Super Eagles winger, Ademola Lookman, has earned a spot on the prestigious 30-man shortlist for the 2024 Ballon d’Or award.
The Atalanta forward joins an elite group of footballers, including Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe, and Vinicius Jr, as revealed by the award organizers on Wednesday.
Lookman’s nomination follows a stellar season with Atalanta, where he made headlines by scoring a remarkable hat-trick in the Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen, leading his team to a 3-0 victory. His standout performances on the European stage solidified his reputation as one of the top talents in the world.
The 26-year-old winger also played a pivotal role for Nigeria during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), where he scored three goals. Nigeria finished as runners-up to hosts Ivory Coast, and Lookman’s impressive form throughout the tournament further boosted his Ballon d’Or candidacy.
Last year, fellow Super Eagles star Victor Osimhen finished 8th in the Ballon d’Or rankings, and Lookman will be aiming to surpass that achievement in this year’s edition.
Lookman was linked with high-profile summer moves to Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain but ultimately decided to remain with Atalanta, where he continues to thrive.
