Football is a simple game but succeeding at the highest level is never easy. The road to the top is rarely linear, but society’s shortening attention span means some fans expect instant success from a new player – and lose faith in them faster than ever if performances take time to materialise.

Ademola Lookman knows this better than anyone. After arriving as a promising forward with Charlton Athletic at 17-years-old – scoring five goals in his first season and attracting attention from England’s biggest teams – he joined Everton for £11m as a 19-year-old before a series of up-and-down spells with RB Leipzig, Fulham, and Leicester. 

He never quite hit the heights people expected in those early years but in 2024, he’s moved from false dawns to shining star as the deserved African Footballer of the Year and Europa League winner with Atalanta. From Peckham pitches to podium finishes, Lookman’s story is a reminder that greatness moves on its own time – and that matters more than ever when football feels like it’s moving faster than ever before.

Last season was one like no other for Ademola – years of grinding resulted in countless blessings. People will hail up the historic Europa League final hat-trick, but that night matters even more when you look at the context of his previous season and what that tells us about him, and those who want to be just like him.

Ademola’s breakthrough at Charlton wasn’t the end, it was merely the start of a long story. He moved to Everton in 2017 and scored against Manchester City on his debut – the hype built to a level that was probably too much on his young shoulders at that moment in time. 

Further spells at Leipzig, Fulham and Leicester showed flashes of promise but it always felt like the game was waiting for Ademola to take the ‘final’ step and become the player we knew he could be. 

Everywhere Ademola went, the rose wanted to grow but its beauty was hard to see. But that’s the beautiful thing about roses, there’s a lot of graft in their formation. The roots must be deep and no rose is complete without its thorns.

Ademola always believed he would blossom. His delays were never denial and now, the scent of victory is oh so sweet. 

He represents so many young players – and young people at large – on their quest to succeed. They show promise. They face challenges. They need support systems. They need second chances. Do they fly or fall? Do they go again or accept their fate?

Ademola chose to fly – time and time again. His success is a lesson for the dreamers and the believers. You can’t rush greatness. Football should learn from that.

@MayowaQuadri_

He now looks at home among the world’s very best, but for so much of his career he struggled to find a club he could call home. His CAF Award is the end result of two years in Atalanta, at a club that’s provided Ademola with the stability and serenity to find himself again. Halfway through the 2024/25 season, he looks poised to post a career best goals return. He’s always scored more in Serie A than he amassed in Bundesliga and Premier League combined.

While his wings have now taken him around the world, his own progress will always strike a local chord for this writer.

Before the Ballon d’Or nomination, before the Europa League hat-trick, before his exploits at AFCON, before his first Premier League goal and before his professional debut, there was a young Ademola who had dreams of making it big. I know because I was blessed enough to coach him for the school team.

Burgess Park in South London was Mola’s playground. Long range shots on tap and more dazzling dribbles than I can remember. His ability was always apparent but – like so many other players at his age – his physicality was often questioned. This meant it took him longer than it should have done to find a professional club.

Many of the players in his team were special, but it was always Mola who my fellow coach Denzel and I would come back to and ask “why is no club willing to give him a chance?” – eventually, his performances with a local team, Waterloo FC, led to Charlton Athletic bringing him into their academy in 2014. One year later, he was playing professional football and scoring goals in the Championship. 

Ademola was forced to be patient in his quest to become a professional player. He’s had to be patient for the opportunity and support to become one of the world’s very best. There’s no doubt in my mind his experience with the former helped him prepare for the latter.

David conquered Goliath – but not everyone remembers that David had to defeat the Lion and the Beat first. Everyone has a Goliath in our journey, but it’s often the trials and tribulations beforehand that prepare us in ways we never know until it’s time.