Tessa Wullaert made Belgian sports history on Monday evening during the 70th Ballon d’Or ceremony in London. The 33-year-old Red Flames forward is the first Belgian woman ever nominated for the prestigious award, Het Laatste Nieuws reported.
Preparations in London with Belgian fashion
Ahead of the gala, Wullaert welcomed Het Laatste Nieuws into her hotel suite. Preparing alongside a personal make-up artist, she opted for Belgian fashion to celebrate the historic milestone for domestic women's football.
“Voor dit Gala mag het écht wat meer zijn”
Her quote captured the festive nature of the ceremony, highlighting how significant this recognition is for Belgian international football.
Unintended leaks mark the London ceremony
The 70th edition in London experienced unexpected confusion shortly before the red carpet opened. Belgian broadcaster Sporza reported that the official Ballon d'Or website mistakenly published and quickly deleted three separate articles naming Harry Kane, Lamine Yamal, and Kylian Mbappé as winners. Amid the confusion surrounding the men's podium, Wullaert's presence in London firmly anchored Belgium's historic inclusion on the global stage.
