Serie A player Ademola Lookman, who led Atalanta to a historic hat-trick in La Dea’s 3-0 triumph over Bundesliga team Bayer Leverkusen in May, has called 2024 the best year of his career.
Ademola Lookman Is Having The Best Year Of His Career As He Has Been Nominated For The Ballon D’Or
He was also Nigeria’s highest goalscorer at the 2024 Nations Cup and the 26-year-old is also among the nominees for the Ballon d’or.
He told France Football: “The feeling of winning and having gold around your neck is an incomparable feeling. And writing history in a small city like Bergamo is something extraordinary. I was very struck by the fact that (Gian Piero) Gasperini told me a few days later that I had become part of football history. It’s true, it’s an honour, but I worked hard to get here.”
On playing for Nigeria, he continued: “I have learned to understand it over time. Even though I played for England in the youth teams, winning the U20 World Cup in 2017, I decided with my heart to play for the Super Eagles because I have a close and personal connection with this country.”
And on the Ballon d’Or, Lookman added: “It’s crazy. And being the only African on the list is even more special. I’m proud of it. It’s an honour, knowing where I come from.”