While France Soccer recently revealed the list of 30 candidates in the running for the 67th edition of the prestigious Ballon d’Orthe writing of Foot Africa invites you to explore the eminent gallery of African ambassadors who have had the distinct honor of representing the continent on numerous occasions in this illustrious assembly, a veritable pantheon of individual distinctions.
Read also >>The list of 30 nominees for the 2023 Ballon d’Or
Throughout the annals of Ballon d’Ora handful of valiant African ambassadors distinguished themselves by representing theAfrica over two times. In this matter, the essential Didier drogba sits at the top of the nominations with eight appearances (in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2012). This eminence is shared with his eternal rival, Samuel Eto’o Jr. (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011). However, the top podium has always eluded them, despite their undeniable merit.
It should also be noted that the only African athlete to have adorned himself with the precious gold trophy is the venerable Mister George Weahalready twenty-eight years ago, in 1995.
Below is the list of the most nominated African players in the history of the Ballon d’Or!
Eight nominations:
Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon): 15th in 200410th in 20056th in 200630th in 200717th in 20085th in 200912th in 20108th in 2011.
Didier drogba (Ivory Coast) : 17th in 200414th in 20058th in 20064th in 200721st in 20089th in 20099th in 20108th in 2012.
Five nominations:
Yaya Touré (Ivory Coast): 28th in 200912th in 201212th in 201314th in 201412th in 2015.
Mohamed Salah (Egypt): 6th in 20185th in 20197th in 20215th in 2022 and named in 2023.
Four nominations:
Sadio Mané (Senegal): 23rd in 201722nd in 20184th in 2019 and 2nd in 2022.
Riyad Mahrez (Algeria): 7th in 201610th in 201920th in 2021 and 12th in 2022.
Three nominations:
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon): 11th in 201621st in 2017 and 20th in 2019.
Two nominations:
George Weah (Liberia): 1st in 199512th in 1996.
Nwankwo Kanu (Nigeria): 11th in 199623rd in 1999.
Michael Essen (Ghana): 22nd in 200524th in 2007.
🚨 OFFICIAL: Mohamed Salah, Victor Osimhen, Yassine Bono & André Onana are nominated in the 30 for the Ballon d’OR! 🌍💚 pic.twitter.com/ODPIKVRqCo
— 🏆 Africa Foot News (@ActuFootAfrique) September 6, 2023
