Oshoala, Benzema others nominated for Ballon d’Or as Messi is missing
Oshoala is one of five Barcelona players who were included in the women’s version of the prestigious award.
Super Falcons of Nigeria and Barcelona striker Asisat Oshoala is among the nominees for the 2022 Women’s Ballon D’Or award.
The 20-woman nominees were published on the Ballon D’Or verified Twitter handle on Friday.
Oshoala is one of five Barcelona players who were included in the women’s version of the prestigious award.
The which will be awarded on October 17, 2022 in Paris, but PSG star surprisingly Leo Messi is not among them.
Messi is the current holder of the award, and will not be in the running for the prize, which will be given before the start of the World Cup in Qatar.
Winner of seven Ballon d'Ors, the most in history, Messi has not missed a final list to lift the trophy since 2006.
The early elimination of his team in the Champions League at the hands of Real Madrid in the round of 16 was one of the factors that weighed most heavily on the Argentinian, who missed a penalty kick in that tie.
Neymar is also missing from a list led by Karim Benzema, who is the overwhelming favourite to lift his first Ballon d'Or after playing a key role in helping Real Madrid win LaLiga and the Champions League.
Real Madrid have six nominees on the shortlist, the same as Manchester City and Liverpool.
Ballon d'Or 2022 Nominees
Benzema, (Real Madrid)
Courtois, (Real Madrid)
Vinicius, (Real Madrid)
Casemiro, (Real Madrid)
Modric, (Real Madrid)
Rüdiger, (Real Madrid)
Salah, (Liverpool)
Trent Alexander-Arnold, (Liverpool)
Luis Díaz, (Liverpool)
Fabinho, (Liverpool)
Darwin Núñez, (Liverpool)
Van Dijk, (Liverpool)
Mahrez, (Manchester City)
Bernardo Silva, (Manchester City)
Phil Foden, (Manchester City)
De Bruyne, (Manchester City)
Cancelo, (Manchester City)
Haaland, (Manchester City)
Lewandowski, (Barcelona)
Heung-Min Son, (Tottenham)
Karry Kane, (Tottenham)
Kimmich, (Bayern Munich)
Sadio Mané, (Bayern Munich)
Leao, (AC Milan)
Mike Maignan, (AC Milan)
Nkunku, (Leipzig)
Cristiano Ronaldo, (Manchester United)
Kylian Mbappe, (PSG)
Haller, (Borussia Dortmund)
Vlahovic, (Juventus)
Kopa Trophy Nominees
Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Jude Bellingham (Dortmund), Karim Adeyemi (Dortmund), Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid), Gavi (Barcelona), Ryan Gravenberch (Bayern Munich), Nuno Mendes (PSG), Jamal Musaila (Bayern Munich), Josko Gvardiol (RB Leipzig) and Florian Wirtz (Bayern Leverkusen)
The Yacine Trophy shortlist
includes Yassine Bounou, Alisson Becker, Thibaut Courtois, Ederson, Mike Maignan, Edouard Mendy, Manuel Neuer, Jan Oblak, Kevin Trapp and Hugo Lloris.
The Women's Balon d'Or shortlist
includes Alexandra Popp, Aitana Bonmatí, Wendie Renard, Alex Morgan, Beth Mead, Asisat Oshoala, Marie-Antoinette Katoto, Millie Bright, Trinity Rodman and Ada Hegerberg.
