Super Eagles stars William Troost-Ekong and Ademola Lookman have been nominated for the 2024 FIFA Best Men’s 11, solidifying their positions as two of Nigeria’s most outstanding football talents.
Ademola Lookman secured his nomination in the attackers’ category, where he faces fierce competition from global football icons, including 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 other elite players.
Meanwhile, William Troost-Ekong earned his spot in the defenders’ category, joining a prestigious list featuring Arsenal’s Gabriel Magalhães and William Saliba, along with 19 other defensive stalwarts.
The final FIFA Best Men’s 11 will be determined through fan votes, allowing supporters worldwide to celebrate and recognize their favorite stars.
Lookman’s nomination caps off a sensational year for the Atalanta forward. He dazzled at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), playing a pivotal role in Nigeria’s deep tournament run, and continued to shine in Serie A, establishing himself as one of the league’s top performers. His stellar form earned him a 14th-place finish in the 2024 Ballon d’Or rankings and positioned him as a leading contender for the African Men’s Footballer of the Year award.
Troost-Ekong, the Super Eagles captain, also enjoyed a remarkable year. His commanding defensive displays were key to Nigeria reaching their first AFCON final in a decade, a campaign that saw him crowned the tournament’s Best Player. While he narrowly missed the shortlist for the African Men’s Footballer of the Year award, his inclusion in the FIFA Best Men’s 11 nominees reflects his consistent excellence and leadership on the field.
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