Super Falcons forward Asisat Oshoala has been ranked the 16th best female footballer in the world at the 2022 women’s Ballon d’Or gala held on Monday in Paris, France.
Despite not making the top three, the Nigerian is the first-ever African to be named in a 20-woman list of nominees for the women’s Ballon d’Or.
The Barcelona Femeni striker finished as the Spanish topflight league’s top scorer, netting 20 goals in 19 games, tied with Madrid CFF’s Geyse Ferreira.
In July, Oshoala was named CAF Women’s Player of The Year for a record fifth time, surpassing fellow countrywoman Perpetua Nkwocha’s four awards.
Meanwhile, Oshoala’s teammate Alexia Putellas won the Ballon d’Or Feminin for a second successive year, becoming the first woman to win the award twice since it launched in 2018.
Putellas, 28, was named the best women’s player in the world despite being sidelined since June with a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
She finished ahead of Arsenal’s Beth Mead and Chelsea’s Sam Kerr, who were second and third, respectively.
Prior to her injury in the summer, Putellas captained Barcelona to a third successive Primera Division title. The Catalan side made history by winning all 30 of their league games throughout the 2021-22 campaign.
She also led Barcelona to success in the Spanish Super Cup and the Copa de la Reina to complete a domestic treble, although they came up short in the Champions League.
