Ballon d’Or 2024: Lookman reaches out for history with Vinicius set to win award

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There has only ever been one African football player crowned a Ballon d’Or winner.

George Weah earned the award in 1995 as a result of his performances for AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain.

The Liberian icon is regarded as one of the best attackers of all time and has won the African Footballer of the Year award three times.

Nothing from the continent has topped the Ballon d’Or voting since.

In 2022, Sadio Mane came the closest to winning after placing second.

Despite only scoring 23 goals in 51 games while playing for Liverpool at the time, the Senegalese winger played a key role in nearly leading the team to Champions League glory.

Ademola Lookman is actually the only African featured this year in the 30-man shortlist.

After a stellar season at Atalanta, where he won the UEFA Europa League and scored a hat-trick in the final against Bayer Leverkusen, Lookman was selected.

After ending the season with 11 goals and seven assists in 31 league games, he was also awarded Atalanta’s Player of the Year.

Lookman and the Nigerian Super Eagles advanced to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final, but they were defeated by the host country, Ivory Coast.

Will Lookman be able to end a 29-year wait with this?

“I think it’s almost unimaginable to see Ademola Lookman win the Ballon d’Or this year,” Wale Agbede, the Head of Sports at Plus TV, told ZINGTIE.

“I think the front runners for the Ballon d’Or are quite obvious. Vinicius Jr, Rodri, Jude Bellingham, etc.

“But it is a great recognition in itself. And come what may, the history books will have it that he was in the running. He is now definitely one of the top 30 players in world football.

“I think his chances are almost zero, but still great recognition for what he achieved with Atalanta and the Super Eagles of Nigeria.”

It is conceivable that a prophet will be respected in his own nation or continent.

When the Confederation of African Football, or CAF, has its own celebration in December, Lookman—Nigeria’s eighth Ballon d’Or nominee—is probably the overwhelming favourite to win the African Footballer of the Year title.

Along with Simon Adingra (Cote d’Ivoire/Brighton & Hove Albion), Achraf Hakimi (Morocco/Paris Saint-Germain), Ronwen Williams (South Africa/Mamelodi Sundowns), and Nigerian teammate William Troost-Ekong, the 25-year-old was part of a 10-man shortlist.

“For me, being the only African player that was nominated for the Ballon d’Or, should obviously make him the African Footballer of the Year.

“Lookman was very influential for the Super Eagles at the AFCON this year and he enjoyed a fantastic season with his club, also being instrumental to their success.

“I think you already have a winner for the CAF Player of the Year there.

However, the Ballon d’Or winner will be known before all of that.

Agbede disagrees with the prevailing opinion.

“I think Rodri is the best player in the world, to be honest.

“And I think Bellingham is a better player than Vinicius,” he added.

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