NIGERIA’s Ademola Lookman has been ranked number 14 in the 2023 Ballon d’Or award which is holding in Paris, France.
The Atalanta forward narrowly missed out in joining Victor Osimhen to become the only Nigerians to have made the top 10 in the Ballon d’Or award. Osimhen was ranked in the 8th position last year.
Lookman is however the only African player that made the award nomination list this year.
Lookman was in scintillating form as Atalanta won its first-ever European trophy last season, with the Nigerian scoring a hat-trick in the Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen.
He scored scored 17 goals and made 11 assists in all for Atalanta last season.
The former Everton player was also instrumental in the Super Eagles run to the final of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote d’Ivoire early this year.
He scored two goals as the Nigerian team finished as runners up in the competition after losing 2-1 to the hosts in the final.
In the new season, Lookman has picked up from where he stopped last season, recording 5 goals, 3 assists so far. One of the goals is for Nigeria against Benin Republic in Africa Cup of Nation’s qualifier.
Lookman has also been shortlisted by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for the 2024 African Footballer of the Year award.
This year’s Ballon d’Or list is dominated by players from the Spanish national team which won the Euro 2024 in the summer and the Real Madrid team that won the UEFA Champions League.
Manchester City midfielder Rodri has claimed the prestigious 2024 Ballon d’Or, finishing ahead of Real Madrid stars Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham in a historic triumph that marks the pinnacle of his inspiring journey.
After receiving his award, the Spanish international reflected on the uncertain path that led him to football’s highest individual honour.
In an acceptance speech on Monday at the ceremony in Paris, France, Rodri revealed a pivotal moment from his early career.
He said, “One day I told my father: stop, I leave football, my dream is over. But he told me… no, keep going, let’s try until the end.”
See the full list below:
