France Football Magazine released the list of 30 nominees on Wednesday, and Lookman, who plays for Atalanta in Italy, is the only African player shortlisted for this prestigious honor.
Surprisingly, Lionel Messi, an eight-time winner and last year’s Ballon d’Or recipient, did not make the list. Cristiano Ronaldo, a five-time winner, is also absent for the first time since 2003.
Ademola Lookman had an outstanding season with Atalanta, helping the club win its first-ever European trophy. He made a significant impact by scoring a hat-trick in the Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen.
In total, the 26-year-old striker scored 17 goals and provided 11 assists for Atalanta last season.
He also played a key role for Nigeria’s Super Eagles in their journey to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final in Côte d’Ivoire earlier this year, scoring two goals in the tournament.
Nigeria finished as runners-up after a 2-1 loss to the host nation in the final.
This year’s Ballon d’Or nominations are heavily dominated by players from Spain’s national team, which won Euro 2024, and Real Madrid, the UEFA Champions League winners.
Some notable names on the list include Jude Bellingham, Vini Junior, Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe, Yamine Lamal, Toni Kroos, Phil Foden, and Rodri.
The absence of Messi and Ronaldo marks the first time in two decades that neither player has been nominated.
KanyiDaily recalls that last year, Nigerian striker, Victor Osimhen achieved the remarkable feat of securing the 8th Best Player position at the 2023 Ballon d’Or event held in Paris, France.
Former US First Lady, Melania Trump has spoken out in defense of her nude modeling…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has clarified that former Kogi State Governor Yahaya…
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) found over 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant…
Nigerian entertainer, Speed Darlington has admitted that he no longer feels the need for the…
Big Brother Naija reality star, Phyna taken to social media to address men who complain…
The Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) has addressed concerns about recent earth tremors in the…