2024 Men's Ballon d'Or: Ademola Lookman becomes 8th Nigerian nominee
Nigeria Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman has been nominated for the 2024 men's Ballon d'Or Awards, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.
The Atalanta BC player was shortlisted amongst thirty players who have performed well in the year under consideration.
Lookman's performance in the 2023/2024 season for club and country has caught the globe's attention, especially after becoming the first Player to score a hat-trick in a UEFA Europa League Final, which gave Atalanta BC their first major European trophy.
The Atalanta player of the season also helped Nigeria reach the final of the African Cup of Nations where they lost to Cote D'Ivoire and was included in the AFCON Team of the Tournament.
Lookman is the only African player nominated for the 2024 BalonD'Or and is the eighth Nigeria player like Finidi George, Daniel Amokachi, Austin Jay Jay Okocha, Kanu Nwankwo, Victor Ikpeba, Sunday Oliseh, and Victor Osimhen.
He goes against Real Madrid stars Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Jr, Man City’s striker Erlin Haaland, and Barcelona youngster Lamine Yamal.
List of Nominees
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
Rodri – Man City
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 main award will be held on 28 October at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris.
Uche Dozie
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