Ballon d’Or nominee Lookman hunts for greatness

This year has been one of extraordinary milestones for Ademola Lookman, with the Nigeria winger making headlines across Europe and Africa.

From his performances for the Super Eagles during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) to playing a pivotal role in helping Atalanta win their first-ever European trophy, the 27-year-old's star continues to rise.

"It’s been remarkable," Lookman told BBC Sport Africa.

"I've come on leaps and bounds and it's been a defining year in terms of progress and the steps taken.

"But this is just the start of hopefully something very special."

Lookman's progress has seen him listed as one of 30 nominees for this year's Ballon d'Or, with the winner of the award for the world's top footballer to be announced in Paris on Monday.

Being the only African on the men's shortlist added even more weight to his achievement.

"It's special being on the list and even more special being the only African," he said.

"We (my teams) and I 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 firmly in the running for the African Player of the Year award on 16 December.

One of the defining moments of Lookman’s year came in the Europa League final, scoring a sensational hat-trick to lead Atalanta to victory against a Bayer Leverkusen side who were aiming for an unprecedented unbeaten treble.

His performance at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin showcased his skill, vision and composure under pressure, and he became the first player to score a treble in a European final since Jupp Heynckes did so for Borussia Monchengladbach in the 1975 Uefa Cup.

"That night was special," Lookman recalled.

"The way we did it was incredible because Leverkusen were on fire that season.

"Those are the moments you wish and dream for."

That Europa League triumph was a fitting reward for a player who has worked hard to achieve his dreams.

After growing up in South London and beginning his career in the youth ranks of Charlton Athletic, his route to gaining the spotlight on the global stage has taken a meandering path.

Lookman joined Everton in an £11m ($14.26m) deal when he was 19, but he showed his willingness to adapt and learn when he moved to German club RB Leipzig

Loan spells back in the Premier League with Fulham and Leicester City followed, yet the forward has flourished since his switch to Atalanta in August 2022.

Moving to a new country, learning a new language and adapting to a different football culture can be daunting, but Lookman is thriving in northern Italy.

"Coming out of my comfort zone is never easy, but I'm open to that idea of learning and wanting to be better - not just as a player, but as a person also," he said.

"It's helped me to do that, to grow as a man. I'm glad I made that step."

His two years in Bergamo have been transformative and he believes the club's attacking style of play under coach Gian Piero Gasperini has given him the opportunity to display his creativity on the field.

"They allowed me to play my type of football," he explained.

"The coach likes us to attack, to score goals, to create. I've been able to show my qualities."

Qualifying for this season's Champions League has provided Lookman with another opportunity to test his skills against some of the world’s best teams.

"It's a different feel... a special feeling to it," he said.

"It's magical nights. It's a huge honour and a blessing to play in that competition."

Despite his early success with England’s youth teams, including winning the Under-20 World Cup in 2017, Lookman's decision to represent Nigeria at senior level was always clear in his mind.

"I was always a Nigerian, born and raised in the UK," he emphasised

"I've always been in touch with my people, with the culture. I was coming to and from Nigeria from a kid."

The decision to switch allegiance to the West Africans in 2022 was made easier by his deep-rooted connection to his heritage.

"The group was very welcoming from the first minute and took me in as one of their own.

"It's an honour to have that [Nigeria] badge on my chest and to be able to wear it with pride."

His performances for the Super Eagles have made him a fan favourite and he was a key figure in the side's run to the 2023 Afcon final.

Lookman's three goals in Ivory Coast saw him named in the team of the tournament, but Nigeria were eventually beaten 2-1 in the final by the hosts.

"We came up a bit short, but [we are] proud as a group to have shown our football in that manner," he outlined.

While Lookman's club career has reached new heights, Nigeria have faced their share of challenges this year.

The team's 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifying campaign has been fraught with instability, compounded by frequent changes in coaching staff.

Despite these hurdles, Lookman remains optimistic about the team's future, with qualifiers for the 2025 Afcon set to conclude next month.

"I think we’ve been positive in our approach in the past few games," he said, alluding to the team's efforts to find consistency after moving top of their Nations Cup qualifying group.

"Everybody knows we have a squad full of talent. And as we gel together, we'll show that a bit more.

"We’re all working hard towards the same goal."

Despite his accomplishments in 2024, Lookman is not ready to rest on his laurels.

"I'm anticipating the future because I'm looking forward to achieving great things," he said.

"I'm never really satisfied. That's always my mindset - let's go for more.

"I'm just focused [to] keep on fighting for the things I want."