Ademola Lookman, a Nigerian forward for Atalanta, has been nominated for the 2024 men’s Ballon d’Or, as revealed by France Football Magazine. The 26-year-old is the only African on the 30-man shortlist for the prestigious award. Notably, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are missing from this year’s list.
Lookman had an outstanding season, helping Atalanta win their first European trophy, with a hat-trick in the Europa League final. He scored 17 goals and provided 11 assists for the Italian club last season. Lookman also played a key role in the Super Eagles’ run to the AFCON final, scoring twice as Nigeria finished second.
This year’s nominees include big names like Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe, and Jude Bellingham, with Spanish and Real Madrid players dominating the list.