Nigerian forward Victor Boniface has reacted to being omitted from the 30-man 2024 FIFA Ballon d’Or shortlist announced by France Football on Wednesday, September 4.

Boniface enjoyed a remarkable debut campaign in Germany where he won the award for the Bundesliga Rookie of the season.

The Super Eagles striker also played a key role as Bayer Leverkusen went unbeaten on the domestic scene as they lifted the Bundesliga title and German Cup. Boniface was named into the Bundesliga Team of the Season for his excellent contributions.

Bayer Leverkusen also reached the final of the Europa League before their run was halted by an Ademola Lookman-inspired Atalanta.

Boniface and Leverkusen have also added a third trophy after beating Stuttgart to claim the German Super Cup last month.

The reward for Bayer Leverkusen’s successful campaign was the nomination of three of the club’s stars in the Ballon d’Or roster – Florian Wirtz, Granit Xhaka, and Alejandro Grimaldo.

Boniface, following his omission from the prestigious shortlist, has taken to social media to vent his disappointment.

Memes d’Or pic.twitter.com/P9OQwJ0HE0

— Victor Boniface (@boniface_jrn) September 5, 2024

The 23-year-old posted on X, formerly Twitter, an image of himself with the ball and captioned it “Meme’s d’Or” apparently implying that the award shortlist was a joke.

Interestingly only one African player made the 30-man Ballon d’Or roster – Ademola Lookman.

The Atalanta man made the award nomination list after his heroics in the Europa League final where he scored a hat-trick as Atalanta defeated Bayer Leverkusen.

Lookman becomes only the ninth Nigerian footballer to be shortlisted for the Ballon d’Or after Finidi George, Daniel Amokachi, Austin Jay-Jay Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu (twice) Victor Ikpeba, Sunday Oliseh, Asisat Oshoala (twice), and Victor Osimhen.

Interestingly, for the first time since 2003, none of Lionel Messi nor Cristiano Ronaldo was nominated for the Ballon d’Or.