Super Eagles forwards Lookman and Osimhen make 30-man shortlist for IFFHS World's Best Player 2024

The International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) has announced the nominees for the Men's World Best Player 2024, with two Super Eagles forwards making the cut.

Napoli-owned player Victor Osimhen and Atalanta dazzler Ademola Lookman have made the 30-man shortlist.

No other African player was deemed worthy enough to be nominated for the award, including the likes of Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, Bayer Leverkusen's Victor Boniface and Real Madrid's Brahim Díaz.

Previous winners of the prestigious award are Marco Van Basten, Lothar Matthäus, Robert Lewandowski, Lionel Messi and  Erling Haaland.

Lookman is officially recognized as Atalanta's best player since his arrival at the club from RB Leipzig, having won back-to-back Player of the Season accolades. 

The Charlton Athletic academy graduate was the hero of the 2024 Europa League final, scoring a historic hat-trick to end Bayer Leverkusen's 51-man unbeaten run.

On the international stage, Osimhen and Lookman were key members of the Nigeria squad that reached the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, contributing a combined four goals and four assists.

Real Madrid duo Jude Bellingham and Vinícius Júnior, Manchester City's Rodri and Erling Haaland, and Barcelona's Lamine Yamal and Dani Olmo are believed to be among the frontrunners for the Men's World Best Player.

Other nominees include: Kylian Mbappe, Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka, Jamal Musiala, Florian Wirtz, Declan Rice, Martin Ødegaard, Harry Kane, Cole Palmer, William Saliba, Ruben Dias, Nico Williams and Toni Kroos.

Dani Carvajal, Fabian Ruiz, Cody Gakpo, Federico Valverde, Rodrygo, Lautaro Martínez, James Rodríguez, Akram Afif and Alphonso Davies complete the list of players nominated.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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