Super Eagles stars William Troost-Ekong and Ademola Lookman have been nominated for the 2024 Best FIFA Men’s 11, further cementing their status as two of Nigeria’s finest football talents.
Ademola Lookman earned his FIFA nomination in the attackers’ category, where he will compete alongside football giants such as Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka, Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane, Manchester City’s Erling Haaland, Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappé, and 14 others.
William Troost-Ekong, on the other hand, secured a place in the defenders’ category, joining a list that includes Arsenal’s Gabriel Magalhães and William Saliba, as well as 19 other standout players.
The final selection for the Best FIFA Men’s 11 will be determined by fan votes, giving supporters worldwide an opportunity to decide which players make the coveted team.
Lookman’s nomination follows a stellar year for both club and country.
The Atalanta forward showcased his brilliance during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), helping Nigeria make a deep run in the tournament. He has also been a decisive force in Serie A, building on his momentum to establish himself as one of the league’s standout players.
His exploits earned him a 14th-place finish in the 2024 Ballon d’Or rankings and positioned him as one of the frontrunners for the African Men’s Footballer of the Year award.
Troost-Ekong, the Super Eagles’ captain, has also enjoyed a remarkable year, highlighted by his exceptional performances at AFCON.
Troost-Ekong’s defensive leadership guided Nigeria to their first final in a decade, a feat that earned him the tournament’s Best Player award.
While he was initially shortlisted for the African Men’s Footballer of the Year award, he narrowly missed the final cut, but his nomination for the Best FIFA Men’s 11 is a testament to his consistency and impact on the pitch.
Best Men’s Player
Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid and Spain)
Erling Haaland (Manchester City and Norway)
Federico Valverde (Real Madrid and Uruguay)
Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen and Germany)
Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid and England
Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain/Real Madrid and France)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona and Spain)
Lionel Messi (Inter Miami and Argentina)
Rodri (Manchester City and Spain)
Toni Kroos (Real Madrid and Germany) – (Now retired)
Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid and Brazil)
Best Women’s Player
Aitana Bonmati (Barcelona and Spain)
Barbra Banda (Shanghai Shengli/Orlando Pride and Zambia)
Caroline Graham Hansen (Barcelona and Norway)
Keira Walsh (Barcelona and England)
Khadija Shaw (Manchester City and Jamaica)
Lauren Hemp (Manchester City and England)
Lindsey Horan (Lyon and United States)
Lucy Bronze (Barcelona/Chelsea and England)
Mallory Swanson (Chicago Red Stars and United States)
Mariona Caldentey (Barcelona/Arsenal and Spain)
Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave and United States)
Ona Batlle (Barcelona and Spain)
Salma Paralluelo (Barcelona and Spain)
Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns and United States)
Tabitha Chawinga (Paris Saint-Germain/Lyon and Malawi)
Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit and United States)
Best Men’s Coach
Carlo Ancelotti (Real Madrid)
Lionel Scaloni (Argentina)
Luis de la Fuente (Spain)
Pep Guardiola (Manchester City)
Xabi Alonso (Bayer Leverkusen)
Best Women’s Coach
Arthur Elias (Brazil)
Elena Sadiku (Celtic)
Emma Hayes (Chelsea/USA)
Futoshi Ikeda (Japan)
Gareth Taylor (Manchester City)
Jonatan Giraldez (Barcelona/Washington Spirit)
Sandrine Soubeyrand (Paris FC)
Sonia Bompastor (Lyon/Chelsea)
Best Men’s Goalkeeper
Andriy Lunin (Real Madrid and Ukraine)
David Raya (Arsenal and Spain)
Ederson (Manchester City and Brazil)
Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa and Argentina)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Italy)
Mike Maignan (AC Milan and France)
Unai Simon (Athletic Bilbao and Spain)
Best Women’s Goalkeeper
Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars and United States)
Ann-Katrin Berger (Chelsea/NJ/NY Gotham and Germany)
Ayaka Yamashita (INAC Kobe Leonessa/Manchester City and Japan)
Cata Coll (Barcelona and Spain)
Mary Earps (Manchester United/Paris Saint-Germain and England)
Adeleke Damilola (ACTION) is a versatile content writer with expertise in news writing and a seasoned media professional and broadcast specialist. Currently serving as News Editor for DNews Info, Damilola is also the CEO of the ACTION brand, committed to shaping lives and establishing a legacy of excellence for present and future generations.
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