Ademola Lookman, Atalanta’s star forward, recently spoke to France Football, the publication responsible for organizing and presenting the prestigious Ballon d’Or award. Lookman, who finds himself among the 30 nominees for this year’s award, expressed his astonishment at the nomination.
“It’s a crazy thing. And being the only African on the list makes it even more special. I’m proud of it. It’s an honor, knowing where I come from,” said the Nigerian international, who played a pivotal role in Atalanta’s Europa League triumph, scoring a hat-trick in the final against Bayer Leverkusen.
Reflecting on his achievements, Lookman shared a touching moment with his coach: “I was very struck by the fact that Gasperini told me a few days later that I had become part of football history. It’s true, it’s an honor, but I worked hard to get here.” While Lookman may not be the favorite to win the coveted individual prize, his status has undoubtedly grown alongside that of his team. He added, “Writing the history of a city like Bergamo is something extraordinary.”
When asked about his inspirations, Lookman revealed, “As a child, I admired Robinho, a different kind of player. And then, of course, Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.” Describing his playing style, he said, “My football is instinctive. If I think about it too much, I get blocked.”
