Ballon d’Or: Osimhen becomes first Nigerian footballer to be ranked in top eight

The Super Eagles striker had a remarkable season, and he has been rewarded for his exploits 

Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has been ranked as the eighth-best player in the world at the Balon d'Or award ceremony in France, Soccernet reports.

The yardstick for the Balon d'Or awards is the players' performances in the previous season for club and country, and Osimhen ticked both boxes with flying colours last season. The Super Eagles striker had a remarkable campaign for Napoli, scoring 31 goals in 39 appearances.

His brilliance was key when the Partenopeans won their first Scudetto in 33 years and finished in the quarterfinal of the UEFA Champions League for the first time.

Osimhen was also superb for Nigeria, scoring goals aplenty in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, albeit he could not help the country secure a World Cup ticket.

Following a superb year, the 24-year-old was nominated for the Balon d'Or award. And in the ceremony, he has been ranked eighth in the world.

He is also the only African player in the top ten. He is ranked above Mohammed Salah and Yassine Bounou, who are contenders for this year's CAF Awards.

Osimhen is the first Nigerian ever to be in the top ten.