Ademola Lookman has etched his name in football history as the only African outfield player nominated for the 2024 men’s Ballon d’Or, marking a significant milestone for the continent.
The 26-year-old Atalanta striker features on a 30-man shortlist dominated by English and Spanish players, following their nations’ success at Euro 2024.
Lookman’s nomination comes after a stellar year both domestically and internationally. He played a crucial role in Nigeria’s run to the Africa Cup of Nations final, scoring three goals before the Super Eagles narrowly lost 2-1 to hosts Ivory Coast.
His club form has been equally impressive. Lookman netted 11 goals in Serie A, helping Atalanta secure a top-four finish and Champions League qualification. However, it was his hat-trick in the Europa League final that truly caught the world’s attention, as he led Atalanta to a commanding 3-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen.
The shortlist also includes Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, the 17-year-old winger of Moroccan and Equatoguinean heritage, highlighting the diverse African diaspora in European football.
Premier League champions Manchester City and runners-up Arsenal contribute significantly to the nominations, with a combined eight players on the list.
Notably, this year’s shortlist marks the end of an era, as neither Cristiano Ronaldo nor last year’s winner Lionel Messi feature for the first time since 2003.
As Lookman aims to build on his success in Bergamo, fans across Italy and Africa will be keenly following his progress. Recent transfer speculation has linked the forward with a move to Paris St-Germain, but for now, he remains focused on his performances for Atalanta.
Lookman’s nomination not only recognises his individual achievements but also shines a spotlight on African football talent on the global stage.
Men’s Ballon d’Or nominees
Jude Bellingham (England and Real Madrid)
Ruben Dias (Portugal and Manchester City)
Phil Foden (England and Manchester City)
Federico Valverde (Uruguay and Real Madrid)
Emiliano Martinez (Argentina and Aston Villa)
Erling Haaland (Norway and Manchester City)
Nico Williams (Spain and Athletic Bilbao)
Granit Xhaka (Switzerland and Bayer Leverkusen)
Artem Dovbyk (Ukraine and Roma)
Toni Kroos (former Germany and Real Madrid)
Vinicius Jr (Brazil and Real Madrid)
Dani Olmo (Spain and Barcelona)
Florian Wirtz (Germany and Bayer Leverkusen)
Martin Odegaard (Norway and Arsenal)
Mats Hummels (Germany, free agent)
Rodri (Spain and Manchester City)
Harry Kane (England and Bayern Munich)
Declan Rice (England and Arsenal)
Vitinha (Portugal and Paris St-Germain)
Cole Palmer (England and Chelsea)
Dani Carvajal (Spain and Real Madrid)
Lamine Yamal (Spain and Barcelona)
Bukayo Saka (England and Arsenal)
Hakan Calhanoglu (Turkey and Inter Milan)
William Saliba (France and Arsenal)
Kylian Mbappe (France and Real Madrid)
Lautaro Martinez (Argentina and Inter Milan)
Ademola Lookman (Nigeria and Atalanta)
Antonio Rudiger (Germany and Real Madrid)
Alejandro Grimaldo (Spain and Bayer Leverkusen)
