heritage: Mozambique-born Portuguese icon Eusébio, Liberian great George Weah, and France’s Karim Benzema, whose father hails from Algeria.

The PSG player’s dazzling season—marked by decisive goals, creativity, and consistency—earned him the accolade ahead of other global stars, underscoring his long-awaited rise to the top of world football.

His victory continues a growing recognition of African football heritage in the global game. Eusébio won the award in 1965, Weah became the first and only African-based player to win it in 1995, while Benzema claimed the prize in 2022. Now, three years later, Dembélé has followed in their footsteps, making history for both France and Africa.

The Ballon d’Or, organised by France Football, has been awarded annually since 1956 to the best-performing footballer in the world.

Players of African Descent Who Have Won the Ballon d’Or

Player	Country of Descent / Origin	Nation Represented	Year Won
Eusébio	Mozambique (African-born)	Portugal	1965
George Weah	Liberia	Liberia	1995
Karim Benzema	Algeria (father’s heritage)	France	2022
Ousmane Dembélé	Mali (father), Mauritania/Senegal (mother)	France	2025

Ballon d’Or Winners Since 1956

1956 – Stanley Matthews (England)
1957 – Alfredo Di Stefano (Spain)
1958 – Raymond Kopa (France)
1959 – Alfredo Di Stefano (Spain)
1960 – Luis Suarez (Spain)
1961 – Omar Sivori (Italy)
1962 – Josef Masopust (Czechoslovakia)
1963 – Lev Yashin (Soviet Union)
1964 – Denis Law (Scotland)
1965 – Eusébio (Portugal)
1966 – Bobby Charlton (England)
1967 – Florian Albert (Hungary)
1968 – George Best (Northern Ireland)
1969 – Gianni Rivera (Italy)
1970 – Gerd Müller (West Germany)
1971 – Johan Cruyff (Netherlands)
1972 – Franz Beckenbauer (West Germany)
1973 – Johan Cruyff (Netherlands)
1974 – Johan Cruyff (Netherlands)
1975 – Oleg Blokhin (Soviet Union)
1976 – Franz Beckenbauer (West Germany)
1977 – Allan Simonsen (Denmark)
1978 – Kevin Keegan (England)
1979 – Kevin Keegan (England)
1980 – Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (West Germany)
1981 – Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (West Germany)
1982 – Paolo Rossi (Italy)
1983 – Michel Platini (France)
1984 – Michel Platini (France)
1985 – Michel Platini (France)
1986 – Igor Belanov (Soviet Union)
1987 – Ruud Gullit (Netherlands)
1988 – Marco van Basten (Netherlands)
1989 – Marco van Basten (Netherlands)
1990 – Lothar Matthäus (Germany)
1991 – Jean-Pierre Papin (France)
1992 – Marco van Basten (Netherlands)
1993 – Roberto Baggio (Italy)
1994 – Hristo Stoichkov (Bulgaria)
1995 – George Weah (Liberia)
1996 – Matthias Sammer (Germany)
1997 – Ronaldo (Brazil)
1998 – Zinedine Zidane (France)
1999 – Rivaldo (Brazil)
2000 – Luís Figo (Portugal)
2001 – Michael Owen (England)
2002 – Ronaldo (Brazil)
2003 – Pavel Nedvěd (Czech Republic)
2004 – Andriy Shevchenko (Ukraine)
2005 – Ronaldinho (Brazil)
2006 – Fabio Cannavaro (Italy)
2007 – Kaká (Brazil)
2008 – Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
2009 – Lionel Messi (Argentina)
2010 – Lionel Messi (Argentina)*
2011 – Lionel Messi (Argentina)*
2012 – Lionel Messi (Argentina)*
2013 – Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)*
2014 – Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)*
2015 – Lionel Messi (Argentina)*
2016 – Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
2017 – Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
2018 – Luka Modrić (Croatia)
2019 – Lionel Messi (Argentina)
2020 – Cancelled (COVID-19 pandemic)
2021 – Lionel Messi (Argentina)
2022 – Karim Benzema (France)
2023 – Lionel Messi (Argentina)
2024 – Rodri (Spain)
2025 – Ousmane Dembélé (France)

*Between 2010 and 2015, the Ballon d’Or was merged with FIFA’s World Player of the Year award. Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

BALLON D'OR

Ballon d’Or Analysis: African-Born vs. African HeritageTearful

Published

2 weeks ago

September 23, 2025

Kunle Solaja

BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

The history of Ballon d’Or winners of African descent highlights two distinct categories:

African-born winners: Eusébio and George Weah were both born and raised on the continent. Eusébio grew up in Mozambique before his rise with Portugal, while Weah’s entire football journey was nurtured in Liberia, making him the only Africa-based player to win the award.
European-born with African roots: Karim Benzema and Ousmane Dembélé were born in France to African parents. Their victories represent the strength of the African diaspora in shaping European football success stories.

Together, they underscore both the direct impact of Africa in producing world-class talent and the enduring influence of African heritage in global football, whether through migration, colonial ties, or diaspora communities.

Ballon d’Or Winners Since 1956