Collapse, glamour and Laporta struts his stuff

The Ballon d'Or red carpet in London drew stars including Lamine Yamal, Mbappé and Kane; the ceremony started 50 minutes late due to overcrowding.

The Ballon d'Or ceremony took place at London's Palladium on a rainy evening, with the red carpet drawing a massive crowd of football's biggest names. The event was delayed nearly 50 minutes as crowds overwhelmed the entrance and surrounding area.

Barcelona's delegation arrived last and made a strong impression, with Joan Laporta leading executives followed by players and women's players. Lamine Yamal, the young Barcelona star, stood out in a Chanel suit with a large pink flower, arriving with his family and girlfriend Inés García. The Barcelona contingent posed for a major group photo that became one of the night's most striking images.

Real Madrid returned to the event after a two-year absence, represented by Mbappé, Butragueño, Diomande, Cucurella and others. The ceremony also featured football legends including Ronaldo Nazário, Luis Figo, Gary Lineker and Patrick Kluivert, with Thierry Henry and Kate Scott as hosts.