Ten minutes later, the broadcast resumed.
The auditorium screen flashed through a stunning montage of the final trio.
The graphic transitioned to their 2020 resumes.
Theodore Bjorn
Honors: Europa League Champion, Premier League Champion, FA Cup Champion, League Cup Champion.
Individual: Premier League single-season scoring record (61 Goals, 35 Assists), Europa League Golden Boot.
Robert Lewandowski
Honors: Champions League Champion, Bundesliga Champion, DFB-Pokal Champion.
Individual: Bundesliga Golden Boot (34 Goals), Champions League Golden Boot (15 Goals).
Cristiano Ronaldo
Honors: Serie A Champion.
Individual: Serie A Silver Boot (31 Goals).
The comparison outlined a harsh reality: Cristiano was the outsider in this two-horse race.
The Portuguese legend kept a firm expression. He knew the odds, yet he attended the ceremony to use the setback as fuel.
"The player in third place is…" Drogba paused. "Cristiano Ronaldo!"
A resigned smile broke across Cristiano's face as the audience offered a standing ovation.
Finishing on the podium at thirty-five stood as a testament to his relentless drive.
"Only two players remain," Drogba announced, his voice echoing in the grand hall. "Theodore Bjorn and Robert Lewandowski! Which one will take home the gold?"
"Let us welcome a special guest to announce the winner of the 2020 Ballon d'Or!"
Applause rippled through the theater as Kaká stepped onto the stage.
The Brazilian icon carried the glittering Ballon d'Or trophy, placing it on the illuminated podium before shaking Drogba's hand.
Kaká had won the award in 2007, the last mortal to hold it before the Messi-Ronaldo duopoly began.
He pulled a sealed envelope from his jacket, unfolding the card.
"The winner of the 2020 Ballon d'Or is," Kaká read, his voice clear. "Theodore Bjorn, Real Madrid!"
Thunderous applause shook the venue!
Cameras swiveled, beaming Theodore's face to millions worldwide. He stood up, buttoned his suit jacket, and walked toward the stage.
Beside him, Lewandowski's face tightened with sheer frustration.
The Polish striker could not hide the crushing disappointment of second place.
@GlobalFooty: HE DID IT! THEODORE WON!
@NorwegianFootyNews: The pride of our heritage! I never dared to dream of this.
@CN_Football: If only he played for our national team!
@BallonDorLive: Congratulations, Theodore! Welcome to the new era of world football!
Inside the theater, reporters wiped away tears of excitement.
In the front row, Theodore's parents beamed with pride.
Xia Dongguo leaned close to his wife.
"Looks like praying to God helped," he whispered.
Marianne shot him a sharp look. "Theo earned this through his own sweat! It has nothing to do with your damn statues!"
Theodore reached the center of the stage.
He met Kaká's gaze, offered a nod of respect, and wrapped his hands around the heavy golden ball.
Theodore placed the heavy golden ball on the illuminated podium, adjusting the microphone.
The vast Théâtre du Châtelet fell into a hush as thousands of eyes locked onto the teenager.
"Good evening," Theodore began, his voice steady, echoing through the opera house.
"Standing here with this trophy is a surreal privilege. I want to express my deepest gratitude to the journalists who voted and to everyone who trusted in my journey this past year."
He paused, letting his gaze sweep over the front rows.
"To my former teammates, the coaching staff, and the supporters at Aston Villa—thank you. Together, we achieved the impossible. We built a quadruple that will live in history, and you gave me the foundation to grow.
"To Real Madrid, President Florentino Pérez, and Coach Zidane—thank you for believing in me and bringing me to the greatest club in the world. To my parents, your sacrifices made this reality possible.
"Some call this award the pinnacle of a career." Theodore offered a slight, determined smile.
"For me, this is day one! This Ballon d'Or is not a finish line, it is a promise of what is to come. Thank you."
The delivery was composed, carrying a maturity far beyond his eighteen years.
As he stepped back, rolling waves of applause washed over the auditorium.
Football Twitter timeline refreshed with thousands of tweets per second.
@MadridSZN: He looks like a movie star up there. The aura is unmatched!
@UTD_Fanatic: A new era has arrived. Lewandowski had an insane year, but Theodore is just on another planet.
@VillaGlory: He thanked Villa first 😭 Absolute legend.
