Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman has been nominated for the 2024 Men’s Ballon d’Or award. The 26-year-old Atalanta star was included in the 30-man shortlist announced by France Football Magazine on Wednesday.
Lookman stands out as the only African player on this year’s list. Notably, eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi and five-time winner Cristiano Ronaldo are absent from the nominations for the first time in years.
Lookman enjoyed a standout season, playing a pivotal role in Atalanta's historic triumph in Europe, helping the club secure its first-ever European trophy. He was especially remarkable in the Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen, where he scored a hattrick. In total, he recorded 17 goals and 11 assists for Atalanta last season.
On the international stage, Lookman was crucial in the Super Eagles' journey to the final of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Côte d'Ivoire earlier this year. He netted two goals as Nigeria finished runners-up, losing 2-1 to the hosts in the final.
This year's Ballon d’Or nominations are dominated by Spanish players from the national team, following their Euro 2024 victory, and Real Madrid's UEFA Champions League triumph. Among the notable nominees are Jude Bellingham, Vinícius Júnior, Erling Haaland, and Kylian Mbappé.
Here is the full list of the Men’s Ballon d’Or nominees:
- Jude Bellingham
- Hakan Çalhanoğlu
- Dani Carvajal
- Martin Ødegaard
- Dani Olmo
- Cole Palmer
- Rúben Dias
- Declan Rice
- Artem Dovbyk
- Rodri
- Phil Foden
- Antonio Rüdiger
- Alejandro Grimaldo
- Bukayo Saka
- Erling Haaland
- William Saliba
- Mats Hummels
- Federico Valverde
- Harry Kane
- Vinícius Júnior
- Toni Kroos
- Vitinha
- Ademola Lookman
- Nico Williams
- Emiliano Martínez
- Florian Wirtz
- Lautaro Martínez
- Kylian Mbappé
- Granit Xhaka
- Lamine Yamal
