Ballon d'Or: Osimhen Ranked In World Top 10 Best Players, Overtakes Kanu Nwankwo

Ballon d'Or: Osimhen Ranked In World Top 10 Best Players, Overtakes Kanu Nwankwo 

Ibrahim Lateef

Nigerian energetic striker Victor Osimhen has secured a place among the top 10 best players in the world in the 2023 Ballon d'Or rankings, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

The 24-year-old at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, France on Monday night surpassed formidable contenders like Robert Lewandowski and Mohamed Salah.

The recuperating Napoli ace ended up becoming the highest-ranked African player in the 2023 Ballon d'Or rankings, after beating Salah who was ranked 11th in the world.

He also became the highest-ranked Nigerian ever in the Ballon d'Or beating Super Eagles legend Nwankwo Kanu who finished 11th in 1996.

Osimhen had a stellar performance in the Italian Serie A last season, after helping Napoli to the title, ending their 33-year wait to lift the Scudetto.

He became the first-ever African player to win the Golden Boot, also known as the ‘Capocannoniere,’ edging out competition from Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez to land the coveted individual accolade.

His impressive goal-scoring record of 26 goals in 32 Serie A appearances was pivotal in Napoli's title triumph.