Atalanta head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has said his personal 2024 Ballon d’Or vote will go to Ademola Lookman.
Lookman was included in the Ballon d’Or 30-man shortlist and is the only African that made the cut.
The 26-year-old forward scored 17 goals, provided 10 assists in 45 appearances in all competitions last season.
The high point for Lookman last season was scoring the three goals as Atalanta thrashed Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 in the Europa League final.
The Super Eagles star scored five goals in 11 games to help the Italian club land Europe’s second-tier club competition.
However, he would have to see off competition from the likes of Vinicius Junior, Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham and Rodri to be crowned Ballon d’Or winner.
Speaking on the award, Gasperini told Sky (via Fabrizio Romano on X):
“My personal Ballon d’Or vote would go to Ademola Lookman. His magic skills helped us to win the Europa League.”
The winner of the 2024 men’s Ballon d’Or award will be announced on October 28.
This season Lookman has scored two goals, made two assists in four league games for Gasperini’s side.
In the UEFA Champions League, the former Leicester and Everton player has one goal, one assist in two games.
Meanwhile, Lookman was in action for the Super Eagles in Friday’s AFCON qualifiers against Libya in Uyo.
He thought he had given the Eagles the lead in the second half but saw his effort incorrectly ruled out for offside.
He also had his goal chalked off in the 0-0 draw against Rwanda on matchday 2 in Kigali.
He scored two goals in the 3-0 ein against Benin Republic on matchday 1 of the qualifiers.
3 Comments
So lookman’s goal against Libya was legitimate after all..It should have stood!That also includes the one in Kigali..
Feel so sorry for the young fella…It’s beginning to look like CAF is sabotaging Lookman’s chances of winning the global award haha..Might sound studip but there could be element of truth to this..Two legitimate goals wrongfully disallowed in successive games.I have to go through these videos to know they were wrong calls unfortunately.
It’s so painful because knowing Nigeria will let it slide..Because most other countries would have staged a protest to deter future occurrences.Had our football authorities protested Lookman’s disallowed goal after the Rwanda’s game,probably the Malawi officials would have done a better job yesterday.
You have a valid point here
African referees need to iimprove their biased officiating. It is really shameful .