Julius OkorieSuper Eagles and Atalanta forward, Ademola Lookman, who had a super run in the 2023/2024 season has emerged as the only African player in 30-man 2024 Ballon d’Or nominations.
Lookman it will be recalled helped Atalanta clinch the Europa League at the expense of Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen scoring a hat-trick in the encounter.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelIt also marked the first time Lookman will be nominated for the prestigious award in the course of his soccer career.
Compatriot and Galatasaray bound Napoli striker, Victor Osimhen, was a nominee last year. Aside from firing Atalanta to victory in Europa Victory, Lookman scored 17 goals and provided 10 assists in 45 games in all competition last in the 2023-2024 season.
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Lookman is currently in Uyo as part of the Super Eagles team to face Republic of Benin and Rwanda in the qualifiers for AFCON 2025. In the women’s category Zambia international and Copper Queens’ Captain and Orlando Pride forward Barbara Banda was the only African woman nominated.
The 2024 Ballon d’Or will be held on Monday, 28th October, at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, France
Full List Of Nominees For The 2024 Ballon d’Or:
1.Jude Bellingham (England and Real Madrid)
2.Ruben Dias (Portugal and Manchester City)
3.Phil Foden (England and Manchester City)
4.Federico Valverde (Uruguay and Real Madrid)
5.Emiliano Martinez (Argentina and Aston Villa)
6.Erling Haaland (Norway and Manchester City)
7.Nico Williams (Spain and Athletic Bilbao)
8.Granit Xhaka (Switzerland and Bayer Leverkusen)
9.Artem Dovbyk (Ukraine and Roma)
10.Toni Kroos (former Germany and Real Madrid)
11.Vinicius Jr (Brazil and Real Madrid)
12.Dani Olmo (Spain and Barcelona)
13.Florian Wirtz (Germany and Bayer Leverkusen)
14.Martin Odegaard (Norway and Arsenal)
15.Mats Hummels (Germany, free agent)
16.Rodri (Spain and Manchester City)
17.Harry Kane (England and Bayern Munich)
18.Declan Rice (England and Arsenal)
19,Vitinha (Portugal and Paris St-Germain)
20.Cole Palmer (England and Chelsea)
21.Dani Carvajal (Spain and Real Madrid)
22.Lamine Yamal (Spain and Barcelona)
23.Bukayo Saka (England and Arsenal)
24.Hakan Calhanoglu (Turkey and Inter Milan)
25.William Saliba (France and Arsenal)
26.Kylian Mbappe (France and Real Madrid)
27.Lautaro Martinez (Argentina and Inter Milan)
28.Ademola Lookman (Nigeria and Atalanta)
29.Antonio Rudiger (Germany and Real Madrid)
30.Alejandro Grimaldo (Spain and Bayer Leverkusen)
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
