Ademola Lookman Nominated for 2024 Ballon d’Or is another remarkable moment for Nigerian and African football, following an impressive 2023/2024 football season
France Football Magazine made the announcement, placing Lookman as one of the elite 30 nominees for the prestigious award. Subsequently, this elevates him to this unique and privileged category of professional footballers globally.
At age 26, Lookman who plays for Atalata in Italy, is the only nominee from Africa this year following the footsteps of Victor Osihmen who was a nominee last year.
His nomination speaks to a phenomenal season he has enjoyed, and the star player from Nigeria has the attention of the football world, regardless of the reasons for his nomination.
His key contributions to Atalanta’s first-ever European trophy – a hat-trick in the Club’s Europa league final against Bayer Leverkusen – have also built him an affinity with rising- stardom.
Ademola Lookman Nominated for 2024 Ballon d’Or: 2023/2024 A Season of Brilliance
Lookman’s nomination takes into account a multitude of achievements throughout the 2023-2024 season when he scored 17 goals and assisted 11 times, making him one of the most essential players in Serie A.
This incredible performance propelled Atalanta into their Champions League run with their European Victory, and made it a special season for not only the club but Lookman personally.
He also delivered on the International stage in the earlier campaign, in leading Nigeria to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final, where he scored 2 vital goals in Nigeria’s lineup securing a runner-up position.
Despite the Super Eagles falling short against Cote d’Ivoire, the Host Nation, 2-1 in the final, the contributions by Ademola Lookman should still more than account for an impressive campaign and success for himself personally and Nigeria overall.
Football Superstars Missing Out on Nomination
It is nothing but a surprise that in the 2024 Ballon d’or list, iconic football players like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo who have featured the list for more than a decade will not appear this time around.
Messi, who has won the Ballon d’or eight times and Ronaldo with five medals did not make the list in 2024 and this appears to be a turning point for International Soccer.
There is a new generation of football talent emerging. Players like Jude Bellingham, Vinícius Jr., Erling Haaland, and Kylian Mbappé will all define the next few years of football talent as players representing the victorious Spanish national team and other players who are in line for the award.
For Ademola Lookman and his nomination personal success is recognized and reflects the global impact on players from the continent of Africa. Lookman’s recent performances at the club level and for Nigeria have changed his status and placed him in consideration as one of the world’s best players.
Since Geroge Weah won the Ballon d’Or in 1995 another African star is yet to step up although Victor Osihmen’s nomination last year and Lookman also being nominated for this year’s award is a big improvement for African football in global ranking.
It is such a historic feat to see Ademola Lookman Nominated for 2024 Ballon d’Or. Lookman’s nomination is a source of motivation and success to many fans in Nigeria and around the world as he continues to push the limits of football and is a beacon for young African players.
To Lookman, this nomination is the result of tireless and relentless hard work, skill, and determination as he strives continuously to make a good name for himself on the pitch of our favorite game and this seems to be only the beginning.
