Ademola Lookman moved into third place on Nigeria’s all-time Champions League scorers list after scoring his eighth goal in Europe’s elite competition during Atletico Madrid’s thrilling quarter-final first leg against Barcelona.
The Nigerian forward struck at a crucial moment for his side, bringing Atletico back into the contest after they had fallen two goals behind. Beyond the immediate impact of the strike, the goal is a historical one for Nigerian football in Europe’s club competition.
With that goal, Lookman now has 8 UEFA Champions League goals, placing him third on Nigeria’s all-time scoring list. He sits behind only Victor Osimhen, who leads with 16 goals, and Obafemi Martins, who has 9.
Lookman has already surpassed legends of Nigerian football such as Victor Ikpeba (who had 7), Kanu Nwankwo (who had 5), and Yakubu Aiyegbeni (who had 7).
Since joining Atletico Madrid, he has added a new dimension to his game, thriving in the pressure-cooker environment of the Champions League knockout rounds.
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Currently, Lookman is just one goal away from equaling Obafemi Martins’ tally of nine and moving into outright second.
Given by his current form and Atletico’s continued involvement in the competition, there is a strong possibility he could surpass the former Inter Milan star before the season is out. However, catching Victor Osimhen, who has a formidable 16 goals, remains a longer-term target.
