Super Eagles dazzler Lookman shares how he first learned about his nomination for Ballon d'Or 

Super Eagles dazzler Ademola Lookman has shared how he first learned about his nomination for the Ballon d'Or award.

Lookman, who plays for Atalanta, was named among the 30 candidates for the accolade, which recognizes outstanding footballers for their performances over the past season.

The 26-year-old winger is competing against top talents such as Vinicius Júnior, Jude Bellingham, Lamine Yamal, Rodri, and Dani Carvajal. 

Lookman described the nomination as "special" and a significant milestone given his journey in football.

In an interview with Counter Attack Pocast, Lookman recounted the moment he discovered his nomination. 

He was traveling on the team bus after a training session when he saw a post from the Super Eagles' social media account announcing his inclusion in the Ballon d'Or shortlist. 

"I was on the bus on the way back from training. I saw our handle posted that I have been nominated for the Ballon d'Or. I was a bit surprised," Lookman admitted, noting the influx of notifications that followed.

Lookman also shared that he initially did not grasp the full significance of the nomination until a conversation with teammate Calvin Bassey. 

"Obviously, I am in a room with Calvin Bassey and when I told him, he was just jumping up and down. He was very happy and was like you don't really understand. That was when I took it in," Lookman explained.

Ademola Lookman earned his Ballon d'Or nomination due to his standout performances for both Atalanta and Nigeria. 

The Super Eagles winger played a crucial role in Atalanta's UEFA Europa League triumph, scoring a hat-trick in the final against Bayer Leverkusen.

Additionally, Lookman was instrumental in helping the Super Eagles secure a runner-up finish at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations .

With the nomination, Lookman becomes the eighth Super Eagles player to receive a Ballon d'Or nomination in the history of the award.

Adeyemi Adewale

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