At the 2024 Ballon d’Or awards held in the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, Manchester City’s Rodri Hernández walked away with football’s most coveted individual prize beating Real Madrid’s Vinicus Jnr and Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez.
Meanwhile, Ademola Lookman, the only African player on the 30-man shortlist, proudly earned the 14th spot.
Ademola Lookman, currently playing as a winger for Atalanta, had an impressive season that caught global attention. Lookman’s exceptional performances in the Europa League were instrumental in leading Atalanta to their first-ever victory in the tournament.
His hat-trick in the final match was a standout moment, marking a high point in his career and solidifying his place among the sport’s elite players.
Reflecting on his journey to the Ballon d’Or nomination, Lookman shared with BBC Sport Africa: “It’s special being on the list and even more special being the only African. We have achieved great things this year, with club and country.
To be recognised as one of the contenders is a great achievement.” At 27, Lookman scored 11 goals and provided seven assists in Serie A, while also scoring three goals for Nigeria to secure a spot in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations final. His ranking as 14th in the Ballon d’Or cements his reputation as one of Africa’s top players and a force on the global stage.
The top three rankings featured Rodri as the winner, a monumental achievement for the Spanish midfielder known for his consistent performances for Manchester City. He was followed by fierce competitors like Kylian Mbappe and Lautaro Martinez, who rounded out the top ranks.
Among other notable placements, Phil Foden finished in 11th place, closely followed by Florian Wirtz in 12th and Dani Olmo in 13th. Behind Lookman, Nico Williams secured the 15th spot, and Granit Xhaka, Federico Valverde, Emiliano Martinez, Martin Odegaard, and Hakan Calhanoglu filled out the subsequent rankings.
In other prestigious categories, Aitana Bonmati of Barcelona was awarded the women’s Ballon d’Or, celebrating her achievements in women’s football. Rising star Lamine Yamal received the Kopa Trophy for best young player, further highlighting his immense potential.
Jennifer Hermoso was honored with the Socrates Award for her humanitarian work, while Emiliano Martinez took home the Yachine Trophy as the year’s best goalkeeper.
Further accolades went to Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe, who jointly won the Gerd Muller Trophy for their top-scoring feats.
Emma Hayes was recognized as the Women’s Coach of the Year, and Carlo Ancelotti claimed the Men’s Coach of the Year title. Both Real Madrid and Barcelona were named as the men’s and women’s Clubs of the Year, respectively.
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