Famed American YouTuber IShowSpeed was the surprise attendee of the Ballon d’Or 2023 ceremony yesterday. Speed, who is a Cristiano Ronaldo fan, was devastated as he watched Lionel Messi pick up his record-extending 8th Ballon d’Or award. However, another moment that caught fans’ attention was how Messi’s son was looking at Speed.
Here’s the beautiful video for Lionel Messi after he won his Ballon Dor ✨️#BallonDor | #Messi𓃵pic.twitter.com/5lK53P9rTc
— İ (@leo_goat_messi) October 30, 2023
Fans had expected to see sports stars gracing the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, France, for the Ballon d’Or ceremony. However, IShowSpeed, real name Darren Watkins Jr., was the surprise package. Speed has been traveling the world lately as he was seen in Qatar – for the FIFA World Cup, Japan – to watch Paris Saint Germain play a friendly, India – to watch the Cricket World Cup, and now France.
Since the moment Speed entered the gala, fans knew there would be some great moments incoming. Speed was accompanied by popular TikToker Iran Ferreira. The pair met several soccer stars and even met tennis star Novak Djokovic. Speed also received the side-eye from one of Messi’s sons and it did not go unnoticed.
One fan wrote, “They’re wondering why he’s even there.”
They’re wondering why he’s even there
— Natalya🫧 (@euronatiii) October 30, 2023
Another fan wrote, “He’s jealous Speed prefers Ronaldo.”
On the other hand, one fan claimed that Messi’s son was scared. They wrote, “Lil man is scared speed gonna bark at him.”
At the ceremony, Messi’s wife Antonela Roccuzzo even ignored Speed’s request for a picture. Speed was visibly sad about the rejection.
Cristiano Ronaldo superfan IShowSpeed was devastated to see Lionel Messi win the Ballon d’Or
Ronaldo is the proud winner of five Ballon d’Or awards and Speed was hoping the Portuguese soccer star would add to the list in 2023. Speed live-streamed his way through the Ballon d’Or gala and said, “Either Ronaldo or Haaland is going to win.”
However, Ronaldo was not even in the top 30 for the award this year. Erling Haaland and Messi were the favorites to win the award. Between the pair, Speed was supporting Manchester City striker Haaland. The YouTuber said, “I’m picking Haaland, Haaland got the treble, bro Haaland’s going crazy this year, I’m going to have to go Haaland.”
Speed even got to interact with the Norwegian striker among many other soccer stars such as former Chelsea and Real Madrid star Eden Hazard and Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez. He even asked Martinez to choose between Messi and Ronaldo. There was no doubt about the answer as Martinez chose Messi.
🚨| WATCH: Speed reacts to Messi winning the Ballon d’Or #BallonDor pic.twitter.com/y4bomn3quH
— Speedy HQ (@iShowSpeedHQ) October 30, 2023
When the Ballon d’Or announcement was being made it was seen that Speed was mouthing “Ronaldo! Ronaldo!”
However, it was already expected that Messi was going to collect his eighth Ballon d’Or on the night. When Messi’s name was announced, Speed, in IShowSpeed fashion, was devastated. His reaction to the announcement went viral as he was in complete shock and disbelief. Messi, on the other hand, enjoyed his moment as he cemented his legacy as the most successful soccer player.