Ademola Lookman of Nigeria’s Super Eagles has been nominated for the Ballon d’Or for men in 2024. The Italian player from Atalanta was included on the shortlist for the coveted award along with 29 other players in the announcement made by Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) on Wednesday.
On the list, he is the only player from Africa. Additionally, the 26-year-old winger is the only football player from Nigeria included on the 30-man shortlist. He currently plays for Atalanta in Serie A. Both five-time winner Cristiano Ronaldo and eight-time winner Lionel Messi are not included in the running for this year’s prize.
Lookman scored a hat-trick against Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League final last season, and the Nigerian was in outstanding form as Atalanta won its first-ever European trophy. The player also led Atalanta in scoring with 17 goals and provided 11 assists in the previous season.
Earlier in the year, the former Everton player assisted the Super Eagles in making it to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final in Cote d’Ivoire. The Nigerian team lost 2-1 to the hosts in the final, but he scored two goals as they finished second in the competition.
The players on the shortlist are primarily from Real Madrid, the current UEFA Champions League winners, and Spain’s national team, which won the tournament in 2024.
Full List of 2024 Ballon d’Or Nominees
List of nominees for the Ballon d’Or:
Antonio Rudiger – Real Madrid
Kylian Mbappe – Real Madrid
Lautaro Martinez – Inter
Ademola Lookman – Atalanta
Alejandro Grimaldo – Bayer Leverkusen
Dani Carvajal – Real Madrid
William Saliba – Arsenal
Lamine Yamal – Barcelona
Bukayo Saka – Arsenal
Hakan Calhanoglu – Inter
Declan Rice- Arsenal
Harry Kane – Bayern Munich
Cole Palmer – Chelsea
Vitinha – PSG
Vinicius Jr – Real Madrid
Martin Odegaard – Arsenal
Dani Olmo – Barcelona
Florian Wirtz – Bayer Leverkusen
Mats Hummels – Roma
Erling Haaland – Man City
Nicolas Williams – Athletic Bilbao
Granit Xhaka – Bayer Leverkusen
Artem Dovbik – Roma
Toni Kroos – Real Madrid
Jude Bellingham – Real Madrid
Phil Foden – Man City
Ruben Dias – Man City
Federico Valverde – Real Madrid
Emiliano Martinez – Aston Villa
The Ballon d’Or, which France Football has been awarding every year since 1956, is the highest honor a football player can get for their extraordinary accomplishments and remarkable talent.
Men’s and Women’s Ballon d’Or, Kopa Trophy (best player under 21), Yashin Trophy (best goalkeeper), Gerd Müller Trophy (top scorer of the previous season), Men’s Club of the Year Trophy, and Women’s Club of the Year Trophy are among the prizes that will be given out in 2024. Men’s Coach of the Year and Women’s Coach of the Year are two new trophies that have been added to the list of awards, honoring coaches for their vital role in helping players succeed on the field.
On Monday, October 28, the 68th edition of the awards ceremony will be held at the magnificent Théâtre du Châtelet, which is situated at the Place du Châtelet in Paris.
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