Leah Williamson may not have lifted the Ballon d’Or trophy in Paris, but she certainly stole the spotlight.
The 28-year-old Arsenal and England captain arrived at the Théâtre du Châtelet in a sleek all-black ensemble that drew admiration both inside the hall and online. While Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmatí claimed her third straight Ballon d’Or, Williamson secured a place in the top 10 — joining teammates Chloe Kelly, Alessia Russo, Lucy Bronze and Hannah Hampton on the list — after once again leading England to European glory this summer.
Off the pitch, Williamson gave fans a glimpse into her personal life, sharing affectionate moments with her partner, Elle Smith. The pair posted a series of photos on social media, with one showing them posing together and another capturing Smith looking into Williamson’s eyes. “Ballon d’Or,” Williamson wrote. “Congratulations to all the winners, in awe of my teammates for club and country.”
Fans were quick to respond, with one calling them “the hottest sports couple” and another declaring, “the Posh and Becks of our generation.”
Smith, 30, is a former Miss USA who represented her country at Miss Universe in 2021, finishing in the Top 10. Away from pageantry, she has built a career in journalism.
The couple were first linked in 2024, when Smith shared a birthday tribute showing them paddleboarding together. Since then, they’ve regularly appeared on each other’s social media — from celebrating England’s emphatic 6-0 win over Portugal, where Williamson perched on Smith’s lap with the caption “We did it!”, to enjoying a sun-soaked holiday in Majorca.
For Williamson, the night in Paris was another reminder of her growing influence on and off the field — combining footballing excellence with a love story that continues to capture fans’ hearts
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