Ademola Lookman, Super Eagles winger, has been named the 14th best male footballer in the world. 

The 27-year-old was named among the 15 best players in the world on Monday at the Ballon d’Or ceremony held at the Théâtre du Chatelet in Paris, France.

The winger is the only African to make the 30-player shortlist for the 2024 Ballon d’Or prize. He is the second Nigerian to be nominated for the prize in two years.

In 2023, Victor Osimhen became the first Nigerian to break into the top 10 of the award — finishing eighth overall.

Before that, Kanu Nwankwo was the last Super Eagles player to crack the top 15 of the coveted individual prize, ranking 11th in 1996.

Lookman placed ahead of Arsenal’s Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka and William Saliba on the 2024 Ballon d’Or ranking.

The winger scored 17 goals and provided 11 assists in all competitions last season for Atalanta, which retained its status as one of the best in Serie A.

He scored a hattrick in the Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen, winning Atalanta’s first-ever European title.

Lookman was one of Nigeria’s best players at the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote d’Ivoire. He scored three goals as the Eagles won silver at the tournament. He was also named in the competition’s best XI alongside captain Willian Troost-Ekong.

Manchester United have fired  Erik ten Hag as the club’s head coach following an uninspiring tenure at the helm of affairs. 

In a statement on the club’s website, United said Ruud van Nistelrooy will take over as the team’s interim manager.

Details later…

Mohamed Salah scored an 81st minute equaliser for Arne Slot’s side as they left the Emirates with a share of the spoils, after being caught out by a powerful first-half display led by the returning Bukayo Saka.

The suggestion this week was that rival Premier League bosses aren’t have cottoned on to Mikel Arteta’s pre-match attempts at subterfuge.

After seeing Bukayo Saka rifle Arsenal in front inside the opening nine minutes at the Emirates Stadium, you’d be forgiven for thinking Liverpool boss Arne Slot hadn’t got the message. The England star wasn’t meant to be back for this game with the injury suffered while on England duty earlier this month. That was the word, certainly coming out of the Arsenal camp.

Of note in recent days has been Arteta’s manoeuvrings to ensure the Merseysiders had no clue about Saka’s suitability to pitch up and play at the Emirates. That has included refusing to give straight answers to questions on his fitness, banning photos being taken of the player in training or any of him around the club’s London Colney training ground being posted on social media.

And certainly, when he raced away from and then skinned Andy Robertson, before slamming into the roof of Caiomhin Kelleher’s net, he looked nothing like a player carrying any kind of problem. Indeed, he got through 85 minutes where, every touch, every movement, spelled danger for his opposition.

Quickly, Saka, still only 23, is elevating himself into ‘ world class’ territory. He’s added an increasingly ruthless edge to his game over the past 18 months, and in Odegaard’s absence is now taking even greater responsibility in Arsenal’s quest to secure a first Premier League title in 21 years come May. He has made clear in recent weeks that second is nowhere this term, first is all that matters.

After Virgil van Dijk’s 18th minute header had levelled the scores, it was Mikel Merino who put Arsenal back in front, turning home Declan Rice’s devilish free-kick on the stroke of half-time – the goal confirmed after VAR had done its thing – to put Arsenal on course for three points that would close the gap on their visitors and league leaders Manchester City.

But Saka is not the only player on a title mission this term. And prime amongst such rivals: Salah.

In the 81st minute, when Trent Alexander-Arnold picked up possession on the edge of his own penalty area, there appeared little danger for the hosts to be worried about. But the England full-back clipped a glorious pass over the Arsenal backline to send Darwin Nunez into an inside-right channel and Salah spotted his moment to strike.

He had been standing on the touchline, tightly marked by recent arrival Myles Lewis-Skelly. The 18-year-old may well have fought there was little danger, but when Trent fired forwards, as Lewis-Skelly turned, Salah read the situation quicker than anyone. He changed course, drove straight to the penalty spot, knowing Nunez was winning the race to the ball.. and gave the Uruguayan the simple task of rolling one across for him to pass into the net past David Raya.

Salah’s contract continues to tick down at Anfield. He turns 33 next summer, and perhaps the Liverpool top brass don’t want to pay him the big-money he feels he’s still worth – and which he can land multiple times over if he moves to Saudi Arabia.

But like Saka it is he who is likely to be the biggest difference-maker if Slot can lead Liverpool to the title in his debut season.

Certainly, after being caught out by Saka’s blistering early strike, it was their Egyptian King to whom Liverpool were most thankful here.

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk: “It’s a very tough place to come. They created a solid team and make it difficult for everyone. To come back twice is a good thing, we take the point and we move.

“You play here, they have the fans behind them and they created some momentum. You have to be ready to fight because you will have some tough moments. One point and we take it.”

Mirror Football