The 2024 Ballon d'Or award has come to an end with Manchester City and Spanish player, Rodriguez Hernandez winning it for the first.

Nigeria Ademola Lookman was only African player in the Men's category finishing 14th in the rankings while Barbara Banda becomes the first African Woman to finished in the top 15 rankings of the women's category, ahead of Malawi Tabitha Chawinga who finished in 16th position.

While George Weah remains the only African player to win this prestigious award, achieving the feat in 1995 and also the first non-European player by nationality to win after a rule change allowed more players to be eligible for the award, Other Africans players has come closed in clinching the award.

Sadio Mané achieved the closest finish by an African player since George Weah, placing second in the 2022 Ballon d'Or. His remarkable performances for Liverpool and Senegal, along with his dribbling and pressing abilities, earned him recognition as one of the best players in the world that year, only trailing Benzema. 

Here are the Top 10 highest ranked African players in the Ballon d'Or Award.

1. George Weah ( Winner, 1995)

2. Sadio Mane ( 2nd, 2022)

3. Didier Drogba (4th, 2007)

4. Mohammed Salah (5th, 2019, 2022)

5. Samuel Eto'o (5th,  2009)

6. Riyad Mahrez  (7th 2016)

7. Victor Osimhen (8th, 2023)

8. Kanu Nwankwo (11th, 1996)

9. Yaya Touré (12th, 2013)

10. Barbara Banda (12, 2024)