Ademola Lookman is steadily carving out his place in Nigerian football history, delivering big moments on Europe’s grandest stage. The Super Eagles forward reached a new milestone after scoring a crucial goal for Atlético Madrid in their high-profile clash against FC Barcelona.
With that strike, Lookman has now taken his tally in the UEFA Champions League to eight goals. This achievement sees him surpass former Nigerian international Victor Ikpeba, who previously held seven goals in the competition, moving Lookman into third place among Nigeria’s all-time scorers in the tournament.
The 26-year-old attacker is now closing in on Obafemi Martins, who sits just ahead with nine goals. With Lookman’s current form and confidence on the European stage, that record appears well within reach.
At the top of the list remains Victor Osimhen, whose impressive 16 Champions League goals set the benchmark for Nigerian players. While there is still ground to cover, Lookman’s rapid rise suggests he could soon become a serious contender for that top spot.
As he continues to deliver in decisive moments, Lookman is not only elevating his own career but also reinforcing Nigeria’s legacy in European football.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
