Ballon d’Or 2023: Asisat Oshoala can be proud of final ranking

Nigeria women's national football team striker Asisat Oshoala has been named the 20th best women's player for the 2022/23 season by France Football, the organisers of the prestigious Ballon d'Or awards ceremony.

Oshoala alongside Victor Osimhen made history for Nigeria when both were nominated for the award to make the West African nation the first on the continent to present a male and a female nominee.

Asisat Oshoala's finish pales in comparison to Osimhen's but the Super Falcons ace can hold her head high for the achievement which seals her status as the best women's footballer Africa has produced.

Asisat Oshoala ranks 20th in the women's Ballon d'Or 🇳🇬#ballondor pic.twitter.com/QjXcoxg8TY

— Soar Super Eagles (@SSE_NGA) October 30, 2023

Asisat Oshoala Ballon d'Or finish: The journey to greatness

The world recognised two treble winners in 2022/23 season: Manchester City men's team and Asisat Oshoala and her FC Barcelona Femeni team.

The achievements of the Barcelona women – who were recognised as the best women's club of 2023 at the Ballon d'Or awards ceremony – were a big feather in the cap of Barcelona, who are one of the world's most successful football institutions.

The whole team played brilliantly and it is difficult to point out an exceptional player without sparking an argument. Oshoala, however, still managed to stand out from the crowd.

Since joining the reigning Liga F champions in 2019, Oshoala has finished as their top scorer in all competitions in three of the four years she has been at the club. It is an amazing feat considering that she plays the role of a super sub in a team filled with amazing players like two-time Women's Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas.

Agba baller ⚽️

Lone African nominee: #Nigeria’s @AsisatOshoala ranked 20th #BallonDor pic.twitter.com/rxMe5vYsmQ

— Oluwashina Okeleji (@oluwashina) October 30, 2023

However, she made history by scoring the most goals in all competitions for the Blaugrana to help them clinch the UEFA Women's Champions League, Liga F and the Copa de la Reina titles. She also achieved the one thing that had eluded her since she started topping the Barcelona Femeni scoring charts: the league top scorer award.

It was an amazing season for the former Robo Queens striker, which earned her a place on the women's Ballon d'Or nominees list.

Here is the full list of the women's Ballon d'Or rankings including Asisat Oshoala.

Asisat Oshoala Ballon d'Or final ranking: Goalball Live assessment

Asisat Oshoala finishing in 20th is no surprise. While it can be argued that she deserves a higher finish thanks to her efforts in Barcelona Femeni's treble-winning season, any insistence on a better finish for her could devolve into the debtors not being taken seriously.

Nigerian 🇳🇬 Asisat Oshoala is 20th in the Ballon d’Or rankings for 2023. The Barcelona forward and record five-time African Player of the Year is the highest ranked African.

⚽️ 46 matches
🥅 29 goals
🅰️ 7 assists

🏆 Champions League
🏆 La Liga
🏆 Spanish Super Cup pic.twitter.com/wIlHGKMd3V

— Usher Komugisha (@UsherKomugisha) October 30, 2023

However, Goalball Live would like to insist that she could have finished higher as her fellow Barcelona Femeni nominees finished above her despite not having close to her numbers in their amazing season.