September 04, (THEWILL) – The 30 players in contention for the 2024 Ballon d’Or, recognising the best male player in the world for the past season, have been revealed. While Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior have emerged as the hot favourites, the nomination of Nigerian star, Ademola Lookman, is a highlight for football fans in the country.
Bellingham and Vinicius were instrumental in Real Madrid’s La Liga and UEFA Champions League triumphs, scoring 23 and 24 goals respectively. However, their international success was mixed, with Bellingham’s England losing the Euro 2024 final and Vinicius’ Brazil underperforming in the Copa America.
Lookman, who plays for Italian club, Atalanta, has been included in the prestigious shortlist alongside other rising talents like Erling Haaland, Phil Foden, Nico Williams, and Lamine Yamal. This recognition is a testament to Lookman’s impressive performances and the growing influence of Nigerian players on the global stage.
The notable absences from the list are Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, marking the first time in 21 years that neither has been nominated for the Ballon d’Or. Messi, the 2023 winner, was not included despite winning the Copa America again with Argentina. Ronaldo, who missed out on the award in 2023, was also absent from the list.
The winner of the 2024 Ballon d’Or will be announced on October 28 at the annual ceremony in Paris. With the dominance of Messi and Ronaldo coming to an end, a new generation of stars, including Nigeria’s own Lookman, will be vying to claim football’s top individual prize.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
