Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman showed up at the 2024 Ballon d’Or gala night on Monday in Paris, France dressed in a classy black suit and a bow tie.
The Atalanta player was ranked 14th in the standings, the only African nominated for the award.
Lookman took his father and former youth coach to the red carpet. His father was dressed in the native Nigerian attire.
At the gala night, the 27-year-old finished as the second-highest Serie A player in the final rankings, behind Lautaro Martinez of Inter Milan.
Lookman delivered standout performances that placed him in the global spotlight.
He made history as the first player to score a hat-trick in a European club competition final during his club’s triumph over Bayer Leverkusen last season in the Europa League.
He was also the star player for Nigeria at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire. He scored three goals in seven appearances to help the Super Eagles to the final before losing to the hosts.
Already named in a 10-man shortlist for the 2024 CAF Men’s Player of the Year, the former Charlton Athletic academy graduate is touted as the favourite to replace his compatriot Victor Osimhen as Africa’s next soccer king in December.
