New details have emerged about the points distribution that helped Nigeria and Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman secure an impressive 14th-place finish in the 2024 Ballon d’Or rankings.
Lookman was the only Nigerian and African player to feature in the top 30 this year. While Manchester City’s Rodri won the prestigious award with 1,170 points, Lookman earned a solid 82 points.
Rodri edged out Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior, who finished second with 1,129 points. Lookman, however, garnered support from 22 different countries, underlining his widespread appeal on the global stage.
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Nigeria awarded him the maximum 15 points, while Greece backed him with 12 points, and Côte d’Ivoire contributed 7 points, forming the top three nations in his support base.
A further breakdown shows that Lookman also earned four points each from Gabon, the UAE, Equatorial Guinea, Jordan, and Portugal. Ghana, South Africa, Ireland, and North Macedonia each gave him three points.
Mali, Finland, and Morocco provided two points each, while Burkina Faso, Uganda, Trinidad and Tobago, Senegal, Ukraine, and Zambia each awarded him one point.
In 2023, fellow Nigerian Victor Osimhen set a national record by finishing eighth in the Ballon d’Or rankings, the highest ever by a Nigerian player. Osimhen’s remarkable achievement also earned him the CAF African Player of the Year title.
With his strong Ballon d’Or finish, Lookman is now a serious contender for the title of Africa’s Best Player, reflecting his exceptional form for both club and country.