PARIS, FRANCE: During the star-studded gathering at the Ballon d’Or event, popular YouTuber IShowSpeed created a sensation online. He interacted with esteemed football players like Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Erling Haaland, even showcasing his trademark 'barking' sound.
This happened in the wake of Speed's reaction to Lionel Messi's victory. To provide some context, Messi recently clinched his eighth Ballon d'Or award at the ceremony held in Paris.
Additionally, Speed garnered attention for a moment when he asked for a photo and was inadvertently overlooked by Messi's wife.
IShowSpeed meets professional football players at Ballon d'Or
During IShowSpeed's recent livestream titled 'IRL Ballon d'Or', the YouTuber had the opportunity to meet several professional football players, among them Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, also known as Kvara. He is a Georgian left winger who currently plays for Serie A club Napoli and the Georgia national team.
A Twitter post featured a video clip of the encounter with Kvaratskhelia, captioned, "Speed meets Napoli winger, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia at the #BallonDor".
In their conversation, Speed expressed his admiration for Kvaratskhelia's playing skills, and the footballer reciprocated by referring to Speed as 'My boy'. They shared a warm handshake and a friendly hug, both wearing smiles.
Following this, Speed met Erling Braut Haaland, a renowned Norwegian professional footballer known for his exceptional speed, strength, positioning, and goal-scoring abilities. Haaland plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester City and the Norway national team.
Another Twitter post featured a video captioned, “Speed meets Haaland for the first time”.
In their encounter, they greeted each other, and Speed added his distinctive touch by playfully making his signature 'barking' sound, even playfully lowering his head in front of Haaland.
Speed also took a photograph together, and concluded with a warm hug and a handshake.
Furthermore, IShowSpeed posted a carousel of images on Instagram, capturing moments with other acclaimed players. Among them was Vinicius Jr, a skilled Brazilian winger who currently plays for La Liga club Real Madrid and the Brazil national team.
Additionally, Speed shared a photo with Jude Victor William Bellingham on Instagram, who is an English professional midfielder for La Liga club Real Madrid and the England national team.
Despite the apparent crowd, Speed made sure to meet his favorites and capture moments with them. It was a highlight for him, prompting fans to dub it his 'best life' experience.
Internet reacts to IShowSpeed's star-studded meet-up
Upon watching the star-studded meeting at Ballon d'Or including the world-renowned footballers, many fans flocked to the comment section and shared their perspectives.
One fan said, "Speed met Haaland and will probably meet Messi as well, but couldn’t meet Virat Kohli."
Another fan wrote, "Getting recognition from football stars and owners is a whole different level of fame. He’s made it in life fr."
A third fan said, "He living his best life." A fourth user said, "He barked meeting haaland... My Guy." A fifth user said, "Insane yapping."