Julius Okorie
Super Eagles and Atalana forward Ademola Lookman will know exactly where he stands tonight as winner of this year’s Ballon d’Or is unveiled at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, France.
The 27-year-old who is also in the running for CAF African footballer of the year to be unveiled in December in Morocco, has be in super form for both club and country and many football fans and pundits alike beleive he is good enough to earn standing ovation. Lookman who delivered an impressive hat-trick as Atalanta edged Liverkusen to win the Europa league last season, has been listed alongside 29 other high profiles players cutting across the various leagues.
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The prestigious award which is now in its 68th edition has seen some players namely Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo emerging winners at various times.
The period of consideration as usual this year is between August 1, 2023 and July 31, 2024.
For the 68th edition of the awards ceremony, founders France Football have teamed up with UEFA for an event celebrating the best in the game based on performances over the season, from August 1, 2023 to July 31, 2024.
The fate of the players is often determined by the votes cast by international jury of 100 specialised journalists using led down yardstick for assessment.
READ ALSO:2024 Ballon d’Or: Ademola Lookman Only African In 30-man List
Interestingly perennial rivals Messi and Ronaldo will be missing from the list for the first time in a decade. Both players have won between them 15 times with Messi have nine in the kitty and Ronaldo six. As usual women players will also be in the running in their own category.
Here Is A Parade of Players In Running For the Prestigious Award
Jude Bellingham (England, Madrid)
Hakan Calhanoglu (Turkey Inter)
Dani Carvajal (Spain, Madrid)
Ruben Dias (Portugal, Man City)
Artem Dovbyk (Ukraine, Dnipro / Girona / Roma)
Phil Foden (England, Manchester City)
Alejandro Grimaldo (Spain, Leverkusen)
Erling Haaland (Norway, Manchester City)
Mats Hummels (Germany, Dortmund)
Harry Kane (England, Bayern München)
Toni Kroos (Germany, Real Madrid)
Ademola Lookman (Nigeria, Atalanta)
Emiliano Martinez (Argentina, Aston Villa)
Lautaro Martinez (Argentina, Inter)
Kylian Mbappé (France, PSG / Madrid)
Martin Odegaard (Norway, Arsenal)
Dani Olmo (Spain, Leipzig / Barcelona)
Cole Palmer (England, Man. City / Chelsea)
Declan Rice (England, Arsenal)
Rodri (Spain, Manchester City)
Antonio Rüdiger (Germany, Madrid)
Bukayo Saka (England, Arsenal)
William Saliba (France, Arsenal)
Federico Valverde (Uruguay, Madrid)
Vinícius Júnior (Brazil, Madrid)
Vitinha (Portugal, PSG)
Nico Williams (Spain, Atletico)
Florian Wirtz (Germany, Leverkusen)
Granit Xhaka (Switzerland, Leverkusen)
Lamine Yamal (Spain, Barcelona)
Women’s Ballon d’Or
Barbra Banda (Zambia, Shanghai RCB / Orlando Pride)
Aitana Bonmatí (Spain, Barcelona)
Lucy Bronze (England, Barcelona / Chelsea)
Mariona Caldentey (Spain, Barcelona / Arsenal)
Tabitha Chawinga (Malawi, PSG / Lyon)
Grace Geyoro (France, Paris Saint-Germain)
Manuela Giugliano (Italy, Roma)
Caroline Graham Hansen (Norway, Barcelona)
Patricia Guijarro (Spain, Barcelona)
Giulia Gwinn (Germany, Bayern)
Yui Hasegawa (Japan, Man City)
Ada Hegerberg (Norway, Lyon)
Lauren Hemp (England, Man City)
Lindsey Horan (USA, Lyon)
Lauren James (England, Chelsea)
Marie-Antoinette Katoto (France, PSG)
Alyssa Naeher (USA, Chicago Red Stars)
Sjoeke Nüsken (Germany, Chelsea)
Ewa Pajor (Poland, Wolfsburg / Barcelona)
Salma Paralluelo (Spain, Barcelona)
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
