Nigerian footballers such as Ademola Lookman, William Troost-Ekong, Asisat Oshoala and Paul Onuachu have made the FIFA Best Awards list for 2024.
The list was published on Friday by world football’s governing body.
It shows that Lookman, who plays for Atalanta in the Italian Serie A, was nominated in the Best Attacker category. He will battle with the impressive Vinicius Junior, Lamine Yamal, Bukayo Saka, Erling Haaland, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, among other high-profile players.
The Nigerian, who had an impeccable performance last season, leading Atalanta to the Europa League crown, has also started this season’s campaign in good form. He helped the Super Eagles reach the final of the 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON), where they narrowly lost to hosts Ivory Coast.
Lookman is also in pole position to be crowned CAF Player of the Year for 2024 when the awards ceremony takes place next month.
Nigeria’s stand-in captain Troost-Ekong was named in the Best Defender category alongside Arsenal’s William Saliba, Manuel Akanji, Antonio Rüdiger, Dani Carvajal and others.
Oshoala, who has won the CAF Player of the Year crown a record number of times, featured in the newly introduced Marta Award. The award is for the best goal in women’s soccer. She entered contention for that category for her acrobatic goal (while at Barcelona Femeni) against Benfica in the Women’s Champions League in November 2024.
His compatriot and Southampton striker Onuachu earned a place for the men’s version: the Puskas. His deft move in Trabzonspor’s 2-1 win over Konyaspor on November 10, 2023 was enough to put him in the race for the best gong in men’s football.
Meanwhile, Lionel Messi led the nominees for best male player. The inclusion of the Inter Miami striker has generated debates among soccer fans. The Argentine will compete for the award alongside Ballon d’Or winner Rodri; Vinícius Junior; Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappé, Toni Kroos and Federico Valverde.
Fans and a panel of experts are expected to vote for the FIFA Best 2024 awards. Fans can vote on the FIFA website until December 2024.
Nominated for the FIFA Best awards
The nominees for the Best FIFA Player
Dani Carvajal (Spain), Real Madrid
Erling Haaland (Norway), Manchester City
Federico Valverde (Uruguay), Real Madrid
Florian Wirtz (Germany), Bayer Leverkusen
Jude Bellingham (England), Real Madrid
Kylian Mbappé (France), Paris Saint-Germain/Real Madrid
Lamine Yamal (Spain), Barcelona
Lionel Messi (Argentina), Inter Miami
Rodri (Spain), Manchester City
Toni Kroos (Germany), Real Madrid (already retired)
Vinicius Jr (Brazil), Real Madrid
The nominees for the Best FIFA Women’s Player
Aitana Bonmati (Spain), Barcelona
Barbra Banda (Zambia), Shanghai Shengli/Orlando Pride
Caroline Graham Hansen (Norway), Barcelona
Keira Walsh (England), Barcelona
Khadija Shaw (Jamaica), Manchester City
Lauren Hemp (England), Manchester City
Lindsey Horan (United States), Olympique Lyonnais
Lucy Bronze (England), Barcelona/Chelsea
Mallory Swanson (United States), Chicago Red Stars
Mariona Caldentey (Spain), Barcelona/Arsenal
Naomi Girma (USA), San Diego Wave
Ona Batlle (Spain), Barcelona
Salma Paralluelo (Spain), Barcelona
Sophia Smith (USA), Portland Thorns
Tabitha Chawinga (Malawi), Paris Saint-Germain/Olympique Lyonnais
Trinity Rodman (United States), Spirit of Washington
The nominees for the Best FIFA Women’s Coach
Arthur Elias (Brazil), Brazil
Elena Sadiku (Sweden), Celtic
Emma Hayes (England), Chelsea/United States
Futoshi Ikeda (Japan), Japan
Gareth Taylor (England), Manchester City
Jonatan Giraldez (Spain), Barcelona/Washington Spirit
Sandrine Soubeyrand (France), Paris FC
Sonia Bompastor (France), Olympique Lyonnais/Chelsea
The nominees for the Best FIFA Men’s Coach
Carlo Ancelotti (Italy), Real Madrid
Lionel Scaloni (Argentina), Argentina
Luis de la Fuente (Spain), Spain
Pep Guardiola (Spain), Manchester City
Xabi Alonso (Spain), Bayer Leverkusen
The nominees for the Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper
Alyssa Naeher (United States), Chicago Red Stars
Ann-Katrin Berger (Germany), Chelsea/New Jersey/NY Gotham
Ayaka Yamashita (Japan), INAC Kobe Leonessa/Manchester City
Cata Coll (Spain), Barcelona
Mary Earps (England), Manchester United/Paris Saint-Germain
The nominees for the Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper
Andriy Lunin (Ukraine), Real Madrid
David Raya (Spain), Arsenal
Ederson (Brazil), Manchester City
Emiliano Martínez (Argentina), Aston Villa
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy), Paris Saint-Germain
Mike Maignan (France), AC Milan
Unai Simón (Spain), Athletic Club
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