Nigeria has been included in the list of African countries with voting rights for the 2026 Ballon d’Or. The country is among the top 100 nations in the FIFA men’s world ranking, which is used to select members of the award’s international jury. According to the FIFA rankings, Nigeria is currently ranked 26th. This ranking allows Nigeria to participate in the voting process for the prestigious award.
A total of 20 African countries have been granted voting rights for the 2026 Ballon d’Or. The countries and their respective FIFA rankings are: Morocco — 6th, Senegal — 18th, Egypt — 24th, Nigeria — 26th, Algeria — 29th, Côte d’Ivoire — 31st, DR Congo — 41st, Cameroon — 43rd, Mali — 53rd, South Africa — 54th, Tunisia — 57th, Burkina Faso — 62nd, Cabo Verde — 64th, Ghana — 65th, Guinea — 81st, Gabon — 84th, Angola — 87th, Uganda — 89th, Zambia — 90th, and Benin — 94th.
The Ballon d’Or regulations state that the award is decided by an international jury of specialist journalists. Each jury member represents one of the top 100 countries in the FIFA men’s world ranking. The regulations specify that the FIFA ranking used is the one in effect when the nominee lists are published on September 8, 2026. This ensures that the voting process is based on the most up-to-date rankings.
The voting process for the Ballon d’Or involves each juror selecting 10 players in descending order of merit from the 30 nominees. The nominees are drawn up by the editorial staff of France Football, members of the L’Équipe editorial team, at least one juror from the previous edition, and UEFA ambassadors. The player ranked first by each juror receives 15 points, followed by 12, 10, eight, seven, five, four, three, two, and one point for the players ranked from second to 10th.
The player who accumulates the highest number of points will win the Ballon d’Or. In the event of a tie, the regulations provide a system for resolving it. If two or more players finish with the same number of points, they will first be separated by the number of first-place votes. If the tie remains, the number of second-place votes will be considered, followed by third-place votes, and so on.
The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony is scheduled to take place in London on October 26. The winner of the men’s award is expected to be announced at the event. The award recognises performances during the 2025-26 season, covering the period from August 3, 2025, to July 19, 2026. Performances at the 2026 FIFA World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations are also considered as part of the assessment period.
The Ballon d’Or is one of the most prestigious awards in football, and Nigeria’s inclusion in the list of voting countries is a significant development. The country’s football fans will be eagerly awaiting the ceremony to see if their favourite player will be recognised. With a strong showing from African countries, the 2026 Ballon d’Or promises to be an exciting event.
Key points
- Nigeria is ranked 26th in the FIFA men’s world ranking, granting it voting rights for the 2026 Ballon d’Or.
- A total of 20 African countries have been granted voting rights for the 2026 Ballon d’Or.
- The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony is scheduled to take place in London on October 26.
