FIFA CWC Best Player Cole Palmer Celebrates Chelsea Win With ... Donald Trump?

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.

Player of the Tournament, Question of the Night

According to Olympics.com, Palmer was the standout performer of the tournament, tallying three goals and two assists across six matches. In the final, he scored two stunning first-half goals, both bent expertly into the far corner, leaving PSG stunned. With Chelsea also collecting the UEFA Conference League earlier this year, Palmer's impact under manager Enzo Maresca is undeniable.

Yet Palmer's post-match press duties weren't about his goals, assists, or even his future. They were about Trump. Asked about the awkward moment, Athlon Sports reports that Palmer confirmed the confusion: 'No, I knew he was going to be there, but I didn't know he was going to be on the stand where we lift the trophy. So, I was a bit confused'.

Trump, flanked by FIFA president Gianni Infantino, not only presented medals and awards. The US president also lingered near the Chelsea squad even after his duties were done. Infantino was reportedly seen trying to politely usher him off the stage, to no avail.

Cole Palmer Proves Critics Wrong

Lost amid the viral chaos was the continuation of Palmer's astonishing rise. Once a Manchester City academy product, he's now central to Chelsea's resurgence. Palmer's stats this tournament were elite, to say the least: three goals, two assists, and an average match rating that rivalled any other midfielder.

Chelsea fans will remember Palmer's key goal against Palmeiras in the quarter-final. They will also note his assist against Benfica in the Round of 16. But it's his brace in the final that secured the Cole Palmer Club World Cup legacy.

After the match, Palmer shared how this season felt like a statement: 'Everyone has talked a lot of *expletive* about us all season. We are going in the right direction'.

Maresca agrees. With a squad full of young talent, Chelsea's back-to-back performance has silenced early-season doubters.

Chelsea Celebrate — Eventually

Chelsea eventually recreated the trophy-lifting moment without Trump or Infantino on stage, this time with Maresca front and centre. The team celebrated with fans at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium, where the final was held in front of a sell-out crowd.

Despite the spectacle, it was Palmer, not the political presence, who deserved the spotlight. And at Cole Palmer's age of 23, he's just getting started, and this latest accolade adds weight to his growing reputation. For a team in transition, Palmer staying in Chelsea might just be the most important name on the team sheet.

As for Trump? Even football's best player of the tournament was left wondering what he was doing there.