Super Eagles and Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman has been nominated for the 2024 Ballon d’Or award.
France Football Magazine announced the list on Wednesday, September 4, 2024, featuring Lookman alongside 29 other top players vying for the coveted honour.
Ademola Lookman, the only African player on the Ballon d’Or list, played a key role in Nigeria’s run to the AFCON final in Cote d’Ivoire.
He scored twice, helping the Super Eagles secure a 2-0 win over Cameroon and advance to the quarter-finals of the tournament.
The former Everton, Fulham, and Leicester midfielder netted a goal in each half, ensuring Nigeria’s spot in the last-eight.
Lookman’s stellar form continued with Atalanta, leading them to their first European trophy, where he delivered a hat-trick in the Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen.
Last season, he contributed an impressive 17 goals and 11 assists for the Italian club.
Other notable nominees for the men’s player of the year include Vinicius Jr, Rodri, and Lamine Yamal.
Players from the Spanish national team and Real Madrid dominate the list, following their Euro 2024 and UEFA Champions League triumphs.
Prominent stars such as Jude Bellingham, Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe, and Vini Junior are also among the nominees.
This year’s Ballon d’Or nominations notably exclude eight-time winner Lionel Messi and five-time winner Cristiano Ronaldo.
The award evaluates player achievements between August 1, 2023, and July 31, 2024, with the winners set to be announced on October 28 in Paris, France.
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