Ballon d’Or: Lookman ranked 14th as best footballer in the world

Nigerian Ademola Lookman has been ranked 14th place in the 2024 Ballon d’Or.

Lookman becomes third Nigerian to break into the Ballon d’Or top 15, after Kanu Nwankwo in 1996 and Victor Osimhen in 2023.

The 27-year-old is also the only African to make the 30-player shortlist for the 2024 Ballon d’Or prize. He is the second Nigerian to be nominated for the prize in two years.

The winger scored 17 goals and provided 11 assists in all competitions last season for Atalanta. He also assisted Atalanta in qualify for the UEFA Champions League.

He scored a hattrick in the Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen, winning Atalanta’s first-ever European title.

Lookman placed ahead of Arsenal’s Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka and William Saliba on the 2024 Ballon d’Or ranking.

The former Everton man was one of Nigeria’s best players at the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote d’Ivoire. He scored three goals as the Eagles won silver at the tournament and was also named in the competition Best XI.