Soccer
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo with pip of Victor Osimhen. (Photo by Imago)
The organizers of the Ballon d’Or have confirmed the rules for the 2026 edition of the award ceremony, and several Super Eagles stars may be fancying their chances of claiming the prestigious honor, Soccernet.ng reports.
PSG star Ousmane Dembele won the last edition after helping his side secure a European treble: the Champions League, Ligue 1, and the Coupe de France.
This year’s race promises to be tighter, particularly due to the World Cup. Traditionally, the best player from the Champions League-winning team is considered the favorite.
However, in a World Cup year, the winning nation’s performance often shifts the direction of the award.
For instance, Lionel Messi won in 2023 after leading Argentina to World Cup glory — despite playing for Inter Miami at the time — while Erling Haaland, the standout player from the Champions League-winning squad, missed out.
Ahead of this year’s ceremony, the organizers have clarified the eligibility criteria. There have been lingering misconceptions that players based outside of Europe cannot win the Ballon d’Or. While that was true until 1995, the award has since become a global honor.
Although the award has been dominated by players based in Europe — as that is where the highest concentration of elite talent play — players at clubs outside Europe are fully eligible. As such, stars like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, who play outside of Europe, compete on a level playing field with European-based stars like Victor Osimhen, Kylian Mbappé, and Erling Haaland.
Soccer Can Victor Osimhen Win the 2026 Ballon d’Or?
When discussing the best players in the world, Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen is certainly part of the conversation. In fact, he is probably in the top three when ranking best strikers in the World. However, his previous season was not his best, despite winning the Turkish Süper Lig.
Last season, he recorded 22 goals and eight assists in 33 appearances across all competitions — scoring 15 in the Süper Lig and seven in the Champions League. In the Turkish top-flight, he finished fourth in the goalscorers’ chart, while in the UEFA Champions League, he was the joint-eighth highest goalscorer.
Given those statistics and his current club, Galatasaray, it is highly unlikely that he will win the award or even feature prominently in the rankings. Nonetheless, as the 2026/27 season approaches, he will be looking to produce a more impactful campaign and earn greater recognition for his hard work.
Kelvin Omachonu
Kelvin Omachonu is a professional football columnist and sports writer with over half a decade of experience covering major events and delivering captivating, analytically-driven stories.
A graduate of the University of Ibadan, he is fueled by a profound dedication to sports journalism and the beautiful game. His insights have previously been featured in respected outlets, including IndyPress UI, UCJ UI Newshive NG, Sportpremi, and a few others.
Away from work, Kelvin is an avid fan of basketball, enjoys a great movie, and is always discovering new music.
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