The 70th Ballon d’Or ceremony brought football’s biggest stars to London’s Palladium Theatre on October 26. Harry Kane and Alexia Putellas left with the night’s biggest prizes, but the red carpet offered its own competition. Most guests stayed within the black-tie formula of dark suits and evening gowns, while others used color, texture and statement accessories to make their outfits stand out. Because the event brings together athletes, designers, and performers, the arrivals often become almost as discussed as the awards themselves. These rankings focus on how well each look balanced the event’s formal dress code with a distinct sense of style.
Best Dressed:
Kylian Mbappé:
Mbappé kept his look simple in a velvet Dior tuxedo with satin lapels, a white shirt and a bow tie. At an event filled with dramatic details, the outfit stood out because it did not try to do too much. The velvet gave the tuxedo depth, while the sharp lapels kept it from looking flat. Every part of the outfit worked together, making the look feel polished without being boring. Mbappé showed that a classic black-tie outfit can still feel current when the fit and material are right.
Alexia Putellas:
Putellas took a more dramatic approach in a custom ivory silk-satin dress designed by Jonathan Anderson. The floor-length dress had bare shoulders and feathers flowing down the skirt, creating movement as she walked. The design was reportedly inspired by Nike, the Greek goddess of victory, which made it especially fitting as Putellas won the Women’s Ballon d’Or for the third time. Against a carpet dominated by black, the pale color immediately stood out. The feathers were bold, but the clean shape kept the dress from becoming overwhelming.
Scarlett Camberos:
Camberos also moved away from the night’s mostly dark color palette in a glossy wine-red dress with a straight neckline and a voluminous pleated skirt. The shine and pleats gave the dress movement, while the simple neckline kept the look from becoming too busy. She also showed a Club América shirt, which gave the formal outfit a personal connection to football. That detail made the dress feel less like a generic red-carpet look. Camberos managed to make a statement while still looking comfortable in the identity she brought to the carpet.
Worst Dressed:
Lamine Yamal:
Yamal’s custom Chanel outfit was impossible to miss. The cropped black jacket featured a single gold button and an oversized pink flower on the lapel, creating a sharp contrast against the dark fabric. The flower gave the look a memorable moment, but it also became the first thing anyone noticed. That made the tailoring and the rest of the outfit feel secondary. Yamal clearly took a risk, and the look started a conversation, but a smaller brooch might have allowed the entire outfit to work together more successfully.
Jorja Smith:
Smith’s lace outfit was eye-catching, but it felt more suited to a different kind of event. The delicate, lingerie-inspired design had a clear point of view, yet it did not fully match the formal atmosphere of the Ballon d’Or. Its soft fabric and exposed details competed with the structured gowns and tuxedos around it. A sharper silhouette or a heavier fabric could have made the outfit feel more connected to the occasion. The look had personality, but the styling did not bring all of its elements together.
Sophie Turner:
Turner’s black Louis Vuitton suit was polished, but it did not feel formal enough for the ceremony. The trousers and simple jacket gave the outfit a casual quality, especially next to the evening gowns and detailed tuxedos on the carpet. A stronger jacket, sharper tailoring or one memorable accessory could have made the look feel more intentional. Instead, the outfit seemed like it stopped one step short of a complete red-carpet look. The pieces were not poorly chosen, but they did not create enough visual interest together.
