Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman has been named in the controversial Serie A Team of the Year, a reward for his remarkable contributions to Atalanta in 2024.
The 27-year-old forward, who recently won the CAF Player of the Year award, was recognised by the statistics platform Whoscored for his outstanding performances throughout the year.
In 2024, Lookman played a decisive role in leading Nigeria’s Super Eagles to a silver medal at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), where he scored three goals and earned a spot in the Team of the Tournament.
His club achievements were equally impressive; he inspired Atalanta to their first-ever European title with a historic hattrick against Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League final.
Ademola Lookman with his latest man of the match award for Atalanta.
Ademola Lookman with his latest man of the match award for Atalanta.
This performance not only secured a 3-0 victory but also made him the first player to score a treble in a major European final.
Lookman’s fine form also helped Atalanta finish in the top four last season and the Nigerian has continued into the current Serie A season, netting nine goals and providing five assists in just 15 appearances, helping Atalanta climb to the top of the league table.
His consistent performance, with multiple man of the match awards, earned him a rating of 7.32, placing him alongside Inter Milan’s Marcus Thuram as one of the top forwards in the league last year.
However, the announcement of the Team of the Year has sparked criticism among fans who question some selections. Key players such as Yann Sommer, Alessandro Bastoni, and Nicolo Barella were notably absent from the list, leading to discussions about the criteria used for selection.
Fans expressed their dissatisfaction on social media, questioning why players like Teun Koopmeiners from Juventus cut more established stars.
