Reuters
Soccer Football – The Ballon d’Or Awards – Theatre du Chatelet, Paris, France – November 29, 2021 Alpine’s Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon during the awards REUTERS/Benoit Tessier
Reuters
Soccer Football – The Ballon d’Or Awards – Theatre du Chatelet, Paris, France – November 29, 2021 Alpine’s Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon during the awards REUTERS/Benoit Tessier
It has been an amazing start to the weekend for the fans of Argentina, Paris Saint-Germain, and most importantly, FC Barcelona, as Lionel Messi lifted the Ballon d’Or trophy for a record 7th time. However, there was indeed something to cheer for, for the F1 fans, thanks to Alpine.
Ballon d’Or is one of the most prestigious annual award ceremonies in football, hosted by France Football. 2021 also marked 65 years of Ballon d’Or. Hence, to make the evening further special for the guests, the organizers had a surprise in store.
Watch What’s Trending Now!
Reuters
Soccer Football – The Ballon d’Or Awards – Theatre du Chatelet, Paris, France – November 29, 2021 Alpine’s Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon during the awards REUTERS/Benoit Tessier
The two Alpine F1 drivers, Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon showed up on the stage, wearing Grey suits and a helmet to cover their faces.
Why did the Alpine drivers take part in the event?
Well, Alonso and Ocon certainly played one of the most essential roles of the evening in Paris. How you might ask? The F1 teammates were the ones who actually delivered the two Ballon d’Or awards prior to the winners’ announcements.
The Ballon d’Or trophees are brought by Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon from @AlpineF1Team!
🧭 48°51'27.3"N 2°20'49.4"E
📍Theatre du Chtelet
🔸@alpinecarsFR pic.twitter.com/u7IPR0koi5— Ballon d'Or #ballondor (@francefootball) November 29, 2021
Both kept their faces covered for a while before the hosts, Sandy Heribert and Didier Drogba, urged them to take their helmets off. And well, they did, and what followed was a roar of applause from the crowd. The cameras also caught Messi, Kylian Mbappe, and Luis Suarez portraying a wide smile.
It was indeed a brief cameo by Ocon and Alonso after which the duo paved the way for eventual award winners, Messi and Alexia Putellas.
FC Bayern Munich forward, Robert Lewandowski, snatched the best striker award with a whopping 59 goals while most-anticipated Mbappe only found himself in the 9th position having earned 58 points.
Twitter bursts into laughter
Twitter is indeed the best place to go after coming across such an event featuring F1 drivers. Many hilariously related the duo to two-men French Electronic music band, Daft Punk, which quite similarly had Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter, wearing helmets through all of their performances.
We’ve hand-picked some of the tweets. Check them out below:
gonna tell my kids this was daft punk
— Ondra Machálek (@Alficor1) November 29, 2021
Fernando Alonso and Estaban Ocon at the ballon d'or ceremony did not expect that #f1 #BallonDor pic.twitter.com/pziU47FEYF
— f1 guy (@f1guy8) November 29, 2021
Ballon d’or only did one thing right and that was bringing alonso and ocon to the ceremony
— zahraa (@lfczahraa) November 29, 2021
Ngl the only interesting thing about last night's ballon d'or was France Football overkilling it with daft punk red carpet entry of Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon
— Anwesh Patnaik (@AnweshPatnaik01) November 30, 2021
The reaction to Alonso & Ocon bringing the prizes on stage could be the most meme-worthy result of the entire Ballon D'Or ceremony. pic.twitter.com/pssWyMoCnN
— Kazonaki (@kazonis) November 30, 2021
Seeing Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon on the ballon d’or stage reminded me of the Qatar Grand Prix.
Fernando on team radio:”Tell Esteban to defend like a Lion against Perez.”
Ocon: *Goes on to defend like a pussy cat.” 🤣🤣🤣
— High Spirit (@abeiiiku) November 30, 2021
f1 fans seeing alonso and ocon at the ballon d’or pic.twitter.com/nRnbcUEEpg
— iesh🍒 (@brocedes) November 29, 2021
WHAT ARE ALONSO AND OCON DOING IN BALLON D'OR
— GRINGO (@slaymouuni) November 29, 2021
OMG ALONSO AND OCON ARE THE GUYS DELIVERING THE BALLON D’OR HAHAHHAHAHAHHAH
— gretina (@scudericciardo) November 29, 2021
Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon have just delivered the Ballon D'or. this you love to see🤩#BallonDor #F1
— Mugisha Ernest (@MugishaErnest00) November 29, 2021
Didier Drogba oozes class.. And the Ballon' D'or trophies brought by Formula One drivers Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon. #BallonDor
— Bernard Ndong (@BernardNdong) November 29, 2021
So… Ocon and Alonso gone in Daft Punk's Cosplay, delivering the Ballon D'or? Or Daft Punk were Alonso and Ocon all this time??
— Guilherme Vencato (@ehogui) November 29, 2021
I think the greatest part about the Ballon D’Or Ceremony was the fact that Alonso and Ocon are Daft Punk.
Alpine gonna put up a crazy album post f1 season. #BallonDor2021 #AlonsoOcon #daftpunk— Sean Menezes (@seanmenezes97) November 29, 2021
Watch Story: From Cristiano Ronaldo to Shaquille O’Neal: When Other Athletes Mingled With F1 Stars
