The voting results for the 2024 Ballon d’Or have been revealed by France Football, shedding light on how journalists from different countries cast their ballots.
The final standings saw Manchester City’s Rodri clinch the prestigious award, narrowly beating Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr.
It was one of the closest races since the 2021 edition, while Nigeria’s own Ademola Lookman secured a commendable 14th place.
The Ballon d’Or is decided by votes from 100 journalists representing the top FIFA federations, including Nigeria.
For this year’s ceremony, Nigerian sports journalist Samm Audu held the vote on behalf of the country.
In a show of national pride, Audu selected Ademola Lookman as his top choice, a stark contrast to last year’s vote when Victor Osimhen did not receive similar favoritism from the Nigerian delegate.
Samm Audu’s Voting Choices
Manchester City’s Spanish midfielder Rodri kisses the trophy as he receives the Ballon d’Or award. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)
Audu’s ballot was led by Lookman in first place, followed by some of the biggest names in world football:
1.Ademola Lookman (Nigeria, Atalanta)
2.Vinicius Jr. (Brazil, Real Madrid)
3.Jude Bellingham (England, Real Madrid)
4.Rodri (Spain, Manchester City)
5.Phil Foden (England, Manchester City)
6.Erling Haaland (Norway, Manchester City)
7.Nico Williams (Spain, Athletic Club)
8.Dani Olmo (Spain, Barcelona)
9.Harry Kane (England, Bayern Munich)
10.Antonio Rüdiger (Germany, Real Madrid)
Ademola Lookman’s 14th-place finish in the final Ballon d’Or standings was notable, particularly given the strong backing from Nigeria.
Interestingly, Lookman did not receive a top vote from any other country, making Nigeria’s selection a standout.
This is in contrast to last year when Victor Osimhen, despite his stellar season, was only placed fourth by the Nigerian voter behind Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland, and Kylian Mbappe.
Countries That Voted for Lookman
A total of 22 countries awarded points to Ademola Lookman, with Nigeria giving him the highest score:
1.Nigeria – 15 points
2.Greece – 12 points
3.Côte d’Ivoire – 7 points
4.Cameroon – 4 points
5.Gabon – 4 points
6.UAE – 4 points
7.Equatorial Guinea – 4 points
8.Jordan – 4 points
9.Portugal – 4 points
10.South Africa – 3 points
11.Ghana – 3 points
12.Ireland – 3 points
13.North Macedonia – 3 points
14.Finland – 2 points
15. Mali – 2 points
16. Morocco – 2 points
17. Burkina Faso- 1 point
18. Uganda- 1 point
19. Trinidad and Tobago – 1 point
20. Senegal- 1 point
21. Ukraine- 1 point
22. Zambia – 1 point
For Nigeria, Samm Audu’s decision to place Ademola Lookman at the top of his ballot highlights the country’s faith in its football talent.
While Lookman didn’t make the top 10 overall, his recognition, especially from his home nation, showcases the growing reputation of Nigerian players on the global stage.
