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Top Ballon d’Or Finishes by Nigerian Players After Ademola Lookman’s Nomination
Football

Top Ballon d’Or Finishes by Nigerian Players After Ademola Lookman’s Nomination

by  Ero Samson 2 min read
  • Ademola Lookman made history by becoming the eighth Nigerian player to be nominated for the Ballon d’Or Award
  • The Atalanta forward will aim to finish as high as possible on the 30-player shortlist published by France Football
  • We shine a spotlight on the highest Ballon d’Or finishes by Nigerian players in the long history of this prestigious award

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The stage is set, the golden ball gleams under the lights, and the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris stands beautifully adorned, ready to host the 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony.

This prestigious award, presented over the years to an elite lineup of football’s finest, is poised to crown a new winner.

Ademola Lookman was nominated for the 2024 Ballon d'Or award
Ademola Lookman celebrates scoring during the Africa Cup of Nations 2024 quarter-final football match between Nigeria and Angola. Image: Franck Fife.
Source: Getty Images

Among the favourites for this year’s edition is Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior.

However, the spotlight also shines on an African contender, with Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman making the final 30-man shortlist published by France Football as the only African player nominated.

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Thanks to data from SoarSuperEagles, Lookman’s nomination marks him as just the eighth Nigerian ever shortlisted for the coveted award.

While Lookman may not be the frontrunner for the prize, the Atalanta star has his sights on surpassing a historic milestone: he aims to secure the highest Ballon d’Or finish by a Nigerian, a record currently held by Victor Osimhen, who achieved an impressive eighth place in 2023.

As the 2024 Ballon d’Or gala approaches, we look back at the best Ballon d’Or finishes by Nigerian players throughout history.

Ballon d’Or finishes by Nigerian players

Below is a table detailing the highest finishes of Nigerian players in the history of the Ballon d’Or.

Player NameYear NominatedFinal Position Standings
Victor Osimhen20238th
Nwankwo Kanu199611th
Finidi George199521st
Nwankwo Kanu199923rd
Victor Ikbepa199732nd
Daniel Amokachi1995No position awarded
Jay-Jay Okocha1995No position awarded

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*Note: Jay-Jay Okocha (1995) and Daniel Amokachi (1995) did not receive any votes and were, therefore, not assigned a position.

Arsenal star backs Vinicius

Legit.ng earlier reported that Arsenal defender Gabriel called Vinicius Junior the best player in the world and backed him to win the 2024 Ballon d'Or.

The Brazilian led the Spanish giants to La Liga and Champions League glory, scoring important goals along the way.

The 24-year-old is expected to clinch the Ballon d'Or award in October.

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Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Ero Samson avatar

Ero Samson (Sports Editor) Samson Ero is a sports journalist with a track record of over six years in the Nigerian media industry. He has honed his skills at EPL Partners Nigeria Limited and Transsion Holdings, where he covered various sports stories and general news working as Content Operation Specialist and Content Coordinator. He graduated from the Nigerian Institute of Journalism in 2023. Reach him via email at ero.samson@sportsbrief.com.

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