Super Eagles Winger Ademola Lookman Ranks 14th in Ballon d’Or

Ademola Lookman secured the 14th position in the 2024 Ballon d’Or rankings during Monday’s glamorous ceremony at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, where Manchester City midfielder Rodri Hernández took home the prestigious award.

The Atalanta striker, the only African nominee on the 30-man shortlist released by France Football on October 26, received recognition for making history as the first player to score a hat-trick in a European final since 1975, leading Atalanta to their first-ever Europa League triumph against Bayer Leverkusen.

“It’s special being on the list and even more special being the only African,” Lookman said. “We have achieved great things this year, with club and country. To be recognised as one of the contenders is a great achievement.”

The 27-year-old had an impressive season, scoring 11 goals and providing seven assists in 31 Serie A matches, and he also netted three goals to help Nigeria reach the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

The final rankings saw Rodri claim the top spot, with Real Madrid’s dynamic duo Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham completing the top three. Dani Carvajal and Erling Haaland finished fourth and fifth respectively, followed by Kylian Mbappe (sixth), Lautaro Martinez (seventh), Lamine Yamal (eighth), Toni Kroos (ninth), and Harry Kane completing the top 10.

Phil Foden finished 11th, while Florian Wirtz and Dani Olmo placed 12th and 13th, respectively. Behind Lookman in 14th were Nico Williams (15th), Granit Xhaka (16th), Federico Valverde (17th), Emiliano Martinez (18th), Martin Odegaard (19th), and Hakan Calhanoglu (20th).

The remaining positions were filled by Bukayo Saka (21st), Antonio Rudiger (22nd), Ruben Dias (23rd), William Saliba (24th), Cole Palmer (25th), Declan Rice (26th), Vitinha (27th), and Alejandro Grimaldo (28th), while Mats Hummels and Artem Dovbyk shared the 29th position.

Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati claimed the women’s Ballon d’Or, while 17-year-old Lamine Yamal won the Kopa Trophy for the best young player. Spain’s Jennifer Hermoso received the Socrates Award for her humanitarian work.

Other notable winners included Emiliano Martinez, who took home the Yachin Trophy for best goalkeeper, and Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe, who were joint winners of the Gerd Muller Trophy for top scorers.

Emma Hayes was named Women’s Coach of the Year, while Carlo Ancelotti received the award for Men’s Coach of the Year.

Real Madrid and Barcelona were recognized as the men’s and women’s clubs of the year, respectively.