Oluwatosin Enesi
The list, which was released by the world football body on Thursday, had the Napoli forward as the only African still in the race for the most coveted football individual prize, after his compatriot, Asisat Oshola, failed to make the final shortlist for the women’s category of the prestigious awards.
The qualifying period for the prize is between December 19, 2022 and August 10, 2023, with nominees including Argentina captain Lionel Messi, Frenchman Kylian Mbappe and Norwegian Manchester City striker Erling Haaland.
Osimhen scored 29 goals while helping Napoli to win the Serie A title for the first time in over three decades within this period. He also emerged as last season’s Serie A top scorer and was named in the league’s Team of The Season.
Other players on the shortlist are Kevin De Bruyne, Julian Alvarez, Marcelo Brozovic, Ilkay Gundogan, Rodrigo Cascante, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Declan Rice and Bernado Silva.
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