Super Eagles winger, Ademola Lookman, has been nominated for the 2024 men’s Ballon d’Or prize.
Also nominated is Bukayo Saka who plies his trade in Europe.
According to the list announced by France Football Magazine on Wednesday, the 26-year-old Lookman Ademola and Bukayo Saka were shortlisted alongside 28 players for the coveted award.
Lookman scored 17 goals and made 11 assists for Atalanta last season.
He was also pivotal in the club winning their first-ever European title.
He scored a hat trick in the final of the UEFA Europa League as Atlanta defeated Bayer Leverkusen 3-0.
The winger was also one of Nigeria’s best players at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote d’Ivoire early this year.
He scored two goals as the Super Eagles finished second behind the hosts.
Other notable nominees in the men’s category include Jude Bellingham, Vini Junior, Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe.
Yamine Lamal, Toni Kroos, Phil Foden, and Rodri are also included on the list of nominees.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi failed to make the list, the first time either of the two has been absent from the Ballon d’Or nomination list since 2003.
*Men’s list of nominees ;
Jude Bellingham
Hakan Çalhanoğlu
Dani Carvajal
Martin Ødegaard
Dani Olmo
Cole Palmer
Rúben Dias
Declan Rice
Artem Dovbyk
Rodri
Phil Foden
Antonio Rüdiger
Alejandro Grimaldo
Bukayo Saka
Erling Haaland
William Saliba
Mats Hummels
Federico Valverde
Harry Kane
Vinícius Jr.
Toni Kroos
Vitinha
Ademola Lookman
Nico Williams
Emiliano Martínez
Florian Wirtz
Lautaro Martínez
Kylian Mbappé
Granit Xhaka
Lamine Yamal
*Women’s list of nominees;
Barba Banda
Marie-Antoinette Katoto
Aitana Bonmati
Alyssa Naeher
Lucy Bronze
Sjoeke Nüsken
Mariona Caldentey
Ewa Pajor
Tabitha Chawinga
Salma Paralluelo
Grace Geyoro
Gabi Portilho
Manuela Giugliano
Alexia Putellas
Caroline Graham Hansen
Mayra Ramírez
Patricia Guijarro
Trinity Rodman
Giulia Gwinn
Lea Schüller
Yui Hasegawa
Ada Hegerberg
Khadija Shaw
Sophia Smith
Lauren Hemp
Mallory Swanson
Lindsey Horan
Tarciane
Lauren James
Glódís Viggósdóttir.
(vitalnewsngr.com)
