Nigerian Stars Shine at the 2025 Ballon d’Or

Nigeria’s cultural and sporting influence was unmistakable at the 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony on Monday, 22 September, where music and football came together on one of the world’s biggest stages.

Afrobeats sensation Adekunle Gold graced the red carpet in Paris, France, in a sleek black tuxedo while mingling with football royalty including Liverpool captain, Virgil van Dijk. Gold’s appearance follows Rema’s groundbreaking performance at the 2023 ceremony, and precedes the release of his sixth studio album, “Fuji”, which is due on 3 October.

Meanwhile, Sarina Wiegman, England’s “Women’s Coach of the Year”, delighted the crowd with a playful nod to Burna Boy. “Let’s celebrate our successes. And if Burna Boy is around, maybe we would do a little bit of dancing too,” she joked to cheers, underscoring Afrobeats’ growing global reach.

On the sporting front, Chiamaka Nnadozie, goalkeeper for Nigeria’s Super Falcons and Paris FC, earned global acclaim after being ranked the world’s fourth best. She shared the spotlight with England’s Hannah Hampton, who claimed the inaugural “Women’s Yashin Trophy”.

From the red carpet to the rankings, Nigerians left their mark on a night that celebrated not only footballing excellence but also Nigeria’s cultural influence.

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