Ademola Lookman is on the brink of cementing himself as the most devastating Serie A forward this calendar year.
Lookman scored his fifth and sixth league goals of the 2024/25 campaign when he bagged a brace in Atalanta‘s 3-0 win over Napoli on Sunday.
The Nigerian international opened the scoring in the 10th minute when he volleyed home Charles De Ketelaere’s flicked header from close range.
De Ketelaere and Lookman combined once again for Atalanta’s second when the Belgian fed the ball to his teammate from about 30 yards out.
Lookman took a touch before he cut back in on his right foot and unleashed a powerful strike past Alex Meret from distance.
Sadly, there was to be no hat-trick for the 27-year-old as Atalanta boss Gian Piero Gasperini took him off in the 76th minute.
Italian international Mateo Retegui added Atalanta’s third in the 92nd minute, taking his season tally to a league-leading 11.
The victory for Atalanta was their fifth league win in a row and pushed them up to second, but the Nigerian’s brace took on a bigger meaning.
Lookman’s goals against Napoli meant he has now been involved in more goals for a Serie A team than any other player in 2024.
Over the course of the year, Lookman has scored 16 goals and registered 11 assists.
Those numbers are almost certain to rise as Atalanta have 11 games across Serie A, the Champions League and the Coppa Italia before 2025.
It has certainly been a year to remember for Lookman.
His standout moment arrived in the Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen last may.
Xabi Alonso’s side went into the match having not lost a single game across all competitions.
But Leverkusen were handed their first and only defeat of the entire 23/24 campaign thanks to a stunning hat-trick from Lookman as he handed Atalanta their first-ever European trophy.
Lookman’s stunning form across last season was also noticed by Ballon d’Or judges from across the planet as he was ranked the 14th best player in the world, ahead of Martin Odegaard, Federico Valverde and Cole Palmer.
The 27-year-old has largely picked up from where he left off with strong performances for Atalanta across Serie A and the Champions League.
He scored one and assisted another in Atalanta’s 3-0 win over Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League while his brace against Napoli made it four goals and two assists in his last three Serie A fixtures.
