Ademola Lookman joins top three ranked Nigerian Ballon d’Or stars

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

It is no longer news that Ademola Lookman was ranked 14th at the end of the 2024 Ballon d’Or this week.

The feat made the Atalanta player the third-ranked Nigeria player on the all-time Ballon d’Or ranking.

In 2023, Victor Osimhen emerged as the top-ranked Super Eagles player with his eighth-placed finish.

Former Arsenal star Nwankwo Kanu was the second-most-ranked Nigerian player as he finished 11th in 1996.

Rivers United coach Finidi George was ranked 21st in 1995, while Kanu who remained Nigeria’s sole player to make the list twice got 23rd ranking in 1999 when he was voted Africa Player of the Year.

In 1997, Victor Ikpeba, popularly called “Prince of Monaco” was ranked 32nd.

Meanwhile, after consecutively making it to the Ballon d’Or ranking in 2022 and 2023, Asisat Oshoala didn’t make the women’s list in 2023.

Barbra Banda and Tabitha Chawinga were the only African players on the women’s Ballon d’Or ranking.

Zambia’s Banda was ranked 12th, while Malawian international Chawinga finished 16th.