Lookman relishes Ballon d’Or nomination

Atalanta and Nigeria forward Ademola Lookman has described his nomination for the 2024 Ballon d’Or as a “special feeling.”

The versatile attacker, who was recently named on the 30-man shortlist for the prestigious award, has enjoyed a stellar season for both club and country. He is the only African to make the cut this year, ahead of compatriot Victor Osimhen, who was nominated last year, and Egyptian icon Mohamed Salah.

Lookman, who previously plied his trade in England, found his feet after joining Atalanta in 2022, as the former Everton man finished his first season with the Serie A side with 15 goals and eight assists in 33 appearances. He surpassed that in his second year, scoring 17 goals and providing 10 assists in 45 appearances.

His form also extended to the international stage, where he played a starring role for Nigeria at the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations.

The 26-year-old revealed on the Counter Attack Podcast how he learnt of his Ballon d’Or nomination while on international duty with the Super Eagles, saying, “It’s a special, special feeling, man.

“I was on a bus on the way back from training and I saw a handle post that I’d been nominated for the Ballon d’Or, and I was a bit surprised. I kept scrolling, and then I saw loads and loads of notifications, so I knew it was real.”

Lookman shared how his Super Eagles teammate Calvin Bassey reacted to the news.

“I am in a room with Calvin Bassey, and when I told him, he was just jumping up and down. He was very happy and was like, ‘You don’t really understand.’ That was when I took it in,” he said.

The Nigeria forward’s nomination comes after a historic performance in the UEFA Europa League final, where he became the first man to score a hat-trick as Atalanta defeated Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 to lift the trophy.

He was also impressed during the Africa Cup of Nations, scoring three goals and providing assistance as Nigeria reached the final in the Ivory Coast.

Lookman’s Ballon d’Or nod makes him the eighth Nigerian ever to be nominated for the award, and the forward is also being tipped as a leading contender for the African Footballer of the Year award.

Fresh from the nomination, Lookman shone during Nigeria’s AFCON qualifiers against Benin Republic and Rwanda, scoring twice in the Super Eagles’ 3-0 win over Benin in Uyo and having a goal controversially ruled out in the goalless draw against Rwanda. Despite transfer interest from PSG over the summer, Lookman appears set to focus on Atalanta with the transfer window now closed.