More details have emerged regarding the points distribution that powered Nigeria and Atalanta star Ademola Lookman to an impressive 14th-place finish in the 2024 Ballon d'Or, Soccernet.ng reports.
Lookman was the only Nigerian and African player among the top 30 nominees this year.
While Manchester City's Rodri ultimately claimed the coveted award with 1,170 points, Lookman earned a respectable 82 points.
Rodri edged out Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior, who finished second with 1,129 points, but Lookman’s support base was widely distributed across 22 countries, reflecting his global appeal.
Nigeria awarded him the maximum 15 points, while Greece backed him with 12 points, and Côte d'Ivoire contributed another 7 points, completing his top three highest support countries.
Further analysis shows Lookman gained four points each from Gabon, UAE, Equatorial Guinea, Jordan, and Portugal. Additionally, Ghana, South Africa, Ireland, and North Macedonia awarded him three points apiece.
Mali, Finland, and Morocco contributed two points each, while Burkina Faso, Uganda, Trinidad and Tobago, Senegal, Ukraine, and Zambia each gave him one point.
In 2023, fellow Nigerian Victor Osimhen set a national record by finishing eighth in the Ballon d’Or rankings, the highest ever for a Nigerian player. Osimhen’s impressive showing earned him the CAF African Player of the Year title shortly afterward.
Following his Ballon d'Or ranking, Lookman is now in contention to be crowned Africa's Best Player, a testament to his superb performances for both club and country.
Lookman Ademonla was the football of the year