Super Eagles star to compete with Messi, Ronaldo, Saka, others for Globe Soccer Best Men’s Player award

Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman has secured a nomination for the prestigious 2024 Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai, Soccernet.ng reports.

Lookman, 27, is nominated alongside global icons like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, as well as top Premier League stars including Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka and Chelsea's Cole Palmer.

His phenomenal performances with Atalanta have earned him a place in the Best Men's Player category, where he competes against other luminaries such as Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe, and Mohamed Salah.

Interestingly, as was the case at the Ballon d'Or, Lookman is the only African nominee on the Globe Soccer Awards shortlist. 

Lookman’s contribution was vital in leading Atalanta to their historic first UEFA Europa League title, where he scored a hat-trick in a 2-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen in the final.

His impressive record includes 17 goals and 11 assists, marking the highest goal involvement in Italy’s Serie A this year.

For Nigeria, Lookman’s influence was equally significant.

He netted six goals in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, propelling the Super Eagles to the tournament’s final. Currently, he tops the scoring charts for Nigeria’s 2025 AFCON qualifiers, with two goals so far.

Lookman’s talent and dedication have garnered widespread recognition, including a 14th-place finish in the Ballon d'Or race.

The former Everton and Fulham star is also a frontrunner for the African Men's Footballer of the Year award, where he’s squaring up against compatriot William Troost-Ekong and eight others.

Presently, Lookman is in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, together with the Super Eagles where the former AFCON winners are gearing up to face Benin Republic.

The Globe Soccer Awards, organised by the Dubai Sports Council, will take place on December 27.

Full list of footballers nominated for the 2024 Globe Soccer Awards:

1. Nicolò Barella
2. Jude Bellingham
3. Hakan Çalhanoğlu
4. Dani Carvajal
5. Artem Dovbyk
6. Phil Foden
7. Antoine Griezmann
8. Alejandro Grimaldo
9. Viktor Gyökeres
10. Erling Haaland
11. Harry Kane
12. Toni Kroos
13. Robert Lewandowski
14. Ademola Lookman
15. Emiliano Martínez
16. Lautaro Martínez
17. Kylan Mbappé
18. Lionel Messi
19. Dani Olmo
20. Cole Palmer
21. Rodrigo
22. Rodrygo
23. Cristiano Ronaldo
24. Bukayo Saka
25. Mohamed Salah
26. William Saliba
27. Federico Valverde
28. Vinicius Júnior
29. Vitinha
30. Nico Williams
31. Florian Wirtz
32. Granit Xhaka
33. Lamine Yamal