Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman has secured the 14th position in the 2023 Ballon d’Or rankings, announced during the prestigious ceremony in Paris, France.
The Atalanta star narrowly missed joining Victor Osimhen in the top 10, a feat Osimhen achieved with his 8th-place ranking last year. Lookman is notably the only African player among this year’s nominees.
Lookman’s ranking follows a standout season where he played a crucial role in Atalanta’s first-ever European trophy win. He netted a hat-trick in the Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen and ended the season with 17 goals and 11 assists. Lookman was also vital to Nigeria’s journey to the Africa Cup of Nations final, scoring twice as the Super Eagles claimed runner-up.
This season, Lookman has continued his impressive form with five goals and three assists for Atalanta, including a crucial goal for Nigeria in the AFCON qualifier against Benin Republic. His achievements have also earned him a spot on the Confederation of African Football’s shortlist for the 2024 African Footballer of the Year award.
With the Ballon d’Or list dominated by Spanish players following their Euro 2024 win and Real Madrid’s Champions League triumph, a Spanish midfielder is widely expected to claim this year’s award.
