Soccer Stars and Celebrities Converge for Ballon d'Or Ceremony in London

The glitzy Ballon d'Or ceremony brought together the elite of the football world and entertainment industry at the London Palladium. Among the attendees were football stars Harry Kane, Lamine Yamal, and Kylian Mbappé, who are considered frontrunners for the men's award.

Joining the athletes on the red carpet were figures from the entertainment world, including "Game of Thrones" star Sophie Turner and singer Jorja Smith. Presenter Kate Scott, who co-hosted the event with football legend Thierry Henry, was also in attendance.

Football icons such as Gary Lineker and former Brazilian forward Ronaldo were present, along with other notable figures like Alan Shearer, Luís Figo, and Jamie Carragher. Michael Owen, the last English player to win the Ballon d'Or in 2001, arrived with his wife Louise.

Mbappé is expected to lead a delegation from Real Madrid, marking the club's return to the ceremony after a two-year boycott. The Spanish club had previously withdrawn from attending in 2024, reportedly due to a belief that Vinícius Júnior was not favored to win the top prize, with Rodri ultimately announced as the winner. Real Madrid also abstained from the 2025 ceremony, with only Caroline Weir attending after her nomination for the women's award.

Players from the England women's national team, including Lucy Bronze, were also present, as were Chelsea teammates Hannah Hampton, Veerle Buurman, Manaka Matsukubo, and Melvine Malard.