4 things Victor Osimhen needs to do to force his way into 2027 Ballon d’Or contention

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Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen won the Turkish Super Lig with Galatasaray last season, but he will likely miss out on a Ballon d’Or recognition this year, Afrik-Foot reports.

The 27-year-old marksman contributed 22 goals and eight assists in 33 appearances for the Cimbom last season. He made a loud noise in the Champions League, scoring seven and assisting three in the run-up to Galatasaray’s round-of-16 finish.

But while that was a big deal in Turkish football, and it does not rank as anything special for a regular top club in Europe — especially if the achievements and numbers of other players like Harry Kane, Michael Olise, Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappe, and many other players are taken into context.

France stars Kylian Mbappe and Michael Olise

The 2026 World Cup would have also been a key occasion for him to enter the conversation — case in point Lionel Messi — but Osimhen failed to qualify with Nigeria.

The Ballon d’Or only considers the performances of players for a particular season. That is from August 1 to July 31. This is to ensure that the club and country performances are properly taken into context.

Today is the last day of the cycle for Ballon d’Or consideration for 2026. And with the 2027 cycle set to start from tomorrow, we write on four things Osimhen needs to change if he wants to force his way back into serious contention for the 2027 edition.

1. Turn Goals Into a Genuine Champions League Run

Super Eagles and Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen

Victor Osimhen finished the 2025-26 season as Galatasaray’s top scorer with 22 goals in all competitions, including a Champions League hat-trick away to Ajax, but the club were eliminated at the Round of 16 stage in Europe.

Usually, Ballon d’Or voting consistently rewards players who go deep into the Champions League knockout rounds over players who simply score heavily in a domestic league, no matter how dominant that league form is.

Unfortunately for him, a Süper Lig title even with the Turkish Cup won’t move the needle. Galatasaray need a real European run, with Osimhen scoring consistently.

The Super Lig is not even rated as one of the top five leagues. So even if he continues to win it and emerge as the highest goalscorer while doing it, he will not be considered.

2. Stay Fit And Available Across A Full Season

Osimhen’s career has been frequently interrupted by injury spells, and availability matters. Last season alone, he missed 14 games.

This actually matter more than people realize in Ballon d’Or calculations, as voters would often lean toward players who were present for every big occasion across a full campaign, not just prolific when fit.

A season where Osimhen starts the vast majority of Galatasaray’s league and European fixtures, rather than missing stretches through injury, would definitely guarantee more goals and the consistency of his case considerably.

The season he finished 8th in the rankings, he missed 10 games. But he featured in most of Napoli’s big games and scored.

3. Deliver For Nigeria on The Big Stage

International performances carry real weight in Ballon d’Or voting, and Osimhen’s biggest opportunities to move the needle for Nigeria arrive in 2026-27 through the upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations in June next year.

Unfortunately for him, he already missed out on the 2026 World Cup as Nigeria failed to qualify. A key case of a player who put himself in the Ballon d’Or conversation with his World Cup performance is Lionel Messi.

The Argentine maestro currently plays for Inter Miami, and although his numbers there are mind-blowing — 12 goals and seven assists in 14 games in the ongoing season — he would hardly be considered since the Major League Soccer is not regarded as a top league.

But his performance at the World Cup, where he registered eight goals and four assists and was a key player for the Albiceleste, has put him firmly in the conversation. In fact, if Argentina had won it, he would have been the frontrunner to win the award.

For Osimhen, a strong, visible tournament run with the Super Eagles in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania — one that sees Nigeria claim a fourth crown, will put him in the conversation to enter the rankings.

4. Maybe It is Time To Say Goodbye

Victor Osimhen of Galatasaray A.S. warms up

Although winning just a domestic league title is rarely enough, the fact that Victor Osimhen is playing in Turkey makes his Ballon d’Or aspirations even more difficult.

While Barcelona won La Liga and were knocked out in the Champions League quarterfinals, players like Lamine Yamal and Raphinha remain in contention for the Ballon d’Or because their domestic triumph carries significant weight.

Even players like David Raya and Declan Rice would still be in the conversation thanks to their strong Premier League campaigns, even without standout international performances.

For Osimhen, however, a Süper Lig triumph alone will not put him in the Ballon d’Or discussion. As a result, he may eventually have to say goodbye to the Cimbom if he wants to break back into the elite tier of Ballon d’Or contenders.

Top clubs like Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Barcelona have been linked with him recently, but none have managed to secure his signature. Aside from the massive financial demands of the deal, Osimhen has repeatedly stated that he is happy in Istanbul.

Moving to one of those elite clubs and shining on a bigger domestic stage would undoubtedly boost his chances. However, should he choose to stay in Istanbul, his Ballon d’Or hopes will rest entirely on stellar performances in the Champions League and the upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.