Best Ballon d’Or finishes by Nigerian players as Ademola Lookman set sights on new record

• Ademola Lookman made history by becoming the eighth Nigerian player to be nominated for the Ballon d’Or Award
• The Atalanta forward will aim to finish as high as possible on the 30-player shortlist published by France Football
• We shine a spotlight on the highest Ballon d’Or finishes by Nigerian players in the long history of this prestigious award

The stage is set, the golden ball gleams under the lights, and the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris stands beautifully adorned, ready to host the 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony.

This prestigious award, presented over the years to an elite lineup of football’s finest, is poised to crown a new winner.

Ademola Lookman celebrates scoring during the Africa Cup of Nations 2024 quarter-final football match between Nigeria and Angola. Image: Franck Fife.
Source: Getty Images

Among the favourites for this year’s edition is Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior.

However, the spotlight also shines on an African contender, with Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman making the final 30-man shortlist published by France Football as the only African player nominated.

Thanks to data from SoarSuperEagles, Lookman’s nomination marks him as just the eighth Nigerian ever shortlisted for the coveted award.

While Lookman may not be the frontrunner for the prize, the Atalanta star has his sights on surpassing a historic milestone: he aims to secure the highest Ballon d’Or finish by a Nigerian, a record currently held by Victor Osimhen, who achieved an impressive eighth place in 2023.

As the 2024 Ballon d’Or gala approaches, we look back at the best Ballon d’Or finishes by Nigerian players throughout history.

Ballon d’Or finishes by Nigerian players

Below is a table detailing the highest finishes of Nigerian players in the history of the Ballon d’Or.

*Note: Jay-Jay Okocha (1995) and Daniel Amokachi (1995) did not receive any votes and were, therefore, not assigned a position.

Arsenal star backs Vinicius

Legit.ng earlier reported that Arsenal defender Gabriel called Vinicius Junior the best player in the world and backed him to win the 2024 Ballon d'Or.

The Brazilian led the Spanish giants to La Liga and Champions League glory, scoring important goals along the way.

The 24-year-old is expected to clinch the Ballon d'Or award in October.

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Source: Legit.ng