By Latiifah Amusan
Nigeria’s football sensation, Asisat Oshoala, has once again been nominated for the prestigious 2023 Women’s Ballon d’Or.
This nomination comes after her outstanding performance with Barcelona Femeni during the past year.
The French Football, the organizing body of the award, officially unveiled the list of nominees through a tweet on their handle, generating excitement and anticipation among football fans worldwide.
Oshoala finds herself among the elite group of 30 nominees, showcasing her exceptional talent and dedication to the sport.
This isn’t the first time Oshoala has made history in this regard.
In the previous year, she became the first African player to be nominated for the Women’s Ballon d’Or, a testament to her consistent excellence on the field.
During the past season, Oshoala played a pivotal role in Barcelona’s victory in the Champions League, solidifying her reputation as one of the world’s top footballers.
Additionally, she was a key member of the Nigerian national team, although their journey in the 2023 Women’s World Cup ended in the round of 16 in Australia/New Zealand.
The 28-year-old Nigerian athlete showcased her prowess in Barcelona’s Primera Division triumph, and her contribution was instrumental as the team clinched the Supercopa de Espana Femenina, completing a historic treble.
Notably, Oshoala netted an impressive 21 goals in 28 league matches during the season.
The 2023 Women’s Ballon d’Or promises stiff competition, with renowned talents such as Women’s World Cup winner Aitana Bonmati, Golden Boot recipient Hinata Miyazawa, and Colombian prodigy Linda Caicedo all making the prestigious shortlist.
Here’s the full list of nominees for the 2023 Women’s Ballon d’Or:
- Khadija Shaw (Man City)
- Mapi Leon (Barcelona)
- Mary Earps (Man United)
- Asisat Oshoala (Barcelona)
- Wendie Renard (Lyon)
- Katie Mccabe (Arsenal)
- Jill Roord (Wolfsburg and Man City)
- Yui Hasegawa (Man City)
- Alexandra Popp (Wolfsburg)
- Aitana Bonmati (Barcelona)
- Debinha (Kansas City)
- Sam Kerr (Chelsea)
- Reiten (Chelsea)
- Ewa Pajor (Wolfsburg)
- Patricia Guijarro (Barcelona)
- Daphne Van Domselaar (Twente and Aston Villa)
- Lena Oberdorf (Wolfsburg)
- Hinata Miyazawa (MyNavi Sendai and Man United)
- Millie Bright (Chelsea)
- Salma Paralluelo (Barcelona)
- Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns)
- Hayley Raso (Man City and Real Madrid)
- Amanda Ilestedt (PSG and Arsenal)
- Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich)
- Olga Ramona (Real Madrid)
- Fridolina Rolfo (Barcelona)
- Rachel Daly (Aston Villa)
- Alba Redondo (Levante)
- Linda Caicedo (Real Madrid)
- Kadidiatou Diani (Lyon)
.
