Ballon d’Or: Ademola Lookman, Africa’s lone hope for glory
In a few hours, the football world turns its attention to Paris as the prestigious Ballon d’Or award ceremony unfolds.
Among the talented players vying for the title, Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman stands as Africa’s lone representative, hoping to join the legendary George Weah as the continent’s second-ever winner.
Since the Liberian legend won it in 1995-after an extraordinary campaign with Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan-
Sadio Mane has come closest to matching this milestone, finishing as runner-up in 2022, while Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen also managed an eighth-place finish in 2023.
Lookman earned his well-deserved nomination thanks to a stellar season with Atalanta, where he was instrumental in their UEFA Europa League triumph, scoring a hat-trick in the final against Bayer Leverkusen.
This victory marked Atalanta’s first-ever European trophy, achieved against a German side that had remained unbeaten across all competitions throughout the season.
Additionally, Lookman was named Atalanta’s Player of the Year, ending the campaign with 11 goals and seven assists in 31 league appearances.
His contributions were equally significant for Nigeria in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), where he helped the team reach the final, ultimately falling to hosts Ivory Coast.
The 27-year-old expressed his pride at being nominated in an interview with BBC Sports Africa, saying, “It’s special being on the list and even more special being the only African. We have achieved great things this year, with club and country. To be recognised as one of the contenders is a great achievement.”
Lookman is also in contention for the African Player of the Year award, scheduled for December 16, 2024.
Since moving from the English Premier League to Atalanta in 2022, the forward has made remarkable strides, consistently capturing attention with his performances.
Under coach Gian Piero Gasperini, Lookman has refined his skills and decision-making, establishing himself as one of the club’s most valuable assets.
So far this season, he has scored five goals and provided an equal number of assists for the club. For Nigeria, he’s been the standout player in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers, having scored two goals for the Super Eagles.
It remains to be seen if he can become the second African to win the award or match the recent top-10 finishes by African players in the past two editions.