In the 2025 Ballon d’Or top 10 rankings, only two African players have made the cut, highlighting both their outstanding performance and the fierce global competition.
The two African players in the elite top 10 list are:
- Achraf Hakimi (Morocco/Paris Saint-Germain): The standout favorite, Hakimi has had a stellar year, winning the UEFA Champions League with PSG and tallying impressive personal statistics including 11 goals and 15 assists. His performances have established him as one of the best right-backs in the world.
- Victor Osimhen (Nigeria/Galatasaray): Osimhen has been pivotal for Galatasaray this season with his goal-scoring prowess and has earned well-deserved recognition as one of Africa’s top footballers.
Other notable African players in the wider Ballon d’Or top 30 list include Mohamed Salah (Egypt/Liverpool), Serhou Guirassy (Guinea/Borussia Dortmund), Omar Marmoush (Egypt/Manchester City), Yassine Bounou (Morocco/Al-Hilal), and Ademola Lookman (Nigeria/Atalanta).
Despite the significant achievements of these players, the limited African representation in the top 10 illustrates the growing challenge for African footballers to break into the highest echelons of global football awards dominated heavily by European and South American players.