Olaleye Idowu
Only one African footballer has ever been named a Ballon d’Or winner.
In 1995, George Weah won the prize thanks to his displays for Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan.
The Liberian legend also won the African Footballer of the Year three times and is widely considered one of the greatest strikers of all time.
Since then, no player from the continent has come top of the Ballon d’Or voting.
Sadio Mane came closest to winning in 2022 when he finished in second place.
The Senegalese winger, who was playing for Liverpool at the time, scored 23 goals in 51 appearances, but he was instrumental in almost helping the club to Champions League success.
This year, Ademola Lookman is in fact the only African included in the 30-man shortlist.
Lookman was given the nod after an impressive season with Atalanta, where he won the UEFA Europa League, scoring a hat-trick in the final against Bayer Leverkusen.
He was also named Atalanta’s Player of the Year, finishing the campaign with 11 goals and seven assists in 31 league outings.
Lookman also reached the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final with the Super Eagles of Nigeria, where they lost to host nation Ivory Coast.
Will this be enough for Lookman to end a 29-year wait?
“I think it’s almost unimaginable to see Ademola Lookman win the Ballon d’Or this year,” Wale Agbede, the Head of Sports at Plus TV, told Newsmen.
“I think the front runners for the Ballon d’Or are quite obvious. Vinicius Jr, Rodri, Jude Bellingham, etc.
“But it is a great recognition in itself. And come what may, the history books will have it that he was in the running. He is now definitely one of the top 30 players in world football.
“I think his chances are almost zero, but still great recognition for what he achieved with Atalanta and the Super Eagles of Nigeria.”
A prophet is likely to have honour in his own country – or continent.
Lookman, who is Nigeria’s eighth Ballon d’Or nominee, is most likely the hot favourite to be named the African Footballer of the Year award when the Confederation of African Football, CAF, hosts its own ceremony in December.
The 25-year-old was Included In a 10-man Shortlisted that also had Nigerian Teammates that also had Nigerian teammate William Troost-Ekong, Simon Adingra (Cote d’Ivoire/Brighton & Hove Albion), Achraf Hakimi (Morocco/Paris Saint-Germain) and Ronwen Williams (South Africa/Mamelodi Sundowns).
“For me, being the only African player that was nominated for the Ballon d’Or, should obviously make him the African Footballer of the Year.
“Lookman was very influential for the Super Eagles at the AFCON this year and he enjoyed a fantastic season with his club, also being instrumental to their success.
“I think you already have a winner for the CAF Player of the Year there.”
Before all of that, however, we will know the winner of the Ballon d’Or.
Agbede does not agree with what is the popular choice.
“I think Rodri is the best player in the world, to be honest.
“And I think Bellingham is a better player than Vinicius,” he added.
