Despite a remarkable year with Atalanta, Nigerian winger Ademola Lookman was overlooked in the Serie A Top XI at the prestigious Gran Galà del Calcio held in Milan on Monday.
The awards, organised by the Italian Players’ Association, recognise the league’s standout performers annually.
Lookman, who scored 26 goals and provided 15 assists in all competitions for Atalanta in 2024, had been shortlisted alongside forwards Lautaro Martinez (Inter), Marcus Thuram (Inter), Rafael Leao (Milan), Albert Gudmundsson (formerly Genoa, now Fiorentina), and Joshua Zirkzee (formerly Bologna, now Manchester United).
Despite his instrumental hat-trick in Atalanta’s historic Europa League final win against Bayer Leverkusen, the 27-year-old missed out as Martinez, Thuram, and Zirkzee were named in the Top XI, which followed a 4-3-3 formation.
Lookman’s omission comes after a strong year internationally, where he scored three goals for the Super Eagles in Nigeria’s run to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations final.
The Serie A Top XI featured a heavy Inter Milan presence, with five players from the Nerazzurri: Yann Sommer (goalkeeper), Alessandro Bastoni, Federico Dimarco, Nicolo Barella, and Hakan Calhanoglu. Other players in the lineup included Raoul Bellanova (Torino/Atalanta), Riccardo Calafiori (Bologna/Arsenal), and Teun Koopmeiners (Atalanta/Juventus).
Unsurprisingly, Lautaro Martinez was crowned Player of the Year after winning the Capocannoniere title with 24 goals. Marcus Thuram also took home the Goal of the Year award for his stunning strike during Inter’s emphatic 5-1 win over Milan in the Derby della Madonnina in September 2023.
Marking the 30th anniversary of AC Milan’s 4-0 triumph over Barcelona in the Champions League Final, legends Billy Costacurta, Demetrio Albertini, Roberto Donadoni, and Mauro Tassotti were honored with a Legend Award.
Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi was named Coach of the Year, while his club also received the Club of the Year award. Daniele Orsato claimed Referee of the Year, and Spezia’s Francesco Pio Esposito was recognized as Serie B Young Player of the Year.
While Lookman’s exclusion from the Top XI may be controversial, his contributions to both club and country in 2024 remain a testament to his exceptional talent.
