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Ademola Lookman has spoken about being in the running for the prestigious Ballon d'Or award
Super Eagles star Ademola Lookman’s rise over the past year has been nothing short of spectacular. From playing a crucial role in Atalanta’s first-ever European trophy win to lighting up the 2023 AFCON with Nigeria, Lookman has cemented himself as one of the biggest names in global football.
Now, as the only African on the 30-man Ballon d’Or shortlist, Lookman sees this milestone as the beginning of something even bigger.
Lookman’s historic Ballon d’Or nod
Speaking to BBC Sport Africa, Lookman spoke about his Ballon d’Or nomination saying, "It's been remarkable.
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“I've come on leaps and bounds and it's been a defining year in terms of progress and the steps taken. But this is just the start of hopefully something very special.”
"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."
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With eyes on both the prestigious Ballon d’Or and the African Player of the Year title, Lookman is determined to keep making history.
Lookman’s stunning Europa League final performance, where he netted a hat-trick to lift Atalanta past Bayer Leverkusen made him the first player to score a hat-trick in a European final since 1975, was largely responsible for his double nomination.
Making a name for himself in Atalanta after spells in England and Germany, Lookman reveals how he embraced the challenge of adapting to Italian football and culture.
“Coming out of my comfort zone is never easy, but I’m open to that idea of learning and wanting to be better,” he said.
Lookman eyes more success with Nigeria
Although Lookman found early success with England’s U-20 World Cup-winning team, his passion for representing Nigeria was always clear.
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After officially switching allegiances in 2022, Lookman quickly became a fan favourite for the Super Eagles, helping them reach the 2023 AFCON final with three standout goals.
Despite a narrow loss to Ivory Coast, he described the team’s tournament run as a proud moment.
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"I was always a Nigerian, born and raised in the U.K. I've always been in touch with my people, with the culture. I was coming to and from Nigeria as a kid.
"The group was very welcoming from the first minute and took me in as one of their own. It's an honour to have that [Nigeria] badge on my chest and to be able to wear it with pride. We came up a bit short, but [we are] proud as a group to have shown our football in that manner,"
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With his focus set on future international success, Lookman remains optimistic about Nigeria’s squad: “Everybody knows we have a squad full of talent. And as we gel together, we’ll show that a bit more.”
After a sensational performance for Atalanta agianst Verona, Lookman will be eyeing another solid performance for the Serie A giants before joining up with Nigeria for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against the Benin Republic and Rwanda.
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