Nigerian star Ademola Lookman has secured an impressive 14th place in the 2024 Ballon d’Or rankings, marking a historic achievement for the Atalanta forward. This ranking not only establishes him as Africa’s top representative but also as Serie A’s second-best player, behind only Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez.

Lookman, formerly of RB Leipzig, was the sole nominee from both Atalanta and Nigeria on the 30-player Ballon d’Or shortlist. His performance outranked other Serie A stars such as Hakan Calhanoglu, Artem Dovbyk, and Mats Hummels.

A pivotal moment for Lookman this year came in May, when he made history by scoring a hat-trick in the Europa League final, leading Atalanta to victory and handing Bayer Leverkusen their first defeat of the season. This feat places him among only four players to have scored a hat-trick in a major European final, and he stands out as the first to do so in a Europa League final.

On the international stage, Lookman was instrumental in Nigeria’s run to the Africa Cup of Nations final earlier this year. Despite the Super Eagles narrowly missing out on the title to host Ivory Coast, Lookman’s performance solidified his impact.

With his exceptional achievements this year, Lookman is a leading contender for the CAF Africa Player of the Year award next month, potentially following in the footsteps of fellow Nigerian Victor Osimhen.