Super Eagles of Nigeria forward, Ademola Lookman is the only African player nominated for the 2024 Ballon d’Or after having a beautiful run in the 2023-2024 season.
The 2024 Ballon d’Or nomination is the first in the history of Ademola Lookman’s football career.
Recall that Lookman gave an unprecedented account of himself during the 2023-2024 season in which he scored 17 goals and provided 10 assists in 45 games in all competitions for Atalanta.
The performance of the 26-year-old forward helped Atalanta to win their first Europa League title. Recall that Lookman scored a historic hat-trick in the final of the competition.
Lookman, who was also one of Nigeria’s best players at the 2023 AFCON, which was played between January and February 2024, will compete with Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham of Real Madrid for the 2024 Ballon d’Or.
Below are all the players nominated for the 2024 Ballon d’Or:
Jude Bellingham (England and Real Madrid)
Ruben Dias (Portugal and Manchester City)
Phil Foden (England and Manchester City)
Federico Valverde (Uruguay and Real Madrid)
Emiliano Martinez (Argentina and Aston Villa)
Erling Haaland (Norway and Manchester City)
Nico Williams (Spain and Athletic Bilbao)
Granit Xhaka (Switzerland and Bayer Leverkusen)
Artem Dovbyk (Ukraine and Roma)
Toni Kroos (former Germany and Real Madrid)
Vinicius Jr (Brazil and Real Madrid)
Dani Olmo (Spain and Barcelona)
Florian Wirtz (Germany and Bayer Leverkusen)
Martin Odegaard (Norway and Arsenal)
Mats Hummels (Germany, free agent)
Rodri (Spain and Manchester City)
Harry Kane (England and Bayern Munich)
Declan Rice (England and Arsenal)
Vitinha (Portugal and Paris St-Germain)
Cole Palmer (England and Chelsea)
Dani Carvajal (Spain and Real Madrid)
Lamine Yamal (Spain and Barcelona)
Bukayo Saka (England and Arsenal)
Hakan Calhanoglu (Turkey and Inter Milan)
William Saliba (France and Arsenal)
Kylian Mbappe (France and Real Madrid)
Lautaro Martinez (Argentina and Inter Milan)
Ademola Lookman (Nigeria and Atalanta)
Antonio Rudiger (Germany and Real Madrid)
Alejandro Grimaldo (Spain and Bayer Leverkusen)
