Gian Piero Gasperini probably doesn’t care about the verdict of the 2024 Ballon d’Or, which should crown Vinicius in front of Jude Bellingham and Rodri during the ceremony on Monday October 28 in Paris. The Atalanta coach was asked about the award for
France Football and simply cited one of his players, the only representative of the Dea in the list of 30 named players which was given to the 100 jurors. This is obviously Ademola Lookman.
“My personal vote for the Ballon d’Or would go to Ademola Lookman, his magical technique helped us win the Europa League”launched the 66-year-old technician to Sky. It must be said that Lookman single-handedly made the Bergamo team win in the Europa League final against Bundesliga champion Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen, by scoring a magnificent and historic hat-trick (3-0).
No African Ballon d’Or since 95
Lookman being a finalist in the African Cup of Nations with Nigeria against Ivory Coast (1-2), on February 11, he will certainly be honored by African voters (there are 22 African teams in the top 100 of the Fifa ranking and therefore as many African journalists contacted by France Football). The 26-year-old will-o-the-wisp, however, has little chance of finishing in the top 10 of the ranking… His Super Eagles teammate Victor Osimhen finished 8th in the BO 2023 ranking, but having won Serie A with Napoli.
Since the coronation of Liberian George Weah in 1995, no other African player has managed to win the Ballon d’Or, the most prestigious individual award for decades. Sadio Mané achieved the best African “result” by finishing second behind Karim Benzema in 2022, while Mohamed Salah, his former teammate at Liverpool, finished in 5th place twice.
