By Victor Kanayo
Nigeria and Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman has been nominated in the Ballon d’Or contest for 2024.
Incidentally, he is the only African that made the top footballers’ cut.
the 2024 Ballon d’Or nominees list was unveiled on Wednesday with Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal also making the 30-man shortlist.
Lookman, who plies his international football trade with Atalanta in Italy, is the only African player nominated for this year’s Ballon d’Or.
He becomes the 9th Nigerian to be nominated for the coveted award after Finidi George in 1995, Daniel Amokachi in 1995, Austin Jay-Jay Okocha in 1995, Nwankwo Kanu in 1996 and 1999, Victor Ikpeba in 1997, Sunday Oliseh in 1998, Asisat Oshoala in 2022 and 2023, and Victor Osimhen in 2023.
Lookman made the 30-man 2024 Ballon d’Or shortlist after scoring 20 goals and making 10 assists for club and country in the 2023/2024 season. Lookman won the 2023/2024 Europa League with Atalanta.
However, Nigerian compatriot Victor Osimhen, two superstars – Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are conspicuously missing from the list.
Full List Of Nominees
Ademola Lookman
Jude Bellingham
Erling Haaland
Kylian Mbappe
Lamine Yamal
Nico Williams
Florian Wirtz
Granit Xhaka
Emiliano Martinez
Lautaro Martínez
Martin Odegaard
Mats Hummels
Harry Kane
Toni Kroos
Hakan Calhanoglu
Dani Carvajal
Ruben Dias
Artem Dovbyk
Phil Foden
Alejandro Grimaldo
Dani Olmo
Cole Palmer
Declan Rice
Rodri
Antonio Rüdiger
Bukayo Saka
William Saliba
Federico Valverde
Vinícius Junior
Vitinha
