Reported by Weng Patrick Atokor l Journalist at Weng Global
Former Nigeria international Sam Sodje has urged Super Eagles forwards Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman to improve their consistency and benefit from stronger team performances if they hope to return to contention for the Ballon d’Or, football’s most prestigious individual award.
Sodje believes the Nigerian duo still have the ability to compete among the world’s leading footballers but says individual brilliance alone may not be sufficient to secure recognition at the highest level.
His comments follow the announcement of the 2026 Ballon d’Or results, with neither Osimhen nor Lookman featuring among the 30 nominees for the men’s award.
England captain and Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane won the 2026 men’s Ballon d’Or at a ceremony held at the London Palladium on October 26, becoming the first Englishman to receive the honour since Michael Owen in 2001.
The absence of Nigeria’s two most prominent attacking players from this year’s shortlist has renewed discussions about their performances, international visibility and prospects of returning to the highest level of individual football recognition.
Sodje Highlights Importance of Team Success
Speaking in an interview with Africafoot, Sodje explained that although the Ballon d’Or recognises individual excellence, a player’s team performances can significantly influence how their achievements are viewed.
The former Nigeria defender argued that football remains a collective sport and that players competing for major individual honours often benefit from playing in successful teams.
He also suggested that Nigeria’s recent international difficulties may have affected the prospects of Osimhen and Lookman.
According to Sodje, the national team’s inability to consistently deliver strong results could have influenced the international recognition received by its leading players.
He noted that both forwards have not maintained the level of form required to remain regular contenders for football’s biggest individual award.
Sodje also pointed to Osimhen’s situation at Galatasaray, explaining that the level of competition in which a player operates and the achievements of his club can influence his chances of attracting global recognition.
Although he acknowledged that Osimhen has continued to perform well, Sodje believes the Turkish club’s achievements in major European competitions could affect the striker’s prospects.
He maintained that players seeking the Ballon d’Or must combine individual performances with significant collective achievements.
Osimhen and Lookman Have Previously Reached the Ballon d’Or Top 15
Despite missing out on the 2026 nominations, both Nigerian forwards have previously demonstrated their ability to compete with some of the world’s leading footballers.
Osimhen finished eighth in the 2023 Ballon d’Or rankings following an outstanding campaign with Napoli in Italy.
His performances helped Napoli win the Serie A title for the first time in 33 years, while his goalscoring contributions established him as one of Europe’s leading strikers.
The achievement also made him the highest-ranked Nigerian male footballer in the history of the award.
Lookman subsequently strengthened Nigeria’s presence in the competition when he finished 14th in the 2024 Ballon d’Or rankings.
The forward earned international recognition after an impressive season with Atalanta, particularly during the club’s UEFA Europa League triumph.
One of his defining performances came in the 2024 Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen, where he scored a hat-trick to guide Atalanta to a 3-0 victory.
The performance helped establish Lookman among Africa’s most influential attacking players and demonstrated his ability to deliver on an important European stage.
However, their previous achievements have not translated into continued appearances among the award’s leading contenders.
Their absence from the 2026 shortlist therefore represents a setback for Nigerian football, particularly after the progress both players made in 2023 and 2024.
Individual Statistics Not Enough to Guarantee Recognition
Osimhen and Lookman continued to contribute significantly during the 2025/26 season, although their performances did not secure places on the latest shortlist.
According to figures reported by The Punch, Osimhen finished the campaign with 30 goal contributions across all competitions, while Lookman recorded 12 goals and six assists.
Together, the two forwards also scored seven of Nigeria’s 14 goals at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Those figures demonstrate their importance to the Super Eagles and their respective clubs. However, the Ballon d’Or selection process considers more than goals and assists.
The award’s official regulations identify three principal assessment criteria, ranked in order of importance.
The first is individual performance, including a player’s decisive contributions and overall impact. The second considers collective performances and trophies won, while the third focuses on class and fair play.
For the 2026 edition, the assessment period covered August 3, 2025, to July 19, 2026, including international competitions.
This means a player’s performances throughout the season, rather than isolated outstanding matches, contribute to the overall assessment.
The selection process also involves an international jury of specialist journalists representing the 100 highest-ranked countries in FIFA’s men’s rankings.
