Harry Kane's long-awaited night celebrating his Ballon d'Or win was dampened by baseless accusations of disrespect. The British press reacted strongly to alleged disrespect shown by Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele towards the Englishman during the ceremony.
Fictitious conflict among French stars
The MailOnline led with the sensational headline about disrespect, claiming that Mbappe and Dembele failed to rise from their seats to shake hands with the humble victor. However, a closer examination reveals that these accusations lack substance—Kane himself has not made any real complaints, and video footage shows the French players hugging, smiling, and greeting Kane. Moreover, Dembele personally stood up to congratulate the striker, while Mbappe warmly embraced him immediately after the results were announced. Nevertheless, tabloids seized upon the moment, referencing the fierce competition in the voting.
Other quirks from the ceremony
The press also highlighted other amusing details from the evening:
- Quotation gaffe: The Sun erroneously reported a premature thank you to French football from Kane, although the award was presented by France Football.
- England women's team: While covering goalkeeper Hannah Hampton’s appearance on the red carpet, outlets referred to her merely as Kane's support group, overlooking that she was nominated for the Best Female Doctor award.
- Position of others: British media took the opportunity to mock their compatriots, noting Declan Rice's modest 15th place in the overall voting.
