2024 Ballon d’Or nominees: Lookman in, Osimhen out
Atalanta of Italy forward, Ademola Lookman has made a short-list of 30 candidates for this year’s Ballon d’Or award.
The Nigerian made the short-list because of his incredible run in the Europa League, scoring a hat-trick to inspire his Bergamo side, Atalanta to defeat the then unbeaten German side, Bayer Leverkusen in the final.
He was also inspirational in Nigeria’s run to the final of the Africa Cup of Nations early this year. He scored the two goals in the 2-0 defeat of Cameroun in the round of 16 and netted the goal in the 1-0 defeat of Angola that took Nigeria to the semifinals.
The 26-year-old was also named into the team of the tournament.
Lookman, in Super Eagles camp to prepare for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying games against the Cheetahs of Republic of Benin and the Amavubi of Rwanda, has succeeded his compatriot, Victor Osimhen who finished in the top 10 of the award last year.
The winner of the award will be announced during the prestigious ceremony in Paris on October 28, along with the Yashin Award for goalkeepers, trophies for best young player, coach and women’s player.
For the first time since 2003, neither Lionel Messi nor Cristiano Ronaldo appeared in the final list.
2024 Ballon d’Or nominees
Jude Bellingham (England, Real Madrid)
Hakan Calhanoglu (Turkey, Inter)
Dani Carvajal (Spain, Real Madrid)
Ruben Dias (Portugal, Manchester City)
Artem Dovbyk (Ukraine, Girona, Roma)
Phil Foden (England, Manchester City)
Alejandro Grimaldo (Spain, Bayer Leverkusen)
Erling Haaland (Norway, Manchester City)
Mats Hummels (Germany, Borussia Dortmund)
Harry Kane (England, Bayern Munich)
Toni Kroos (Germany, Real Madrid, retired)
Ademola Lookman (Nigeria, Atalanta)
Emiliano Martinez (Argentina, Aston Villa)
Lautaro Martinez (Argentina, Inter)
Kylian Mbappé (France, PSG, Real Madrid)
Martin Odegaard (Norway, Arsenal)
Dani Olmo (Spain, RB Leipzig, Barcelona)
Cole Palmer (England, Manchester City, Chelsea)
Declan Rice (England, Arsenal)
Rodri (Spain, Manchester City)
Antonio Rudiger (Germany, Real Madrid)
Bukayo Saka (England, Arsenal)
William Saliba (France, Arsenal)
Federico Valverde (Uruguay, Real Madrid)
Vinicius Jr (Brazil, Real Madrid)
Vitinha (Portugal, PSG)
Nico Williams (Spain, Athletic Club)
Florian Wirtz (Germany, Bayer Leverkusen)
Granit Xhaka (Switzerland, Bayer Leverkusen)
Lamine Yamal (Spain, Barcelona)