Consequently, maintaining a high standard across domestic leagues, European competitions and international football remains important for players seeking recognition.
Nigeria’s International Performance Also Comes Under Focus
Sodje’s assessment also raises questions about the relationship between the performances of the Super Eagles and the international standing of Nigerian footballers.
Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup was a significant disappointment for the country and its supporters.
The Super Eagles lost to the Democratic Republic of Congo in the African qualifying play-off final on November 16, 2025.
The match ended 1-1 after extra time before DR Congo secured a 4-3 victory in the penalty shootout, ending Nigeria’s hopes of reaching the tournament.
The result deprived Osimhen, Lookman and other Nigerian players of the opportunity to showcase their abilities at the 2026 World Cup.
Although international team success is not the only determinant of individual awards, performances at major tournaments can strengthen a player’s profile and demonstrate their influence on the global stage.
For Nigeria, improving the competitiveness of the national team could therefore provide a stronger platform for its leading footballers.
A successful international campaign would also offer opportunities for Nigerian players to demonstrate their abilities against some of the world’s strongest national teams.
Confidence and Consistency Remain Essential
Beyond club achievements and international results, Sodje believes confidence and consistency are important factors in determining whether Osimhen and Lookman can return to the highest level.
The former defender urged both players not to become discouraged by their absence from the 2026 nominations.
He emphasised the importance of continuing to work hard, maintaining confidence and producing strong performances over an extended period.
For Osimhen, maintaining his goalscoring effectiveness and delivering decisive performances in major competitions will be important.
His ability to remain available, contribute consistently and help Galatasaray achieve significant results could strengthen his prospects of returning to the Ballon d’Or conversation.
Lookman, meanwhile, will need to maintain the attacking quality and match-winning influence that brought him international recognition during his time at Atalanta.
His previous Europa League success demonstrated that he can influence major matches. Reproducing that level of performance consistently will be important if he hopes to challenge the world’s leading players again.
Neither player, however, can determine the outcome of individual awards through personal performances alone. Their clubs’ achievements and Nigeria’s international progress will also contribute to the wider picture.
Africa’s Continuing Search for Another Ballon d’Or Winner
The discussion surrounding Osimhen and Lookman also highlights Africa’s continuing ambition to produce another men’s Ballon d’Or winner.
Liberia’s George Weah remains the only African footballer to have won the men’s award, achieving the historic feat in 1995 while playing for AC Milan.
Senegal’s Sadio Mané came close in 2022 when he finished second behind Karim Benzema.
Osimhen’s eighth-place finish in 2023 and Lookman’s 14th-place ranking in 2024 further demonstrated that African players can compete for recognition among the world’s footballing elite.
Their achievements also provided important visibility for Nigerian and African football.
However, establishing a consistent presence among the leading contenders remains a challenge for players from the continent.
For Nigeria, the next objective will be to build on the progress made by the two forwards rather than allow their previous rankings to remain isolated achievements.
Stronger club performances, success in major continental competitions and improved results with the Super Eagles could help create the conditions necessary for another Nigerian player to challenge for the award.
What Happens Next?
Osimhen and Lookman will have to concentrate on their performances during the coming football seasons as they seek to rebuild their individual credentials.
Their immediate priorities will include maintaining consistency, contributing to their clubs’ ambitions and helping Nigeria improve its performances in international competitions.
Sodje’s comments underline that returning to the Ballon d’Or conversation will require more than individual talent.
For the two Nigerian stars, the challenge is to combine personal excellence with collective success and demonstrate that they can sustain their influence at the highest level of football.
Their previous rankings have already established that Nigerian players can compete among the world’s best. Whether they can return to that position will depend on what they achieve in the seasons ahead.
Weng Global — Stories beyond borders
Sources
- The Punch – Sam Sodje’s comments on Osimhen and Lookman’s Ballon d’Or prospects.
- Africafoot – Interview with former Nigeria defender Sam Sodje.
- France Football – Official 2026 Ballon d’Or regulations and voting criteria.
- UEFA – Official announcement of the 2026 Ballon d’Or results.
- FIFA – Report on DR Congo’s victory over Nigeria in the 2026 World Cup African play-off final.
- Premium Times – Background on Nigeria’s absence from the 2026 Ballon d’Or nominations and the performances of its leading players.
