A live slip revealed the name of the future Ballon d'Or: a renowned journalist sold the wick far too early.
The scene occurred directly, in front of thousands of viewers. On the set of “The evening team”, a seasoned journalist indulged in a confidence that had no need to be. In a few words, he revealed what France Football is trying to hide until September 22: the identity of the future winner of the Ballon d'Or.
Le slip of Vincent Duluc
A few seconds after his announcement, Vincent Duluc, emblematic figure of the sports daily and the Amaury group, made his error. He tried to catch up by stuttering, but the evil was done: Ousmane Dembélé will indeed be crowned in two weeks in Paris. For a journalist renowned for his rigor and master's degree, this slip is surprising.
Beyond the anecdote, this revelation puts France Football in embarrassment. The magazine, organizer of the prestigious trophy, struggles each year to preserve the mystery around the name of the winner. Duluc's leak is added to a long list of “spoilers”: Cristiano Ronaldo in 2016, Modric in 2018, Messi in 2023 or Rodri last year had already seen their coronation unveiled before the time.
The Ballon d'Or has lost its prestige
In a context where information circulates instantly on social networks, keeping the name of the Ballon d'Or secret has become an almost impossible challenge. Photos of trophies, confidences of relatives, clues left by the players themselves: so many breaches that undermine the suspense. The Duluc incident confirms that even internally, the tightness is fragile.
However, the flight will not surprise many people. Dembélé, a long -standing favorite, brought PSG and then the Blues to new peaks. But see its name formalized in this way partially spoils the party. France Football will have to think about its communication mode, because by losing control of its best kept secret, the prestige of the Ballon d'Or is weakened.
