Super Eagles and Atalanta winger, Ademola Lookman, was amongst the 28 players shortlisted for world football’s most prestigious individual award, The Ballon d’Or, Afrosport reports.
Nominated for the 2024 Ballon d’Or
Ademola Lookman
Atalanta Bergame
Nigeria#ballondor pic.twitter.com/1ODk7OaSFW— Ballon d’Or (@ballondor) September 4, 2024
Ahead of the ceremony scheduled to be held on October 28 at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, France, the organisers of the award, French Football, revealed the full list of the nominees in the various categories on Wednesday.
Lookman, who led Atalanta to their first-ever European title, when they defeated German champions Bayer Leverkusen to win the UEFA Europa League, scoring a hat-trick in the final, becomes the eighth Nigerian to be shortlisted for the Ballon d’Or.
The 26-year-old joins other Super Eagles greats like former national team head coach Finidi George (1995), Daniel Amokachi (1995), Austin Okocha (1995), Kanu Nwankwo (1996, 1999), Victor Ikpeba (1997), Sunday Oliseh (1998) and Victor Osimhen (2023), who most recently become the first Nigerian to be in the top 10 after finishing eighth in the ranking.
Ademola Lookman is the 𝐄𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐇 Nigerian to be nominated for the men’s Ballon d’Or awards.
Repping Naija 🇳🇬 pic.twitter.com/UwXTvc1xku
— Soar Super Eagles (@SSE_NGA) September 4, 2024
The former Leicester City and Fulham forward will have to contend for the honour with some of the biggest name in the round leather game, including the Real Madrid duo of Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham, who were both integral in Los Blancos winning their 36th La Liga title and 15th Champions League trophy.
The initial shortlist also includes Manchester City’s talisman Rodri, who won the Premier League, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup as well as the European Championship with Spain this summer.
They’re all here!
But… who should win it? #ballondor pic.twitter.com/SrkHBrJtuI
— Ballon d’Or (@ballondor) September 4, 2024
Others notable names on the list are France and Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe, Bukayo Saka, Lamine Yamal, who is the youngest nominee, Nico Williams, William Saliba, Harry Kane, Toni Kroos, Cole Palmer and Phil Foden.
Meanwhile, for the first time in about two decades, one of seven-time winner Lionel Messi or five-time recipient Cristiano Ronaldo has not made the shortlist, bringing an end to their utter dominance of the award.
In the women’s category, Chelsea’s Lauren James, Malawi and Paris Saint-German forward Tabitha Chawinga, current holder Aitana Bonmatí and Man City striker Khadija Shaw all headline the shortlist of players.
Here’s the full recap of the 2024 Women’s Ballon d’Or nominees!#ballondor pic.twitter.com/xlleWGWw0I
— Ballon d’Or (@ballondor) September 4, 2024
The performances of the nominees not only at the club level but also at the various major tournaments that took place over the past 12 months were taken into account when selecting this year’s list of potential winners.
Full list of Ballon d’Or nominees (Men)
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
Full list of Ballon d’Or nominees (Women)
Lauren Hemp – Man City
Trinity Rodman – Washington Spirit
Barbra Banda – Shanghai RCB/Orlando Pride
Tarciane Lime – Houston Dash
Manuela Giugliano – Roma
Mallory Swanson – Chicago Red Stars
Glodis Viggosdottir – Bayern Munich
Mariona Caldentey – Barcelona/Arsenal
Lauren James – Chelsea
Patricia Guijarro – Barcelona
Lea Schuller – Bayern Munich
Gabi Portilho – Corinthians
Tabitha Chawinga – PSG
Caroline Graham Hansen – Barcelona
Lindsey Horan – Lyon
Lucy Bronze – Barcelona/Chelsea
Yui Hasegawa – Man City
Ada Hegerberg – Lyon
Sjoeke Nüsken – Chelsea
Aitana Bonmati – Barcelona
Alex Putellas – Barcelona
Grace Geyoro – PSG
Khadija Shaw – Man City
Guilia Gwinn – Bayern Munich
Salma Paralluelo – Barcelona
Ewa Pajor – Wolfsburg/Barcelona
Sophie Smith – Portland Thorns
Marie-Antoinette Katoto – PSG
Mayra Ramirez – Chelsea
Alyssa Naeher – Chicago Red Stars
Ewa Pajor – Wolfsburg/Barcelona
Sophie Smith – Portland Thorns
Marie-Antoinette Katoto – PSG
Mayra Ramirez – Chelsea
Alyssa Naeher – Chicago Red Stars
