Lookman nominated for FIFA World XI in attacking category
By Tosin Omojola
Nigeria and Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman has been nominated for the FIFA World XI in the attacking category, joining a stellar list of global football stars. The nominees include Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappé, and Vinícius Júnior.
Other nominees in the attacking category include Akram Afif, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Germán Cano, Artem Dovbyk, Viktor Gyökeres, Lautaro Martínez, Jamal Musiala, Soufiane Rahimi, Rodrygo Goes, Salomón Rondón, Bukayo Saka, Luis Suárez, Ollie Watkins, Nico Williams, and Lamine Yamal.
Lookman’s nomination comes after an outstanding year. He ranked 14th in the Ballon d’Or, received a nomination for the CAF African Player of the Year, and was shortlisted for the Globe Soccer Awards’ Best Men’s Player of the Year.
For Atalanta, Lookman was a key figure, scoring 17 goals and providing 9 assists in 45 matches last season. His highlight performance came in the UEFA Europa League final, where he scored a hat-trick to secure victory against Bayer Leverkusen. This season, he has continued his remarkable form, already amassing 9 goals and 5 assists in just 15 games.
On the international stage, Lookman has been instrumental for the Super Eagles. He delivered impressive performances during the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and qualification matches, scoring 3 goals and providing 1 assist to earn a spot in the AFCON Team of the Year. He also played a vital role in helping Nigeria qualify for AFCON 2025.
Other FIFA Award Categories
FIFA has also announced nominees for other prestigious awards, including:
The Best FIFA Men’s Player
The Best FIFA Women’s Player
The Best FIFA Men’s Coach
The Best FIFA Women’s Coach
The Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper
The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper
Voting is currently open on FIFA.com and will close at 23:59 CET on Tuesday, December 10, 2024.
