Super Eagles duo Ademola Lookman and William Troost-Ekong have been named among the 2024 FIFA FIFA The Best Men’s World 11 nominees.
Lookman earned his spot in the attackers’ category, where he competes against some of the sport’s finest talents, including Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappé, and Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka.
The Atalanta forward’s exploits in the 2023/2024 season earned him a 14th-place finish in the Ballon d’Or and cemented his reputation as one of Europe’s most influential players.
Lookman played a pivotal role for club and country, scoring 17 goals and registering 10 assists in 45 matches last season. His contributions propelled Nigeria to the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, where he scored three goals, provided an assist, and was named in the Team of the Tournament.
This recognition comes as Lookman and Troost-Ekong also made headlines earlier in the year with nominations for the 2024 CAF Player of the Year award.
While Troost-Ekong did not progress to the final shortlist, Lookman remains a favorite in African and global football circles.
Troost-Ekong’s effort goes global
Troost-Ekong’s recognition follows his stellar displays at AFCON 2023, where he marshaled Nigeria’s defence to their first final in over a decade.
The Al-Kholood centre-back was awarded the tournament’s Best Player accolade, becoming the first defender to win the honour in recent memory.
Competing in the defenders’ category, Troost-Ekong faces strong competition from Real Madrid’s Antonio Rüdiger, Dani Carvajal, and Arsenal’s William Saliba, among others.
Fans will play a critical role in determining the final team, as FIFA’s revamped voting system gives equal weight to votes from fans, national team captains, coaches, and media representatives.
Voting is open on FIFA.com until December 10, with winners to be unveiled in early 2025.
