When Cole Palmer lifted the Golden Ball as the best player of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, his night should have ended in triumph. After scoring twice and assisting once in Chelsea's 3–0 demolition of Paris Saint-Germain in the final, it was a signature performance that capped a breakout tournament. Instead, the 23-year-old found himself doing a double take, because standing next to him on the podium was none other than US President Donald Trump.
Palmer's confusion quickly went viral. As Chelsea captain Reece James prepared to lift the trophy, cameras caught Palmer turning to teammates and asking what Trump was still doing on the stage. The moment, captured on video as presented here by USA Today, became the most unexpected subplot of a night that should have been about football alone.
