Super Eagles striker Ademola Lookman has been nominated for the 2024 Men’s Ballon d’Or.
For the first time since 2003, neither Lionel Messi nor Cristiano Ronaldo appeared in the final list. African Player of the Year and former Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, who moved to Galatasaray on Wednesday, was also excluded from the Ballon d’Or nominees.
Lookman is the only African player nominated for the football prestigious award.
The Super Eagle scored a hat-trick when Atalanta won the Europa League Final against Bayer Leverkusen. The absolute favourite to win is said to be Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid after their Champions League and LaLiga triumph under Carlo Ancelotti. The winner 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.
Six players who helped England reach the Euro 2024 final are on the 30-man shortlist for the 2024 Ballon d’Or.
Captain Harry Kane, midfielders Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Declan Rice, and forwards Bukayo Saka and Cole Palmer are in the running for the prestigious prize, awarded to the best male footballer in 2024.
Lamine Yamal – the Spain and Barcelona winger who only turned 17 in July – is also in the running.
England reached the final of Euro 2024 but were beaten 2-1 in the final by Spain in Berlin on 14 July.
There are a combined eight players from Manchester City and Arsenal, who finished first and second respectively in the Premier League, nominated.
Argentina and Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi, an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner who claimed the prize in 2023, does not make the list this time.
It is the first time since 2003 that neither Messi, 37, or five-time winner Cristiano Ronaldo, 39, have appeared on the list of nominees.
With Karim Benzema and Luka Modric – the only other previous recipients still playing – also left off the shortlist, a first-time winner is guaranteed.
The award is voted for by a jury of journalists from each of the top 100 countries in the Fifa men’s world ranking.
The winners to be announced at a ceremony in Paris on October 28.
Ballon d’Or nominees
Jude Bellingham (England and Real Madrid)
Ruben Dias (Portugal and Manchester City)
Phil Foden (England and Manchester City)
Federico Valverde (Uruguay and Real Madrid)
Emiliano Martinez (Argentina and Aston Villa)
Erling Haaland (Norway and Manchester City)
Nico Williams (Spain and Athletic Bilbao)
Granit Xhaka (Switzerland and Bayer Leverkusen)
Artem Dovbyk (Ukraine and Roma)
Toni Kroos (former Germany and Real Madrid)
Vinicius Jr (Brazil and Real Madrid)
Dani Olmo (Spain and Barcelona)
Florian Wirtz (Germany and Bayer Leverkusen)
Martin Odegaard (Norway and Arsenal)
Mats Hummels (Germany, free agent)
Rodri (Spain and Manchester City)
Harry Kane (England and Bayern Munich)
Declan Rice (England and Arsenal)
Vitinha (Portugal and Paris St-Germain)
Cole Palmer (England and Chelsea)
Dani Carvajal (Spain and Real Madrid)
Lamine Yamal (Spain and Barcelona)
Bukayo Saka (England and Arsenal)
Hakan Calhanoglu (Turkey and Inter Milan)
William Saliba (France and Arsenal)
Kylian Mbappe (France and Real Madrid)
Lautaro Martinez (Argentina and Inter Milan)
Ademola Lookman (Nigeria and Atalanta)
Antonio Rudiger (Germany and Real Madrid)
Alejandro Grimaldo (Spain and Bayer Leverkusen)
