Ballon d’Or 2024: Messi, Ronaldo Missing As Ademola Lookman Becomes Only African Nominated

• Ademola Lookman has been nominated for the 2024 Ballon d'Or as the Nigerian continues to enjoy a stellar year
• The Super Eagles' attacking midfielder is the only African player in the 30-man shortlist released on Wednesday night
• Having inspired Nigeria to finish AFCON 2023 as runners-up, Lukman helped Atalanta to the Europa League title

Super Eagles playmaker Ademola Lookman has been nominated for the 2024 Ballon d'Or as he continues to enjoy a spectacular year.

Lookman deservedly earned the nomination, having impressed for the Nigerian national team and Atalanta.

He played a pivotal role in Nigeria's quest at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, where the West Africans finished as runners-up.

The attacking midfielder netted a brace against Cameroon in the second round and then scored the only goal in Nigeria's victory over Angola in the quarterfinal, as the Super Eagles finished the tournament as runners-up.

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Lookman single-handedly won the Europa League title for Italian club Atalanta this summer when he scored a hat-trick in the final.

The Nigerian international is the only African player in the 30-man shortlist released on Wednesday night.

101 Great Goals noted that neither Lionel Messi nor Cristiano Ronaldo have made the shortlist for the Ballon d’Or for the first time since 2003.

List of 2024 Ballon d'Or nominees

1. Antonio Rudiger – Real Madrid
2. Kylian Mbappe – Real Madrid
3. Lautaro Martinez – Inter
4. Ademola Lookman – Atalanta
5. Alejandro Grimaldo – Bayer Leverkusen
6. Dani Carvajal – Real Madrid
7. William Saliba – Arsenal
8. Lamine Yamal – Barcelona
9. Bukayo Saka – Arsenal
10. Hakan Calhanoglu – Inter
11. Rodri – Man City
12. Declan Rice- Arsenal
13. Harry Kane – Bayern Munich
14. Cole Palmer – Chelsea
15. Vitinha – PSG
16. Vinicius Jr – Real Madrid
17. Martin Odegaard – Arsenal
18. Dani Olmo – Barcelona
19. Florian Wirtz – Bayer Leverkusen
20. Mats Hummels – Roma
21. Erling Haaland – Man City
22. Nicolas Williams – Athletic Bilbao
23. Granit Xhaka – Bayer Leverkusen
24. Artem Dovbik – Roma
25. Toni Kroos – Real Madrid
26. Jude Bellingham – Real Madrid
27. Phil Foden – Man City
28. Ruben Dias – Man City
29. Federico Valverde – Real Madrid
30. Emiliano Martinez – Aston VIlla

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When is 2024 Ballon d'Or Ceremony?

The main award is scheduled to hold on October 28 inside the famous the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris.

Buffon speaks on Messi vs Ronaldo debate

Legit.ng earlier reported that Italian icon Gianluigi Buffon previously weighed in on the long-standing GOAT debate between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

The age-old debate over who reigns supreme between Messi and Ronaldo has captivated fans and pundits for years.

Buffon, a veteran goalkeeper and one of football’s most respected voices, provided a thoughtful analysis of the contrasting styles of the two football icons.

Source: Legit.ng