Ademola Lookman Shines as Africa’s Sole Representative in 2024 Ballon d’Or Rankings
At the prestigious Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, Ademola Lookman made his mark as Africa’s lone representative in the 2024 Ballon d’Or rankings, securing an impressive 14th position. The ceremony saw Manchester City’s Rodri Hernández claim the coveted prize.
Read Also: Rodri Wins Ballon D’or
A Historic Achievement
Lookman’s recognition stems from his phenomenal performance, including a historic hat-trick that propelled Atalanta to their first-ever Europa League title. This achievement earned him a spot among the 30-man shortlist released by France Football on October 26.
A Symbol of African Excellence
As the only African nominee, Lookman expressed pride in his accomplishment. “It’s special being on the list and even more special being the only African,” he shared with BBC Sport Africa. “We’ve achieved great things this year, with club and country. To be recognized as one of the contenders is a great achievement.”
Lookman’s Stellar Season
The 27-year-old Atalanta striker’s impressive stats include:
• 11 goals and 7 assists in 31 Serie A games
• 3 crucial goals helping Nigeria reach the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations final
Lookman’s success serves as a testament to African football’s growing influence and talent. His presence among the world’s top footballers inspires a new generation of African players and solidifies his position as one of the continent’s leading stars.
With this achievement, Lookman cements his status as a trailblazer, paving the way for future African footballers to shine on the global stage
The 2024 Ballon d’Or rankings crowned Rodri as the top winner, followed closely by a talented field of athletes. Rodri took the top spot, with Vinicius Jr. and Jude Bellingham rounding out the top three, and Kylian Mbappe, Lautaro Martinez, Lamine Yamal, Toni Kroos, and Harry Kane completing the top 10.
Other notable finishers included Phil Foden in 11th, followed by Florian Wirtz and Dani Olmo in 12th and 13th, respectively. Ademola Lookman secured 14th, ahead of Nico Williams, Granit Xhaka, Federico Valverde, Emiliano Martinez, Martin Odegaard, and Hakan Calhanoglu.
The remaining positions were filled by Bukayo Saka, Antonio Rudiger, Ruben Dias, William Saliba, Cole Palmer, Declan Rice, Vitinha, and Alejandro Grimaldo, with Mats Hummels and Artem Dovbyk sharing the 29th position.
Additional awards were presented to Aitana Bonmati, who claimed the women’s Ballon d’Or, and Lamine Yamal, who won the Kopa Trophy for best young player. Jennifer Hermoso received the Socrates Award for humanitarian work.
Emiliano Martinez took home the Yachine Trophy for best goalkeeper, while Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe shared the Gerd Muller Trophy for top scorers. Emma Hayes was named Women’s Coach of the Year, and Carlo Ancelotti was honored as Men’s Coach of the Year.
Real Madrid and Barcelona were recognized as the men’s and women’s clubs of the year, respectively.
Ademola Lookman’s accolades continue to grow as he’s been named a finalist for the CAF’s 2024 African Footballer of the Year award.
The 2024 Ballon d’Or rankings were largely characterized by the dominance of Spanish footballers, with numerous players from Spain’s Euro 2024 champions and Real Madrid’s UEFA Champions League winners making the list.
