From his performances for the Super Eagles during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) to playing a pivotal role in helping Atalanta win their first European trophy, the 27-year-old’s star continues to rise.
His 2019-20 Topps UCL Finest Ademola Lookman Refractor base rookie card can be found as little as $5.00 USD.
Ademola Lookman has had a very remarkable rise to the top of the world striker’s chart.
The little Nigerian and Atalanta striker has been on fire since arriving in Bergamo helping the La Dea to their first-ever continental silver wear following their triumph in the UEFA Europa League last year.
This year has been one of extraordinary milestones for Ademola Lookman, with the Nigeria striker making headlines across Europe and Africa.
From his performances for the Super Eagles during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) to playing a pivotal role in helping Atalanta win their first European trophy, the 27-year-old’s star continues to rise.
Born on 20 October 1997 in Wandsworth, Greater London, Lookman’s journey from Waterloo, a youth Football club based in the London Borough of Lambeth, to the topmost heights of European football showcases his unparalleled talent and dedication to achieving his life-long football dreams.
Lookman was born to Nigerian parents but began his international career representing England at various youth levels, from U-19 to U-21. He even played a part in England’s U-20 World Cup victory in 2017.
Lookman’s professional journey began at Charlton Athletic’s academy in 2014. His prolific goalscoring for the U-18 and U-21 teams earned him a rapid promotion, leading to his first-team debut in November 2015.
Despite representing England at youth levels, Lookman eventually switched his international allegiance to Nigeria in 2022. He made his debut for the Super Eagles in March 2022 and played a crucial role in their run to second-place at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
He etched his name in European football history by becoming the first player to score a hat-trick in a Europa League final. Interestingly, this feat echoes Atalanta’s only previous major honor – the 1963 Coppa Italia. In that triumph, Angelo Domenghini claimed the match ball after a 3-1 win against Torino with a stunning hat-trick performance.
Capping off a remarkable season, Ademola Lookman was crowned Atalanta’s Player of the Season for the 2022/2023 campaign. This prestigious fan-voted award recognised Lookman’s exceptional performances in his debut year with the club.
The 26-year-old winger impressed with a stellar return of 15 goals and 8 assists across all competitions, showcasing his attacking prowess and adaptability within Atalanta’s system. Lookman faced stiff competition for the award, ultimately surpassing midfielders Teun Koopmeiners and Marten de Roon. This hot streak cemented his status as a key player at Atalanta and a rising star in Italian football.
Lookman’s Europa League triumph adds him to a prestigious list of Nigerians who have conquered this competition. Following in the footsteps of Taribo West and Nwankwo Kanu (1998 with Lazio), John Mikel Obi (2013 with Chelsea), Victor Moses (2019 with Chelsea), and Chidi Odiah (2005 with CSKA Moscow), Lookman has cemented his place among Nigeria’s Europa League champions.
This year, if any African player was destined for the Ballon d’Or list, it was Ademola Lookman. His performances for Atalanta, crowned by a hat-trick in the UEFA Europa League final, helped clinch the club’s first European trophy.
Lookman finished the 2023/2024 season with 17 goals and 10 assists in 45 appearances and played a vital role for Nigeria with four-goal involvements at the 2023 AFCON, where they finished as runners up.
The London-born forward eventually became the only African nominated, marking the continent’s smallest representation since 2015, when Yaya Toure was the sole contender.
With his 14th-place finish, Lookman now boasts the third-highest Ballon d’Or ranking by a Nigerian, following Osimhen’s eighth-place (2023) and Kanu Nwankwo’s eleventh-place (1996) finishes.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) have officially unveiled the Top Five nominees in each of the men’s Categories of the upcoming CAF Awards 2024.
Leading the pack is Nigeria and Atalanta star, Ademola Lookman. Others are Simon Adingra of Cote d’Ivoire / Brighton & Hove Albion, Serhou Guirassy of Guinea and Borussia Dortmund, Achraf Hakimi of Morocco and Paris Saint-Germain and Ronwen Williams of South Africa and Mamelodi Sundowns.
The 2024 edition of the CAF Awards is set to take place in Marrakech, Morocco on December 16, 2024.