@FootyDebates: It's official. The Messi-Ronaldo duopoly is over! Theodore Bjorn is the undisputed king of world football right now!
On the stage, just as Theodore prepared to walk off with the trophy, Didier Drogba called him back.
"Theodore, wait just a moment."
Drogba turned to the audience, a wide grin breaking across his face.
"Ladies and gentlemen, tonight, Theodore has broken Ronaldo Nazário's legendary record of winning the Ballon d'Or at twenty-one. At just eighteen years of age, he is the youngest winner in the history of this prestigious award!"
Drogba gestured toward the teenager. "Let us give this young man another round of applause! The era of Theodore Bjorn has arrived!"
The announcement pushed the atmosphere in the venue to an absolute peak.
Legends of the game rose from their seats, delivering a standing ovation.
Amid the prolonged applause, the ceremony drew to a close.
When Theodore returned to the floor, Florentino Pérez, Xia Dongguo, and Marianne Bjorn enveloped him in embraces.
Florentino gripped his shoulders, his eyes bright with triumph.
"Theodore, thank you for bringing the Ballon d'Or back to the Bernabéu! Just as Didier said, your era has begun."
Despite holding the most coveted individual prize in the sport, Theodore remained grounded.
His tone carried no arrogance, only raw ambition. "Only after winning the Champions League will I be qualified to claim that. Right now, the work is not finished."
The response pleased Florentino immensely.
The Real Madrid president patted his back. "I believe in you. You led Aston Villa to European glory, you have the power to bring the fourteenth Champions League title to Madrid."
Following the ceremony protocol, Theodore navigated the press zone.
The moment he appeared with the golden ball tucked under his arm, journalists surged against the barriers.
"Theodore, how do you feel holding the Ballon d'Or?"
"People online are claiming Robert Lewandowski was robbed. Do you have a response?"
The journalists pressed with pointed questions, fishing for a controversial headline.
Theodore did not flinch.
"Winning is a joy," he answered, his expression relaxed. "As for the debates regarding Robert Lewandowski, I will not argue. I am the recipient of the award, not the jury. If anyone demands an explanation for the voting tally, they should ask the journalists who cast the ballots. I prefer to let my football do the talking."
With a polite nod, he exited the mixed zone under heavy security escort.
...
Real Madrid faced a looming clash against Atlético Madrid in the derby just three days later.
Theodore had no time to linger in Paris.
He boarded a private jet back to the Spanish capital alongside Florentino and his parents before midnight.
By sunrise, his name dominated the front pages of every major sports publication across Europe.
AS: The Youngest King in History! Norway's 18-Year-Old Prodigy Defeats Lewandowski, Ronaldo, and Messi to Claim the 2020 Ballon d'Or!
Marca: Theodore's Era Commences! Real Madrid Welcomes a New Golden Boy!
Birmingham Sports: Aston Villa's Pride Conquers the World! Theodore Claims the Ballon d'Or!
Norwegian Sports: A Scandinavian Miracle! Theodore Bjorn Shines on the Global Stage!
While the continent celebrated the crowning of a new king, the German press launched a bitter campaign.
Kicker: The Biggest Scandal in Ballon d'Or History! Robert Lewandowski Robbed in Paris!
The editorial argued furiously that Lewandowski's Champions League triumph held far more weight than Theodore's Europa League victory, asserting the voting process was nothing short of a travesty.
The article hit the internet, and Football Twitter descended into outright warfare.
@BayernMunichFRL: Lewandowski won the TREBLE. He was the top scorer in every competition. Giving it to a kid who played in the Europa League is a disgrace! Robbery!
@LosBlancosEra: Cry more. If you put Lewandowski in that Villa team, they get knocked out in the group stage. If you put Theodore in Bayern, they win the sextuple. The carry job was levels apart.
@TacticalGenius: Lewy is an elite poacher. Theodore is a playmaker, winger, and striker all in one. He orchestrates the game and scores solo goals. He is simply the better footballer.
@MiaSanMia_9: Real Madrid PR working overtime. Watch what happens when Bayern meets Madrid in the Champions League this season. We will smash you!
@HalaMadrid14: Bayern fans are getting brave after beating a finished Barca 8-2. Real Madrid is a different beast. Bring it on!