Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Ronwen Williams and Nigerian forward Lookman Ademola have been nominated for the 2024 Ballon d’Or awards.
Willams has been nominated for the 2024 Yachine Trophy, making him the first African-based goalkeeper to make the shortlist.
The Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper was instrumental in Bafana Bafana’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AfCON) campaign, helping them reach the semifinals with heroic penalty saves during the knockout stage. The 32-year-old was key to Sundowns’ victory in the inaugural CAF African Football League where they emerged champions.
He had 35 clean sheets in 59 games in the 2023/2024 season and was named Best Goalkeeper at AFCON 2023, where he kept four clean sheets.
Williams is also the fourth African goalkeeper to be nominated for the Yachine trophy, joining Andre Onana, Edouard Mendy, and Yassine Bounou.
Lookman of Nigeria, on the other hand, has been named to the prestigious 2024 Ballon d’Or shortlist of 30 players.
The 26-year-old had a successful 2024, scoring a hat-trick in the Europa Cup to help Atalanta defeat Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 and win the trophy.
He was also crucial in Nigeria’s Afcon campaign, helping the Super Eagles reach the final which they lost 2-1 to hosts Ivory Coast.
Lookman also scored 11 goals to help his Italian club side Atalanta finish fourth in Serie A, earning a place in this season’s Uefa Champions League.
Meanwhile, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, the award’s record holders, have failed to make the Ballon d’Or shortlist for the first time since 2003.
Messi won the award for the record eighth time last year after leading Argentina to victory in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
The 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony will be held on Monday, October 28.
Men’s Ballon d’Or nominees
Jude Bellingham (England and Real Madrid)
Ruben Dias (Portugal and Manchester City)
Phil Foden (England and Manchester City)
Federico Valverde (Uruguay and Real Madrid)
Emiliano Martinez (Argentina and Aston Villa)
Erling Haaland (Norway and Manchester City)
Nico Williams (Spain and Athletic Bilbao)
Granit Xhaka (Switzerland and Bayer Leverkusen)
Artem Dovbyk (Ukraine and Roma)
Toni Kroos (former Germany and Real Madrid)
Vinicius Jr (Brazil and Real Madrid)
Dani Olmo (Spain and Barcelona)
Florian Wirtz (Germany and Bayer Leverkusen)
Martin Odegaard (Norway and Arsenal)
Mats Hummels (Germany, free agent)
Rodri (Spain and Manchester City)
Harry Kane (England and Bayern Munich)
Declan Rice (England and Arsenal)
Vitinha (Portugal and Paris St-Germain)
Cole Palmer (England and Chelsea)
Dani Carvajal (Spain and Real Madrid)
Lamine Yamal (Spain and Barcelona)
Bukayo Saka (England and Arsenal)
Hakan Calhanoglu (Turkey and Inter Milan)
William Saliba (France and Arsenal)
Kylian Mbappe (France and Real Madrid)
Lautaro Martinez (Argentina and Inter Milan)
Ademola Lookman (Nigeria and Atalanta)
Antonio Rudiger (Germany and Real Madrid)
Alejandro Grimaldo (Spain and Bayer Leverkusen)
