Atalanta Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman has been nominated for the 2024 Ballon d’Or award.
Lookman alongside 29 other football stars were announced on the Ballon d’Or X handle on Wednesday.
He is the only African to make the shortlist for this year’s award and will battle it out against notable names like Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane, Rodri, Erling Haaland, Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden.
Others are William Saliba, Antonio Rudiger, Martin Odegaard, Lautaro Martinez, Cole Palmer, Nico Williams among others.
Lookman was impressive tor Atalanta last season as he led them to win the Europa League title, after scoring a hat-trick in the final against Bayer Leverkusen.
Also, he helped Atalanta reach the final of the Coppa Italia last season which they lost 1-0 to Juventus.
Meanwhile, Lookman is currently with the Super Eagles in Uyo who are getting set to take on Benin Republic and Rwanda, in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers.
The 68th edition of the Ballon d’Or, award will hold in Paris on October 29, 2024.
UEFA will co-organize the Ballon d’Or gala for the first time, with France Football retaining the voting system and the Ballon d’Or name.
By James Agberebi
9 Comments
Congratulations Ademola Lookman! The only African in the top 30 nominees. Surely, African Player of the Year award is a given by the look of things.
Fantasctic news.
Lets goooo. Hope he makes top 5 at least with his performance in the europa league final. African player of the year award is his. Joined the list of players to score a hatrick in a european final and the only african too. Good news
Balon D’or Top 5…..because of 1 game…??!
Haba Nigerians.
Apoty 2024….loading
Looking very likely the AFPOTY will go from one Nigerian to another Nigerian. Lookman has a lot of potential and I think so far only Paseiro has been able to deploy him in a formation that maximixes his strength.
I couldn’t see guinea stuggart player ,Hakim of psg there, some fools will be saying that our Lookman doesn’t deserve it
Last year it was Victor Osimhen who eventually turned out World nõ8 and this time around is Lookman, all Nigerians. Nice one outa there.
My only concern is the men’s coach of the year nominees: See list…
Carlo Ancelotti – Real Madrid
Xabi Alonso – Bayer Leverkusen
Luis de la Fuente – Spain
Gian Piero Gasperini – Atalanta
Pep Guardiola – Manchester City
Lionel Scaloni – Argentina
Congratulations. I expect him to come fifth after everything. Surely he is the Apoty 2024. You can’t score hat trick in Europa final. Gave great performance at afcon. Played final of Copa Italia and not win afcon.
We will dominate this award for the next five years.
Oshimen is still coming back hopefully if gets back to a main club in Europe.
Boniface is another player too.
In resume, NIGERIA to the World. Lets keep going there boiz.