Lookman battles Rodri, others for Globe Soccer Awards

Ademola Lookman has been named among the nominees for the 2024 Best Men’s Player award of the annual Globe Soccer Awards hosted by the Dubai Sports Council.

The Globe Soccer Awards announced on Thursday via X and Lookman, who was ranked 14th at this year’s Ballon d’Or, is the second African on the list, the other being Egypt and Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah.

Lookman’s compatriot, Victor Osimhen, also made the final shortlist of the award last year.

The former Leicester City and RB Leipzig star, now excelling with Atalanta in the Italian Serie A, joins an elite group of football’s biggest names, including superstars Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappé, and Erling Haaland.

After scoring 17 goals plus 10 assists in 45 games in all competitions last season—including a hat-trick in the final of the UEFA Europa League—the 27-year-old picked up his form from where he stopped last term and already has eight goals and five assists in 14 games across all completions for Atalanta this season.

He is also a top contender for the 2024 CAF Player of the Year Award.

Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden, Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham, and Chelsea’s Cole Palmer are the three English players on the list, while European champions Spain have five nominees on the list, including Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, Lamine Yamal, and Nico Williams.

Meanwhile, Messi and Ronaldo have been shortlisted again, reaffirming their legacy with consistent excellence as they approach the later stages of their careers.

The Globe Soccer Awards stated, “The nominees with the highest number of votes will form the shortlist of finalists in this category.”

“The 15th edition of the Beyond Development Dubai #GlobeSoccer Awards will take place on 27th December, alongside the 19th Dubai International Sports Conference, in partnership with the @DubaiSC Sports Council,” the organisers said on Thursday.